Everton put some breathing room between themselves and the relegation zone after their stunning late victory over Newcastle United. The Toffees looked lackluster all game once more, and following a red card to Allan, it looked as if Frank Lampard’s men may well be getting themselves into a serious fight to stay in the Premier League.
The win, however, gives them some much needed space in the fight against the drop. In honour of their victory we look at the three greatest escapes in Premier League history ahead of a memorable relegation battle in 2021/22.
Leicester City – 2014/15
If you take into account Leicester City’s bottom-placed position by Christmas to end up out of the relegation zone by the end of the season, you’ll get one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history. Sprinkle in the fact they miraculously ended up winning the league the following year against the 5000/1 odds, and you have probably the greatest sporting story ever told.
At Christmas, Leicester were seemingly doomed in 20th spot. But they managed to join West Bromwich Albion (2004/05) and Sunderland (2013/14) as one of only three sides in history to avoid relegation when being bottom on December 25.
Legendary striker Jamie Vardy was having himself a coming out party on the Premier League scene that year. Following a 2-1 home win over West Ham United, Leicester went on a run collecting 22 points from the final 27 available. This saw the Foxes clinch survival with one game left and incredibly finish 14th.
To think they won the league title off the back of this within the next 12 months is simply unbelievable.
West Ham United – 2006/07
In what is probably the most famous survival in the Premier League’s history because of the controversy that surrounded the club, West Ham would miraculously move out of the relegation zone on the final day with a stunning win against the Premier League champions, Manchester United.
Hardly any clubs used to get points at Old Trafford back then. With West Ham heading to Manchester, it was expected to be an easy day at the office for the champions with virtually everyone predicting the Hammers to be in the Championship at 5pm that famous Saturday in May 2007.
The season was marred with the controversial signings of Argentinian duo, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, and that would dominate the headlines all season and cast a shadow over the Premier League relegation battle. The two signed off the books of the Premier League side and directly with the club itself, something that is widely against protocol in the division.
Fast forward eight months, and West Ham were 10 points behind 17th place in early March. Then, a run of six wins in eight games left the Hammers needing just one point against United. Stunningly, they pulled it off, and clubs like Sheffield United who went down as a result would go on to open up a legal case against West Ham after the controversy surrounding Tevez’s signing, who, of course, scored the winner on the final day at Old Trafford.
West Bromwich Albion – 2004/05
From a mathematical standpoint, West Brom’s 2004/05 survival remains one of the most well known tales and perhaps the most incredible considering the odds that were stacked against them in the final month of the season.
West Brom were in a situation where, for the first time ever, all three relegation spots were yet to be determined on the final day. But the Baggies were easily the side least favored to stay in the division.
Worse yet for the Midlands side, they slipped back to being bottom of the table heading into the final matches. This meant they had to beat Portsmouth on the final day and hope their other three competitors all failed to get three points.
West Brom beat Portsmouth 2-0, although the second goal that was meant to be the decisive one in keeping them up could not be celebrated as Crystal Palace were leading at Charlton Athletic. Then, with eight minutes to go, Charlton leveled the game and West Brom fans had to wait for the final whistle 111 miles away. They would hold Palace to a draw and the Baggies stayed in the Premier League.
At the time, West Brom became the first Premier League side to avoid relegation having been bottom on Christmas Day, and only two sides have ever done so since, following 84 different relegations into the second tier. With a minimum of 3420 minutes to be played in the 38-game season, the club saved themselves with only eight minutes left, and in reality, survived on pure hope and a little bit of luck in the end.
-Grant McQuillan
Twitter: @Grant_McQuillan