Reality Check

I missed today's game, but am looking forward to the highlights.

Things obviously look better, but, in reality, we are still four points behind our rivals who have played the same number of games (Norwich).

Results have worked in our favour today, as they have in the past, but we need to keep things going and we might just get out of this hole.......  

Another reason to have a little more optimism is the fact that west brom's game in hand is away to Man City, so you would hope that they wouldn't pick up anything from that fixture.

Its still all in our hands as we still have to play our fellow strugglers. I'm feeling a bit more positive about our chances after today

I think we will need two of the clubs above us to slip up.  Points in the bag are all very well, but Sunderland are only one point behind us with three games in hand and a much better goal difference.  I can't see them losing all three games.

Our games against them and West Brom could be massively influencial as to who goes down.

It is in our hands as our fellow strugglers have worse run-ins than we do and Palace and West Brom appear to be struggling now, plus Sunderland have a lot of fixture congestion. In saying that we still dont have strikers who can score but we are still in with a shout

One of Sunderlands games in hand is against Palace, so even if they do win it they make things worse for the team we are level on points with.the other is against Norwich who are resurging recently. And you're forgetting the age old truth - points on the board are always better than games in hand, and Sunderland have played a hell of a lot of games this season.

We need at least 9 points from the West Brom, Stoke, Sunderland and Palace games. Doing so would put us on 34 points which could well be enough this year. Add in some sneaky draws (wins?) against the likes of Everton, Southampton and Newcastle (Who both have nothing to fight for) and we are into the high thirties and safe.

It is a hard ask, but it's very possible.

Totally agree Red. More investment would be needed next year however, with a clinical goalscorer such as Mame Diouf and some defenders chronically needed. Although in saying that, Javi Guerra is a good player for next year

Javi Guerra is as much as done as long as we stay up, Tan said as much in his interview. Things will get better if we stay up, while everything's uncomfortably uncertain if we don't.

I had read Guerra will join us even if we go down? He would be superb if we did. But we would need someone else in addition to him if we do stay up.

I'd say a point against either Everton or Liverpool is needed. All three points also needed against West Brom.

It is possible but we should be under no illusions about how difficult a task it will be.