EPL: Relegation All Set

This weeks action has proved to be vital at the bottom of the EPL. Away from the glitz and glamour of the title race, there are a number of teams fighting for the right to vist Old Trafford and Anfield next season.

It was a Saturday afternoon of thrills, spills, seemingly unassailable leads and late late winners.

The bottom two met at Pride Park with Fulham in desperate need of a victory. Derby County scored first thanks to January signing Emanuel Villa.

It was a vital game for Fulham and they equalized shortly after through Diomansy Kamara. Three points for Fulham would have put them level with Bolton Wanderers, four points from safety.

Fulham got the goal they needed with just 12 minutes left on the clock. Derby's Dean Leacock summing up a terrible season for Derby by gifting Fulham the lead.

Fulham's celebrations only lasted a matter of seconds however as Emanuel Villa popped up with his second of the game. The goal could well have relegated Fulham who sit six points from safety in 19th position.

The 2-2 draw was not enough though for Derby to survive another week. They've become the first side to be relegated from the EPL in March. Paul Jewell's men (11 points) are also in serious danger of snatching Sunderland's record (15) of least points in an EPL season.

In what was expected to be a one sided affair, Arsenal travelled to the Reebok Stadium to face Bolton.

It was Bolton however that took the lead through a Matty Taylor header. Arsenal's chances of getting back into the game went from almost certain to maybe not, thanks to a moment of madness from Abou Diaby.

The midfielder flew into a challenge on Gretar Steinsson with his foot and studs well in the air. It was a sickening hit and one red card not even Arsene Wenger bothered to complain about.

Should he be banned for life Arsene?

Bolton took full advantage and scored a second before half time. Matty Taylor again, this time with a deflected shot from the edge of the area.

Bolton were surely heading out of the relegation zone! Or were they?

Arsenal staged a superb fightback in the second half to score three goals with ten men to snatch the desperately needed points from the Trotters. William Gallas, Robin Van Persie and a late Jlloyd Samuel own goal gifting the Gunners three points.

Bolton now lie four points from safety after the two teams above them earned valuable wins.

One of those sides was Birmingham City who last week lost star player James McFadden to a knee injury. Well the old saying goes "one man's loss is another man's gain." The man to gain was Mauro Zarate.

Zarate bagged two for the Blues against Manchester City, but at 2-0 and the Birmingham faithful sure of three points things took a turn for the worse.

Birmingham's Franck Queudrue was sent off and a penalty awarded to City. Elano stepped up and fired City back into the game.

Luckily for the Blues this is not the City side from earlier in the season. They were able to hold their lead before adding another thanks to a Gary McSheffrey penalty. The decision looked harsh but Birmingham will take them any way the come.

Alex McLeish's men move four points clear of Bolton but stay just one place above the drop zone.

One point above them sit Wigan Athletic who got no joy at Fratton Park with Jermain Defoe scoring the games only two goals.

Wigan themselves slipped to 16th place thanks to the late late show at the Stadium Of Light.

Sunderland jumped four places in the EPL thanks to a dramatic win over West Ham United. The London side had taken the early lead through Freddie Ljungberg. Sunderland's player of the season Kenwyne Jones equalized shortly after.

The game seemed to be heading for a draw but just like last week, Sunderland snatched all three points in injury time. Andy Reid was the hero this week with the goal that pretty much guarentees survival for Sunderland.

Is it all over at the bottom of the table? Can you see either Fulham or Bolton hauling themselves out of trouble?

I have my doubts and it looks like relegation could already be set!