Final 4 games

[agreenwood]

There's been a lot of talk about the difficulty of our fixtures since the start of February, but it's now highly likely that our remaining four games will be played against sides with little play for.

Palace could be the exception, although if they continue their recent record against the better sides and take a point or three from Spurs they'll be safe by Wednesday evening.

West Brom are already safe and Bournemouth & West Ham will probably have followed suit by the time our games against them arrive.

We couldn't really have asked for a better run-in.

[SGr]

Not wrong. I just pray to god Pulis doesn't do *yet another* job on us...

[Blackrod]

I predict
C Palace a 0 points
W Brom h 1 point
B mouth a 0 points
W Ham h 1 point

[Spijed]

I predict
C Palace a 0 points
W Brom h 1 point
B mouth a 0 points
W Ham h 1 point

That'll do perfectly well.

[Claretmatt4]

Before the United game I said we could get points from each game. So far I'm wrong.

I hope Palace are less intense after Wm their urge win yesterday.

[ThinLizzy]

That'll do perfectly well.

I'd agree. Two points should be enough, especially with Hull's run in.

[ElectroClaret]

I don't buy this "nowt to play for" crap.

If you're a footie player you go out to do your best(at least, the vast majority of them)
Indeed, there's an argument that these teams with no pressure on them perform
with more freedom and flair.Of course, that could make em open at the back, but
either way, i don't think it's a big factor. We'll be ok.

[agreenwood]

Not sure that logic applied to insipid Stoke or Watford sides on Saturday. Both were "on the beach".

[IAmAClaret]

We currently have 1 win in 11 and are dropping like a stone, we NEED more points than we have, probably 2 will see us finish 17th.

Palace A (0)
West Brom H (1)
Bournemouth A (0)
West Ham H (1)

Just enough.

[forzagranata]

A scruffy win at home against West Brom, similar to our scruffy win against Stoke, would do us nicely.

[Firthy]

2 points from our last 4 games might be enough as it would mean Swansea need to win 3/4 which is unlikely. And if we can't get 2 points from these games we don't deserve to stay up.

[Murger]

Dyche needs to mix it up. Drop Barton, Boyd and Barnes and bring in JBG, Westwood and Defour.
But we know this won't happen as Boyd and Barton are untouchable.

[claretspice]

To put all this in context, we've taken 4 points from our last 4 games.

In addition, despite having had what is undoubtedly a bad run, our record this calendar year against teams outside the top 7 (who are in a separate league, really), is Played 8, won 3, drawn 3, lost 2. Those losses came at Swansea and against Watford when we played almost the entire game with 10 men. Admittedly, 2 of the wins came in January, but even taking those out of the equation, we've taken 6 point from the subsequent 6 games.

[jlup1980]

We don't do very well against Big Sam teams and Pulis has the knack of out-Dyching Dyche! I don't expect anything other than 2 defeats I'm afraid. Bournemouth away is another toughie; they'll score at least 1 that's for sure. We might scrape a point if we're lucky. West Ham is the game I see us winning. They seem to have off days quite frequently and it's the last game of the season. If they're safe and we need a win I think we'll beat them. I really hope it doesn't go down to the last game though!

[EarbyClaret]

When playing teams with nothing at stake the key is to score first, preferably as early as possible.

Don't think there's any lack of professionalism there with the likes of recent results experienced by Stoke, Watford and West Brom but the extra levels required to get back into games are difficult to achieve when everyone isn't 'at it' as Sean might say.

Have said this elsewhere but the extra pressure has been created to a certain extent by the way the fixtures have fallen. As claretspice points out we have four games coming up against teams who we should, based on results so far, be taking points off. Aside from Swansea away when we were at 2-2 going into stoppage time can't think of another game since January where our results have been anything other than reasonably predictable.

It's probably going to be a lot closer than everyone would have liked but realistically that shouldn't come as huge surprise.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

To put all this in context, we've taken 4 points from our last 4 games.

In addition, despite having had what is undoubtedly a bad run, our record this calendar year against teams outside the top 7 (who are in a separate league, really), is Played 8, won 3, drawn 3, lost 2. Those losses came at Swansea and against Watford when we played almost the entire game with 10 men. Admittedly, 2 of the wins came in January, but even taking those out of the equation, we've taken 6 point from the subsequent 6 games.

Stop talking sense Spice,The cut of your jib doesn't suit the doom murchants

[AGENT_CLARET]

Palace A WIN......First and last away win of the season
West Brom H DRAW
Bournemouth A LOSS
West Ham H WIN.......7 points putting us on 43for the season

[KippaxFifaHD]

I'm starting to look over my shoulder now, considering Palace are now above us. We're slipping, slowly, down the table.
Palace (a) - L
West Brom (h) - D
B'mouth (a) - W
West Ham (h) - W

That'll leave us with 43 points, which should leave us safe.

[IanMcL]

12 points

[FactualFrank]

Worst case scenario (I hope) is us losing our next 3 and grabbing a point at home to West Ham on the final day of the season.

WBA thrashed us 4-0 in the reverse fixture, so they'll no doubt be confident of beating us again. And as jlup1980 says, away to BFS's Palace and Bournemouth will also be tough.

[AGENT_CLARET]

Palace A WIN......First and last away win of the season
West Brom H DRAW
Bournemouth A LOSS
West Ham H WIN.......7 points putting us on 43for the season

One down 3 to go