Premier League relegation scrap rocked by revolving door coaches

As we approach the final few months of the season, chairmen of relegation-threatened clubs across the land have taken wildly different approaches to haul themselves away from the Premier League trap door.

The January transfer window is widely viewed as a last-chance saloon to stop sliding into the Championship, but the most important decision a team can make is whether to stand by their manager.

Several sides set for a relegation dogfight have new coaches at the helm, whilst others have opted for continuity.

So, as basement battlers batten down the hatches for the run-in, Coral writers take a fresh look at which teams look destined for the drop, and who could pull a Houdini.

Aston Villa
Villa’s backline could be key for new coach Tim Sherwood, as the Midlands men have conceded just 34 times in the league this term, the same number as Tottenham, and much less than the teams around and below them.

Three goals in their last 10 fixtures across all competitions should show Sherwood where he needs to focus his attention, but the Villans’ defence must make sure they cover for an increased sense of adventure.

At 6/4 to topple into the Championship, it may already be too late to stage an escape, but the Villa Park side have a favourable run of fixtures coming up, including Stoke and Sunderland, and may still have an ace up their sleeve if Sherwood can inspire Christian Benteke.

Crystal Palace
Alan Pardew has done a fantastic job at Selhurst Park, in one instance where a dramatic mid-season coaching shake-up seems to have paid off.

Palace have previous with this, having employed escape artist Tony Pulis to save them last season. Not yet out of the woods on 27 points, the Eagles are now outsiders at 9/1 to fall off their Premier League perch, but have won five of their eight outings since switching bosses.

Leicester City
Just like embattled Burnley (12/5 to finish bottom), the Foxes have been commendably faithful to under-fire Nigel Pearson, who has steered big-spending Leicester City to just four league scalps.