Relegation issue to go to final day of the season?

As the final few weeks of the Barclay's Premiership close in, the issue as to who will be relegated is still far from decided. What is becoming apparent is that two from the following three teams, Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion and Portsmouth will be the ones to drop down to the Championship next season. After last season's final-day drama, the odds are this season's titanic relegation struggle will go right down to the last day?

Birmingham City’s injury crisis deprived them of the services of key players such as David Dunn and Mikael Forrsell for much of the season. Yet recent results have been encouraging including a superb 0-0 draw with title favourites, Chelsea. Bryan Robson's West Brom side has the experience of last year's relegation battle. The Albion side’s recent run of form makes poor reading though.

Portsmouth are currently on a great run which has seen impressive victories over Fulham and West Ham United. Harry Redknapp has his team playing with confidence again. The south coast side also currently has a crucial game in hand on both Birmingham and West Brom. That extra game could prove pivotal before the season ends.

On the final day of the season Birmingham City are set to face a tough trip to high-flying Bolton Wanderers. Manager Steve Bruce will be buoyed by the fact that just this week, his side defeated Bolton 1-0 at St. Andrews with a stunning Jiri Jarosik goal. Sam Allardyce and Bolton may well head into this final day encounter looking for the three points that will clinch European football for Wanderers for the second consecutive season. If Bolton have to win on the last to secure their passport into Europe, then the task facing Birmingham will become all the more difficult.

On the last day of the Premiership season Portsmouth are set to face Rafa Benitez's resurgent Liverpool. Harry Redknapp will be delighted his side is at home on the final day. The Fratton Park faithful have been an inspiration to the Portsmouth side in recent weeks. By the time they travel to the south coast, Liverpool should have secured a top four place and with it qualification for next season's Champion's league. This could mean that the pressure will be off the reds which might inspire Portsmouth to an unlikely victory. Bryan Robson’s West Bromwich Albion side is set to face Everton in their final match of the season. Everton’s recent winning streak at Goodison Park means West Brom will have their work cut out if they are to secure any points there.

With all the potential twists and turns that will inevitably occur in the coming weeks, each of the three sides desperately need to pick up points wherever they can. If the relegation issue does go down to the final day of the season, only the team with the strongest nerve will survive.

At the time of writing, the bottom of the Premiership table currently looks like this:

17 Birmingham 32 -20 28
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18 West Brom 32 -21 27
19 Portsmouth 31 -25 27
20 Sunderland 32 -36 11