After another exciting weekend of Premier League action Crystal Palace have secured top flight football next season. Their fifth win in a row has lifted them clear of the relegation threatened clubs and they can now concentrate on playing their part in deciding who will be crowned league champions next month as they face both Manchester City and Liverpool at Selhurst Park. Tony Pulis has done a remarkable job since taking over in November and can now make plans to take his side forward and aim towards a top half finish.
As good as this weekend was for Palace it wasn't quite as good for others so here's a round up of how the results affected the prospects of the nine sides who remain in the relegation battle.
West Ham 37 points
26th April West Brom (away); 3rd May Tottenham (home); 11th May Manchester City (away)
West Ham still have a cushion of seven points from the drop zone but their 1-0 home defeat to Crystal Palace means they cannot take anything for granted. If they lose at the Hawthorns on Saturday they may just start feeling the breath of the chasing pack closing down on them.
Swansea 36 points
26th April Aston Villa (home); 3rd May Southampton (home); 11th May Sunderland (away)
The Swans gave themselves some breathing room with a superb 2-1 win in Newcastle. The winner of this weekends game against Aston Villa should be able to consider themselves safe but the loser will be looking over their shoulder and hoping for the clubs below them to drop points.
Hull 36 points
26th April Fulham (away); 3rd May Aston Villa (away); 6th May Manchester United (away); 11th May Everton (home)
The FA Cup Final preview didn't go well for the Tigers as they slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Arsenal. They will need to improve a lot on Sunday's performance if they are to stop the Gunners at Wembley. However, they have more important issues before then and a run of three away games in a row isn't ideal when they are just six points above the drop zone.
Aston Villa 35 points
26th April Swansea (away); 3rd May Hull (home); 7th May Manchester City (away); 11th May Tottenham (away)
Villa were able to stop their freefall towards the relegation places with a 0-0 draw at home to Southampton but they are still in a very dangerous position. They won't want to be relying on picking up points from their last two games so the next two against Swansea and Hull are huge for Paul Lambert's men.
West Brom 33 points
26th April West Ham (home); 4th May Arsenal (away) 7th May Sunderland (away); 11th May Stoke (home)
They won't have expected to get anything at the Etihad and worked out that way although there were some positives in the 3-1 defeat. They gave City a few problems but it wasn't to be and this weekends game at home to West Ham promises to be huge in their quest to stay in the top division.
Norwich 32 points
26th April Manchester United (away); 4th May Chelsea (away); 11th May Arsenal (home)
Norwich gave Liverpool a real scare on Sunday but ultimately fell short and at this stage performances count for little. It all comes down to getting points on the board and it doesn't get any easier for the Canaries as they go to Old Trafford next and United have plenty to prove to their home fans after a disappointing year.
Cardiff 30 points
27th April Sunderland (away); 3rd May Newcastle (away); 11th May Chelsea (home)
Cardiff picked up a good point at home to Stoke on Saturday but it wasn't enough to lift them out of the bottom three. This week they head to the north east for a real relgation six pointer against Sunderland. A win could see them go above Norwich depending on the result at Old Trafford but it certainly won't be easy against a side coming off two fantastic results.
Fulham 30 points
26th April Hull (home); 3rd May Stoke (away); 11th May Crystal Palace (home)
Fulham slipped back to 19th with a 3-1 loss at White Hart Lane and things are beginning to look desperate for the Cottagers. Their run in isn't the worst though and they could pick up the points they need to move out of the bottom three but they need to start this weekend at home to Hull.
Sunderland 29 points
27th April Cardiff (home); 3rd May Manchester United (away); 7th May West Brom (home); 11th May Swansea (home)
I wouldn't imagine Sunderland were targeting their trip to Stamford Bridge as the one that was going to the difference in Premier League and Championship football next season. Four points from away games to Manchester City and Chelsea is title winning form and surely confidence must be high as they prepare to host Cardiff in what is now a must win game.