2010 ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE RELEGATION LATEST ODDS

If the layers on Betfair are to be believed right now, Burnley and Hull City will be joining already-relegated Portsmouth in the 2010/11 edition of the English League Championship. Things are certainly compact down there at the bottom with two spots up for grabs and, with both Hull and Burnley deadlocked at 27 points, it looks like the final two relegation spots will be from the pool of Wolves, Bolton, Wigan, West Ham, Burnley and Hull.

Hull City were spared the drop last year on the very last day of the season and it looks like it might come down to the wire for the Tigers once again this time out. Both them and Burnley looked all but relegated not long ago, but a few results have gone in their direction and its altered the climate of things just a touch. In my opinion, out of all those clubs Hull still have the most room to manoeuvre as they have only played 33 games while all other relegation candidates have played 34. If Hull can take the full three points from their next fixture (a tough away match at Birmingham on Saturday) then they won’t quite be out of the woods, but will have taken a big step towards staving off relegation.
On Betfair, Burnley is listed at 1.16 to go down while Hull City trade at a slim 1.31. Wigan Athletics odds to be relegated pay out at 6.8 while West Ham trade just a notch below at 6.6. Bolton Wanderers are 15.0 to go down while Wolves pay a whopping 44.0 should they somehow fall through the Premier League trap door.
One advantage that West Ham have over other teams is a phenomenally better goal difference. They are only -16 compared to clubs like Wigan, who are -34, or Hull City, who are -38.
Bolton take a trip to Stoke City this weekend and if they can take all three points then they’ll have more or less solidified their status in the Premiership for another season. Equally, another win by Wigan and Wolves, coupled with bad results elsewhere would likely see them stay up. West Ham, point-wise, look in the most danger, but I think with things this compact down there- the goal difference may just wind up being the decider.
Tellingly, the relegation tricast market at Betfair has Portsmouth/Hull/Burnley priced at 1.38 should it hit. The next best option appears to be Portsmouth/Burnley/Wigan at 7.6.