Manager Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds Can Still Beat The Premier Drop – And Win At Burnley Will Prove It

Neil Warnock. Pic: Getty Images.

Manager Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds Can Still Beat The Premier Drop – And Win At Burnley Will Prove It

Neil Warnock’s Bluebirds still have hopes of avoiding the drop. They are arguably among six, maybe seven teams, still in danger.

Realistically, though, Burnley, Southampton and Brighton are the teams Cardiff will try to chase down. All three could falter if Warnock’s men can earn the wins needed.

Huddersfield Town (14 points) and Fulham (17) are down, which means Cardiff City know exactly what they have to do.

Three wins, minimum, are needed and Cardiff still have fixtures against Burnley away, Brighton away, Fulham away and Crystal Palace.

I will be at Turf Moor with my best mate Lee Beames, a lifelong Bluebirds fan, because there is belief in my heart.

It’s a tough ask with only six fixtures left this season, but they have to believe. I believe.

“We can afford the odd draw, but we have to win three matches at least,” said manager Warnock. “Add a draw and who knows?”

The fans have stuck with Cardiff, home and away. There is hope, there is belief.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took City down from the top flight when he was manager and he could yet send them down on the last day of the season when the Bluebirds visit Old Trafford.

By then, though, Warnock’s warriors will have played those crucial fixtures against Burnley, Brighton, Fulham and Palace.

Clubs in the relegation mix:

Palace manager Roy Hodgson. Pic: Getty Images.

13th Crystal Palace (32 fixtures played, 36 points)

Remaining matches:

Saturday 6: Newcastle United v Crystal Palace St. James’ Park, Newcastle 

Sunday 14: Crystal Palace v Man City Selhurst Park, London Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Sunday 21: Arsenal  v Crystal Palace Emirates Stadium, London 

Saturday 27: Crystal Palace v Everton Selhurst Park, London 

Saturday 4: Cardiff City v Crystal Palace Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff 

Sunday 12: Crystal Palace v Bournemouth Selhurst Park, London 

There is a positive feeling at Selhurst Park. They remain on the fringes of the relegation battle, but it looks unlikely they will be dragged into the main group.

They have managed to maintain their place in the top flight since 2013 and former England manager Roy Hodgson will keep them up again.

Will they stay – or will they drop? Palace will be in the Premier League next season

14th Newcastle United (32 matches played, 35 points)

Rafa Benitez. Pic: Getty Images.

Remaining matches

Saturday 6: Newcastle United v Crystal Palace St. James’ Park, Newcastle 

Friday 12: Leicester City v Newcastle King Power Stadium, Leicester Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 20: Newcastle United v Southampton St. James’ Park, Newcastle Live On UK – BT Sport 

Saturday 27: Brighton v Newcastle United Amex Stadium, Falmer Live On UK – BT Sport

Saturday 4: Newcastle United v Liverpool St. James’ Park, Newcastle

Sunday 12: Fulham v Newcastle United Craven Cottage, London 

Without Rafa Benitez at the helm the Magpies would surely be hurtling to relegation. His tactical prowess has kept them just outside the bottom three.

They have the quality to ease themselves clear of trouble.

Benitez said earlier this season it would be a miracle if they stayed up – and he is close to keeping Newcastle in the top flight.

Will they stay – or will they drop? The Geordies will stay.

15th Brighton (31 fixtures played 33 points)

Brighton manager Chris Hughton (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Remaining matches

Saturday 13: Brighton v Bournemouth Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Tuesday 16:  Brighton v Cardiff Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Saturday 20: Wolves v Brighton Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Tuesday 23: Spurs v Brighton Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Live On UK – Sky Sports
Saturday 27: Brighton v Newcastle United Amex Stadium, Falmer Live On UK – BT Sport 

Saturday 4: Arsenal v Brighton Emirates Stadium, London

Sunday 12: Brighton v Manchester City Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Cardiff head to Sussex later this month when an away win would be a massive boost for the Bluebirds.

Manager Chris Hughton and his Seagulls can’t relax just yet. They still have to play Arsenal, Spurs and Manchester  City.

Brighton may also be distracted by their FA Cup exploits. They play Manchester City in a semi-final at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Will they stay – or will they drop?: Brighton will finish on 39 points and earn a Premier spot for next season.

16th Southampton (31 fixtures played, 33 points)

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)

Remaining matches

Friday 5: Southampton v Liverpool St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 13: Southampton v Wolves St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Saturday 20: Newcastle United v Southampton St. James’ Park, Newcastle Live On UK – BT Sport

Tuesday 23: Watford v Southampton Vicarage Road, Watford

Saturday 27: Southampton v Bournemouth St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

May

Saturday 4 West Ham v Southampton London Stadium, London 

Sunday 12 Southampton v Huddersfield Town St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton 

Manager Ralph Hassenhuttl will back his team to beat Bournemouth and Huddersfield in their final two home games, but they are a team Cardiff City can catch.

Sol Bamba and Kenneth Zohore scored for the Bluebirds when they won at St Mary’s in February.

Will Saints stay – or will they drop? 36 points and relegation

17th Burnley (32 fixtures played, 33 points)

Sean Dyche and Neil Warnock share a moment at the Cardiff City v Burnley match. They are rivals in the battle to avoid relegation.

Remaining matches:

Saturday 6: Bournemouth v Burnley Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth 

Saturday 13: Burnley v Cardiff City Turf Moor, Burnley 

Monday 22: Chelsea v Burnley Stamford Bridge, London Live On UK – Sky Sports

Sunday 28: Burnley v Manchester City Turf Moor, Burnley Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 4: Everton v Burnley Goodison Park, Liverpool 

Sunday 12: Burnley v Arsenal Turf Moor, Burnley 

Burnley started this season in the Europa League. Manager Sean Dyche and his team are resilient and likely to stay up. Remaining matches

Look away now. Burnley’s final four games of the season are against Chelsea, Manchester City, Everton and Arsenal.

The home match against Cardiff is massive for both clubs. 

Will they stay or will they drop?: Stay

18th Cardiff City (32 fixtures played, 28 points)

Bluebirds captain Sean Morrison. Pic: Getty Images.

Remaining matches

Saturday 13: Burnley v Cardiff City Turf Moor, Burnley 

Tuesday 16:  Brighton v Cardiff Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Sunday 21: Cardiff City v Liverpool Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 27: Fulham v Cardiff Craven Cottage, London 

Saturday 4: Cardiff City v Crystal Palace Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff 

Sunday 12: Manchester United v Cardiff City Old Trafford, Manchester 

With a game in hand over Burnley and a huge match at Turf Moor to come, Cardiff could still stay up.

The Bluebirds were tipped to go down, but they have produced a decent effort over the season.

Cardiff finished bottom in their only previous Premier League season, but they won’t do that this time.

The Emiliano Sala tragedy in January was a massive blow which affected everybody at the club.

Will they stay – or will they drop?: 37 points and survival

Premier League table

Team P GD Pts
1 Man City 32 62 80
2 Liverpool 32 53 79
3 Tottenham 32 26 64
4 Arsenal 31 26 63
5 Chelsea 32 21 63
6 Man Utd 32 18 61
7 Wolves 32 1 47
8 Watford 32 0 46
9 Leicester 32 -1 44
10 Everton 32 3 43
11 West Ham 32 -7 42
12 Bournemouth 32 -15 38
13 Crystal Palace 32 -5 36
14 Newcastle 32 -11 35
15 Brighton 31 -14 33
16 Southampton 31 -15 33
17 Burnley 32 -22 33
18 Cardiff 32 -33 28
19 Fulham 33 -46 17
20 Huddersfield 32 -41 14

Remaining Premier League fixtures:

April

Friday 5: Southampton v Liverpool St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 6: Bournemouth v Burnley Burnley Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Saturday 6: Huddersfield Town v Leicester John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Saturday 6: Newcastle United v Crystal Palace St. James’ Park, Newcastle
Sunday 7: Everton v Arsenal Goodison Park, Liverpool Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Monday 8: Chelsea v West Ham Stamford Bridge, London Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Friday 12: Leicester City v Newcastle King Power Stadium, Leicester Live On UK – Sky Sports
Saturday 13: Spurs v Huddersfield Town Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 13: Brighton v Bournemouth Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Saturday 13: Burnley v Cardiff City Turf Moor, Burnley
Saturday 13: Fulham v Everton Craven Cottage, London
Saturday 13: Southampton v Wolves St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Saturday 13: Manchester United v West Ham Old Trafford, Manchester Live On UK – BT Sport

Sunday 14: Crystal Palace v Man City Selhurst Park, London Live On UK – Sky Sports
Sunday 14: Liverpool v Chelsea Anfield, Liverpool Live On UK – Sky Sport

Monday 15: Watford v Arsenal Vicarage Road, Watford Live On UK – Sky Sports
Tuesday 16:  Brighton v Cardiff Amex Stadium, Falmer 

Saturday 20: Man City v Spurs Etihad Stadium, Manchester Live On UK – Sky Sports
Saturday 20: Bournemouth v Fulham Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Saturday 20: Huddersfield v Watford John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Saturday 20: West Ham v Leicester London Stadium, London
Saturday 20: Wolves v Brighton Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Saturday 20: Newcastle United v Southampton St. James’ Park, Newcastle Live On UK – BT Sport 

Sunday 21: Everton v Manchester United Goodison Park, Liverpool Live On UK – Sky Sports
Sunday 21: Arsenal  v Crystal Palace Emirates Stadium, London
Sunday 21: Cardiff City v Liverpool Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Monday 22: Chelsea v Burnley Stamford Bridge, London Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Tuesday 23: Spurs v Brighton Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Live On UK – Sky Sports
Tuesday 23: Watford v Southampton Vicarage Road, Watford 

Wednesday 24: Wolves v Arsenal Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Wednesday 24: Manchester United v Man City Old Trafford, Manchester Live On UK – Sky Sports
Friday 26: Liverpool v Huddersfield Anfield, Liverpool Live On UK – Sky Sports 

Saturday 27: Spurs v West Ham Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London Live On UK – Sky Sports
Saturday 27: Crystal Palace v Everton Selhurst Park, London
Saturday 27: Fulham v Cardiff Craven Cottage, London
Saturday 27: Southampton v Bournemouth St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Saturday 27: Watford v Wolves Vicarage Road, Watford
Saturday 27: Brighton v Newcastle United Amex Stadium, Falmer Live On UK – BT Sport
Sunday 28: Burnley v Manchester City Turf Moor, Burnley Live On UK – Sky Sports
Sunday 28: Manchester United v Chelsea Old Trafford, Manchester Live On UK – Sky Sports
Monday 29: Leicester City v Arsenal King Power Stadium, Leicester Live On UK – Sky Sports
May

Saturday 4 (all 3pm)

Bournemouth v Spurs Vitality Stadium, Bournemouth
Arsenal v Brighton Emirates Stadium, London

Cardiff City v Crystal Palace Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Chelsea v Watford Stamford Bridge, London
Everton v Burnley Goodison Park, Liverpool
Huddersfield v Manchester United John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Manchester City v Leicester City Etihad Stadium, Manchester
Newcastle United v Liverpool St. James’ Park, Newcastle
West Ham v Southampton London Stadium, London
Wolves v Fulham Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton 

Sunday 12 (all 3pm): 

Brighton v Manchester City Amex Stadium, Falmer
Burnley v Arsenal Turf Moor, Burnley
Crystal Palace v Bournemouth Selhurst Park, London
Fulham v Newcastle United Craven Cottage, London
Leicester City v Chelsea King Power Stadium, Leicester
Liverpool v Wolves Anfield, Liverpool
Manchester United v Cardiff City Old Trafford, Manchester
Southampton v Huddersfield Town St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Spurs v Everton Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London
Watford v West Ham Vicarage Road, Watford 

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