Oldham, Premier League, 1992-93

It's one thing to overturn an eight-point gap to avoid relegation; quite another to do so in the final week of the season. Joe Royle's Oldham had to win three games in seven days and hope either Crystal Palace or Sheffield United made a horlicks of their last two fixtures. The problem was that the first of those three games was away to Aston Villa, who had to win to keep their title challenge alive. On the face of it they had no chance, but Oldham handled the end-of-season pressure/need equation better than Villa and a goal from Nick Henry put the cat among the pigeons. The problem was that, because Henry's goal gave Manchester United their first title for 26 years, its real significance was lost. Indeed, Palace's Geoff Thomas would later say that the relegation battle crept up on them from nowhere.

When a resurgent Sheffield United did the necessary at Everton on the Tuesday, the survival battle was down to two. A day later Oldham beat a feeble Liverpool 3-2 at Boundary Park, while Palace drew 0-0 at Manchester City - ostensibly a decent result, but one which left Palace, who four days earlier had done a lap of honour after their last home game on the assumption of safety, horribly exposed to a final-day sting. If Oldham won and Palace lost, Oldham were safe and Palace were down. On the final day Palace, away at Arsenal, were never in the game and lost 3-0, but Oldham's home match against Southampton oscillated wildly: despite a Matthew Le Tissier hat-trick, Oldham squeaked home 4-3.

Edited by Therealeaglestilidie (11 Apr 2021 9.41pm)

I've got PTSD.

Only this time around we need Southampton (who are in free fall), Burnley (also doing badly), Brighton and Newcastle to go on runs as well as Fulham (4 defeats in 5) or WBA (needing to win most games) to go on a run to overhaul us.
I can remember Oldham. God it hurts, because I think if we stayed up we may well have been comfortable for a few more years.
This year, I suspect we already have more than enough points. I think Newcastle winning today and Fulham are basically down. May play pretty football but it’s ineffectual and I can’t see them getting more than 33 points.

I never need that much of an excuse.

WBA would need to win 6 out of 8 to overhaul our current points tally of 38.Or win 5 and draw 3 games.
At least 5 wins required.
Their remaining fixtures :
H : Southampton
A : Leicester
A : A.Villa
H : Wolves
A : Arsenal
H : Liverpool
H : W.Ham
A : Leeds

Fulham would need to win 4 of their remaining 6 games to reach 38 pts.Or 3 wins and 3 draws.
At least 3 wins required.
Their remaining fixtures :
A : Arsenal
A : Chelsea
H : Burnley
A : Southampton
A : Man Utd
H : Newcastle

Edited by Willo (11 Apr 2021 10.56pm)