Our next 3 games are crucial in my opinion. In the same time Spurs only Play Sunderland away which, in there good run of form i wouldn't be suprised if they claimed the 3 points. Should they do so along with us winning all 3 of the above games, then we would be 1 point above Spurs. However, they would have a game in hand. Should we fail to win all of our next 3, we would fall behind spurs while they would have a game in hand, leaving them in a healthy position leading into thier difficult fixtures. Any points dropped against Sunderland away next week and we could find ourselved 3 or 4 points ahead having played a game more.
This is where Spurs make up there game in hand at this point with a midweek game against Arsenal. Anything Spurs do against Arsenal at Home, i feel we have to match or better 3 days later against Man Utd at Home. Then we have to rely on Chelsea and Man Utd to beat Spurs. If so then we can afford a loss against Arsenal. I actually predict Spurs to pick up a point against Arsenal so i feel atleast a draw is necessary against Man Utd. Should either team pick up a nice suprise win in any of the games then it puts them in an excellent position. Providing we won our first 3, the teams should still be neck and neck after these games having played the same games.
The final games of the season for Both sides see us playing Aston Villa when Spurs play Bolton at home, this for me is now a must win as Spurs should comfortably beat Bolton at Home. This obviously depends on the situation from the previous games but i suspect both teams will still be within 3 points touching distance leading into these games. Then the big one against Spurs will leave us needing a win to seal it or overtake Spurs. Should we be ahead on points before the Spurs game then a draw wouldn't be the worst result leaving us with a game against West Ham to seal 4th spot. All in all i think it is too close to call who will finish 4th. Both teams have difficult away games in the final game that could leave either side needing a win to stay up from relegation. Hopefully West Ham have sealed safety by this point. Anybody counting us out only need to look at how close to two teams could be leading upto the final game against each other.