Selhurst Park basement battle reflects relegation issue

With only two matches left for the end of another Premiership campaign, the outcome of today's cut-throat struggle between Crystal Palace and Southampton at Selhurst Park could highlight the future of the two teams.

After West Brom's 0-2 loss to Arsenal on Monday, the four relegation strugglers have only three hours of football to complete before knowing their fate.

The Saints' 4-3 win at home to Norwich will boost them in their bid to preserve their Premiership status, being one of the eight remaining founder members of the 'new' league.

Southampton have been the only side from those in troubled waters to play two relegation rivals in the run-in. At present, Harry Redknapp's side also have the best goal difference of the four that can mean an extra point if two teams finish on the same number of points. Southampton are on -20, Palace -21, West Brom -27 and Norwich -30. The Saints' last match is home to Man. United.

For only the second time this season, Crystal Palace have managed to chalk up back-to-back clean sheets after their home win over Liverpool and the away draw at Newcastle.

In the three previous Premiership meetings at Selhurst Park, Palace failed to win: 1-1, 0-0, 1-2. The Eagles' last game is away at Charlton.

Man. United vs West Brom. After failing to beat outgoing champions Arsenal at the Hawthorns, this afternoon West Brom play FA Cup holders Man. United.

That cruel Christmas jinx appears to be applying its spell once more, since all clubs that had been at rock bottom at that festive period walked the plank at the end of the term.

Alex Ferguson will be meeting former United skipper Bryan Robson who won many an honour during his long stint at Old Trafford.

Yet, in this match there is no room for sentiment as the Red Devils are striving to finish runners-up.

The last occasion West Brom won at United was in Division I in 1978-79 (5-3). West Brom's last match of the season is at home to Portsmouth.

Norwich vs Birmingham. The Canaries were on song in a four-match unbeaten run but they went dumb at Southampton.

Norwich can count on their latest home record - three straight wins - to give them the confidence they need to sink the Blues.

After the one-all first-round result, Norwich are still seeking revenge on Birmingham, who defeated them 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the 2002 play-off final - the last time they met outside the top flight.

Norwich complete their programme with a visit to Fulham.

Cheers Chelsea

Chelsea vs Charlton. Chelsea deservedly claimed the Premiership crown with three matches to spare following their 2-0 win at Bolton.

This afternoon it will be carnival time as they entertain Charlton in a London derby before being presented with the championship trophy.

Jose Mourinho became the first coach to win the title in his first season in office.

In the Champions League semi-final second leg at Liverpool on Tuesday, Chelsea failed to pierce the Reds' rearguard to exit 0-1 on aggregate.

Arsenal vs Liverpool. In the Champions League semi-final return tie at Anfield, Liverpool netted early and succeeded in containing Chelsea, who had only one shot at goal.

This victory is attributed to coach Rafael Benitez whose know-how in these kind of matches is second to none.

While Arsenal will continue to battle it out for the runners-up spot and a direct qualification into the Champions League, Liverpool cannot blame but themselves for not cementing their fourth-place entry.

On the latest three occasions that Everton, their main rivals, lost the Reds failed to capitalise.

A Liverpool player who disappointed since he came to the club is Spanish attacker Fernando Morientes.

In the last 11 League and Cup matches Arsenal conceded a single goal. Wenger is looking at the possibilities of tempting David Beckham to leave Real Madrid for Highbury.

Everton vs Newcastle. If the Evertonians topple the Magpies they will almost claim that remaining Champions League entry. Poor Newcastle have won only ten league matches to date, including the 3-1 victory at Fulham in midweek.

Alan Shearer will return after he was rested for the trip to London. Chairman Freddy Shepherd has promised a summer overhaul at St James' Park to put the club back on the right track.

Middlesbrough vs Tottenham. The encounter on Teesside between two sides that stand on the same number of points and are only separated by goal difference, will enhance the chances for a UEFA Cup place for the winners.

Spurs' 5-1 win over Aston Villa has put them in the right frame for this encounter. In the nine matches they met in the Premiership the Londoners won twice and drew on three other occasions.

The Championship

The Championship programme this weekend is reserved for tomorrow. The remaining issue at the top is who will join champions Sunderland to the Premiership automatically and the four clubs in the play-offs.

Wigan and Ipswich are both on 84 points but the Latics' superior goal difference will see them through if they finish on the same number of points.

While Wigan have home advantage against Reading, Ipswich travel to Brighton. Both opponents are in need of points - the Londoners to claim a place in the play-offs and the Seagulls to ascertain their status in the division.

The three remaining places for the play-offs will come from Preston and Derby and the remaining slot to be determined between West Ham and Reading.

Nottingham Forest, who became the only side in the continent to win the European Cup and find itself in the third tier of the domestic scene, along with Rotherham, are down and will probably be joined by Crewe or Gillingham.

Crewe are two points below the Gills, who play at Forest. Crewe's last fixture is at home to Coventry.

In League Two, champions Luton and Hull are promoted and in the deciders' structure Tranmere and Sheffield Wednesday are awaiting the other duo that will come from Hartlepool, Brentford and Bournemouth.

Stockport, Peterborough and Wrexham are already down and MK Dons or Oldham will fill the remaining place.

The League Two championship involves four clubs: Yeovil 80 points (goal difference of +80), Scunthorpe 79 points (+27), Southend on 77 points (+19) and Swansea on 77 points (+18). Yeovil are the more poised since they are the only side to play at home against Lincoln, who are assured of a play-off spot.

The only remaining place for the deciders will be contested between Northampton and Darlington.

Kidderminster and Cambridge will play in the Conference and champions Barnet will be joined by the winners of the play-offs that involve Hereford, Carlisle, Aldershot and Stevenage.

Fixtures

Premier League
Aston Villa-Man. City (0-2)
Blackburn-Fulham (2-0)
Chelsea-Charlton (4-0) 1.30 p.m.
Crystal Palace-Southampton (2-2)
Everton-Newcastle (1-1)
Man. Utd-WBA (3-0) 6.15 p.m.
Middlesbrough-Tottenham (0-2)
Norwich-Birmingham (1-1)
Portsmouth-Bolton (1-0)

League One
Blackpool-Barnsley (0-1)
Bournemouth-Hartlepool (2-3)
Brentford-Hull (0-2)
Colchester-Torquay (3-1)
Doncaster-Luton (1-1)
MK Dons-Tranmere (0-2)
Oldham-Bradford (3-1)
Port Vale-Peterborough (0-4)
Sheffield Wed.-Bristol City (4-1)
Swindon-Chesterfield (0-1)
Walsall-Stockport (1-0)
Wrexham-Huddersfield (2-1)

League Two
Boston-Rochdale (0-2)
Bristol Rovers-Wycombe (0-1)
Bury-Swansea (3-1)
Cambridge-Notts County (1-2)
Darlington-Cheltenham (2-0)
Grimsby-Southend (1-1)
Leyton Orient-Mansfield (0-1)
Macclesfield-Rushden (2-0)
Northampton-Kidderminster (2-0)
Oxford-Chester (3-1)
Shrewsbury-Scunthorpe (1-3)
Yeovil-Lincoln (1-3)

Scottish Premier
Dundee United-Kilmarnock
Dunfermline-Dundee
Inverness-Livingston
Motherwell-Hibernian
Rangers-Hearts

First Division
Falkirk-Queen of South
Partick-Hamilton
Raith-Airdrie
Ross County-Clyde
St Johnstone-St Mirren

Second Division
Alloa-Stranraer
Arbroath-Stirling
Ayr-Dumbarton
Brechin-Forfar
Morton-Berwick

Third Division
Albion-Gretna
Cowdenbeath-Queens Park
East Stirling-Peterhead
Elgin-Stenhousemuir
Montrose-East Fife

Tomorrow's programme

Premier League
Arsenal-Liverpool (1-2) 5 p.m.

The Championship
(all matches kick off at 2 p.m.)
Brighton-Ipswich (0-1)
Cardiff-QPR (0-1)
Crewe-Coventry (1-0)
Derby-Preston (0-3)
Leeds-Rotherham (0-1)
Millwall-Burnley (0-1)
N. Forest-Gillingham (1-2)
Plymouth-Leicester (1-2)
Sunderland-Stoke (1-0)
Watford-West Ham (2-3)
Wigan-Reading (1-1)
Wolves-Sheffield United (3-3)

Scottish Premier
Celtic-Aberdeen (4 p.m.)

Bankers: Oldham, Scunthorpe, Yeovil and Bournemouth.