Premier League: The race to avoid the drop shapes up in the relegation zone
Palace deserves to stay put in the Premier League after a stellar leadership shown by a man who was only doubted. Whereas Stoke, showcase little to almost no improvement under their new manager.
Since sacking Mark Hughes on 6th January, Stoke have played eight Premier League games, losing just three, but winning just one. Under Paul Lambert’s stewardship, they have dropped one spot in the table, and currently sit at 19th.
Two of their three losses have come against the top of the table Manchester duo, but they have not won in the league for almost two months. Stoke also have a tricky run-in, with games against Arsenal, Spurs, and Liverpool still to come. The Potters have been scraping by, point-by-point, but they will need to start winning games or risk losing touch with 17th place over the next few games.
It may come down to the last two games of the season, where they take on fellow relegation candidates Crystal Palace and Swansea. This is where their league-worst goal difference may come into play.
Points/Goal Difference: 27/-28
Form: L D D D L
Up Next: Everton (H), Arsenal (A), Spurs (H)
Stoke City
Palace got off to the worst start in the history of the Premier League. Seven straight losses kicked off the season, and cost Frank de Boer his job. Roy Hodgson came into a club in free-fall, and to his credit, he has stabilised them to the point where they stand a genuine chance of survival.
Their current run of four straight losses is their worst since that dismal start, however, the last three have come at the hands of Spurs, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Once their home fixture against Liverpool is out of the way, they will have no more games against top-six opposition.
This gives them several chances to chip away at the leads of the teams in front of them in the table. If Wilfried Zaha and Andros Townsend can stay injury free during the run-in, it would not surprise me to see Palace comfortably remain in the Premier League.