Despite losing 5-1 to Aston Villa, Alex McLeish argued that his side has what it takes to bounce back. He said: "I am sure our fans will be embarrassed by the defeat by Villa - I don't like it, the players don't like it. We were on the end of a bruising from a really good Villa side. I always thought it would come down to the last three games and nothing has changed.
"I am sure our fans will be embarrassed by the defeat by Villa - I don't like it, the players don't like it. We were on the end of a bruising from a really good Villa side."
Meanwhile, Fulham boss Roy Hodgson sounded less enthusiastic after his side went down 2-0 at home to Liverpool leaving them with an uphill struggle if they are to climb out the bottom three.
He said: "We can retain hope of staying up. The task gets harder because we have not recovered any points on the teams above us and we have lost another game and another opportunity."
Whilst Reading boss Steve Coppell knows that his side has just three games left to preserve their top flight status and currently lie just one point above the relegation zone. The Royals face Wigan next week at the JJB Stadium in a game that could secure the Latics' future in the top flight.
Coppell said: "We have a three game mini-season and must aim to get enough points to stay up. There are nine points available to us and we have got to be genuine in our attempts to get them."
Meanwhile Gary Megson must be in a state of shock after his side put together back to back wins to haul themselves out of the bottom three. He said: "At this stage of the season you roll up your sleeves and hope that is good enough and we have given ourselves a chance."
Here are the results that matter down at the bottom.
Aston Villa | 5 - 1 | |
Young 28 | Forssell 67 | |
2 - 0 | ||
Owen 4 | ||
Arsenal | 2 - 0 | |
Adebayor 30 | ||
Fulham | 0 - 2 | |
Pennant 17 | ||
0 - 1 | ||
McCann 61 | ||
1 - 1 | Tottenham | |
Heskey 12 | Berbatov 6 |
The Table
| 12 | Newcastle United | 35 | 8 | 5 | 5 | 25 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 10 | 17 | 34 | 11 | 9 | 15 | 42 | 58 | 42 | -16 | ||||
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 35 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 21 | 15 | 1 | 5 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 17 | 32 | 49 | 36 | -17 | ||||
| 14 | Middlesbrough | 35 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 17 | 22 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 14 | 27 | 8 | 12 | 15 | 31 | 49 | 36 | -18 | ||||
| 15 | Sunderland | 35 | 8 | 3 | 6 | 20 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 13 | 36 | 10 | 6 | 19 | 33 | 54 | 36 | -21 | ||||
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 35 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 12 | 11 | 34 | 8 | 8 | 19 | 32 | 52 | 32 | -20 | ||||
| 17 | Reading | 35 | 8 | 2 | 8 | 19 | 24 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 18 | 41 | 9 | 5 | 21 | 37 | 65 | 32 | -28 | ||||
| 18 | Birmingham City | 35 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 24 | 20 | 2 | 3 | 13 | 16 | 37 | 7 | 10 | 18 | 40 | 57 | 31 | -17 | ||||
| 19 | Fulham | 35 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 31 | 1 | 7 | 9 | 12 | 27 | 5 | 12 | 18 | 32 | 58 | 27 | -26 | ||||
| 20 | [R] Derby County | 35 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 10 | 33 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 7 | 43 | 1 | 8 | 26 | 17 | 76 | 11 | -59 | ||||
