Yo-yo Baggies braced for another Premier League relegation battle
Published:The perennial yo-yo club West Brom are evens to be relegated from the Premier League this season, immediately after gaining promotion from the Championship.
If they are to go down this term, it would be the fourth consecutive season with relegation or promotion for the Baggies.
Under manager Roberto Di Matteo, the Baggies clinched automatic promotion from the Championship with a squad boasting the midfield talents of Chris Brunt and Graham Dorrans, as well as a powerful strike force featuring Roman Bednar and Simon Cox.
Before adding to his squad this summer, Di Matteo’s priority has been to keep hold of his assets at the Hawthorns.
West Brom have rejected bids from West Ham for Dorrans, and he is expected to start the Baggies’ Premier League opener away to Chelsea, which they are 12/1 to win.
Having gained shock promotion via the play-offs, Blackpool are 1/4 favourites to go down. The Tangerines have yet to make any signings this summer, though they will need to significantly bolster their threadbare squad if they are to survive this season.
Both priced at 9/4 to be relegated, West Ham and Wolves are two other clubs who seem to be in severe danger of dropping down to the Championship.
Mick McCarthy’s Wolves side will be wary of the so-called ‘second season syndrome’, a condition which has struck down the likes of Reading and Ipswich after successful debut seasons in the Premier League.
Having secured survival with time to spare last season, Wolves will be looking to push on this year, starting with a home match against Stoke, which they are 6/5 to win.
Who do you think will face the drop this year? Wigan are 5/2 to be relegated. See the full Barclays Premier League market.
