NUFC Are Fourth Favourites To Be Relegated (And That's Generous)

With just three weeks of the 2014-15 Premier League season remaining it's a case of take your pick of the North East clubs for the final relegation spot: will it be Sunderland or Newcastle United who plummet down the abyss and into the Championship? Both Queens Park Rangers and Burnley are 100-1 on to occupy two of the bottom-three positions - and then there is barely a matchpaper between the North East's two Premier League sides. Sunderland are 8-13, while Newcastle are 9-2, to be relegated. Yes these odds may still suggest that Sunderland are more likely to plummet through the Premier League trapdoor than their near-neighbours on Tyneside, but Dick Advocaat's men have at least a smidgen of upward momentum - while John Carver's side only have bucketloads of downwards momentum.

Sunderland currently occupy 18th place but managed to claim a priceless 2-1 victory over Southampton on Saturday, while they also have a crucial home match against relegation rivals Leicester City to come. Newcastle, meanwhile, lost for the eighth game in succession for the first time in their Premier League history at the weekend. In fact, to call it a "loss" is generous - it was a calamitous capitulation. A 3-0 reversal at Leicester - with the Magpies 1-0 down inside 40 seconds despite having taken the kick-off, and the team finishing with just nine men following Mike Williamson and Daryl Janmaat's respective red cards, before Carver then orchestrated a civil war inside the club by lambasting his centre-back as he accused the former Portsmouth defender of being "deliberately" dismissed - showed how perilous a position Newcastle are in. Make no mistake about it, Hull City, Leicester City and Aston Villa will almost certainly be Premier League sides next season. They still have work to do, but they all have enough momentum and togetherness to be confident they can get over the line. The bookmakers have made Sunderland and Newcastle third and fourth favourites respectively for the drop - and deservedly so.

However, in reality those positions should be reversed. Sunderland are an extremely poor side, that is without doubt, but they have an experienced manager at the helm and they have at least some confidence. Newcastle, meanwhile, are directionless, rudderless, inept - and sinking without a trace. If the North East is to have two sides in the Premier League next season then Middlesbrough will need to get promoted from the Championship via the play-offs - because Sunderland, or more than likely Newcastle United, are sleepwalking towards the edge of the top-flight cliff-face without a hope of waking from their slumber. For all the latest NUFC News, Views and Transfers make sure to follow WhatCultureNUFC on Twitter and Facebook.