Premier League Relegation 2012: Who's Staying Up, Who's Going Down?

This year's battle to avoid relegation in the Premier League is shaping up to be a fascinating one.

One team's fate may have already been sealed, but there are four other teams who are on the brink of danger as we get to the business end of the season.

What teams have the squads to stay up? What teams have the worst run-ins?

This list assesses the chances of survival for the clubs at the bottom of the table.

Wolves

Run-In: Stoke (a)

Arsenal (h)

Sunderland (a)

Man City (h)

Swansea (a)

Everton (h)

Wigan (a)

I'm afraid that it looks as if the writing is already on the wall for Wolves this season. They are six points from safety and haven't won a game in seven league encounters.

The sacking of Mick McCarthy baffled me; Wolves have never really had any success in the Premier League and have almost always been involved in a relegation scrap of some sort. But McCarthy had gotten the club through difficult situations in the past, so sacking him midway through a season was not a smart move.

The blame for the club's poor run of results cannot be blamed on Terry Connor (Wolves' stand-in manager), it must be put on to the players. Some bad luck hasn't helped their cause, either.

Prediction: Going down

Blackburn Rovers

Run-In: West Brom (a)

Liverpool (h)

Swansea (a)

Norwich (h)

Spurs (a)

Wigan (h)

Chelsea (a)

With their run of poor results and the collapse of fans' faith in the manager, a few months ago I would have put my house on Blackburn getting relegated.

But a resurgence has taken place, led by Junior Hoilett and Yakubu, and Blackburn have started playing much better football.

They have some real talent all the way through their squad, and have had their fair share of bad luck during the season, which may have prevented them picking up a lot more points.

They have a fairly favourable run-in, with a few very winnable ties.

Prediction: Staying up

Queens Park Rangers

Run-In: Man Utd (a)

Swansea (h)

West Brom (a)

Spurs (h)

Chelsea (a)

Stoke (h)

Man City (a)

With one of the hardest run-ins out of any club in the Premier League, it is very unfortunate for the West London club to be in the position they are in.

With one of the strongest squads out of the clubs scrapping for survival, had they been given a kinder run-in, I would have expected them to stay up.

They have collected a few big scalps in recent weeks, but it will be a challenge to gain the points needed to stay safe.

Prediction: Going down

Wigan Athletic

Run-In: Chelsea (a)

Man Utd (h)

Arsenal (a)

Fulham (a)

Newcastle (h)

Blackburn (a)

Wolves (h)

After some great battles to survive in the league in the past, it saddens me to say that Wigan are probably not going to beat the drop again.

With a good manager and a talented squad, I would have expected them to stay up before the season began, but once again, Wigan have just dropped too many points at crucial parts of the season.

They are on somewhat of a "roll" at the moment, having won their last two league games, but I think they have been given a very harsh run-in and the damage may have already been done by the time they face Blackburn and Wolves in May.

Prediction: Going down

Bolton Wanderers

Run-In: Fulham (h)

Newcastle (a)

Swansea (h)

Aston Villa (a)

Sunderland (a) 

Tottenham (h)

West Brom (h)

Stoke (a)

A lot has changed since the turn of 2012 for Bolton, because only a few months ago they looked like they were in big trouble.

I always thought there would be a turning point for them, with such quality running through their squad and a manager who impresses me more every season.

Bolton are the form team out of the bottom five, having won their last three games, and they now have a little bit of breathing room, with a point advantage over the chasing pack and a game in hand.

If Bolton keep playing as they have recently, there are some very winnable ties in their run-in and they should be able to keep the gap between them and the bottom four—perhaps they'll even widen it.

Prediction: Staying up