THE relegation picture should be a lot clearer after this weekend, with most of the bottom sides facing each other.

I think I can still hear the roar of relief coming from Villa Park after the Newcastle win and another three points down at West Ham will just about see Villa safe.

One look at their away record tells you why Villa can’t be mega-confident but in these situations it sometimes helps to be the visiting side, with the pressure piled on the hosts.

It is a massive game for both clubs and there will be no hiding places for the 22 men on the pitch.

Villa have the class to tell, though, and they can claim the win that would spell disaster for the Hammers, who then face back-to-back road trips against Chelsea and Man City.

Big Eck has got to be happy enough with the draw at Blackburn and I see no reason why they won’t claim at least the same again this weekend as ex-Blues gaffer Steve Bruce makes a St Andrew’s return with his freefalling Sunderland side.

A campaign that began with such promise hit the buffers the moment Darren Bent walked out of the Stadium of Light and the Mackems are being dragged towards the battle at the basement.

They have lost seven of the last eight and that is no way to finish a season.

Blues beat Bolton at home last time out and having done that, they would be disappointed not to follow-up with another triumph.

With a number of tricky games on the horizon, points will be at a premium for Blues, in case they needed any extra motivation here.

I simply can’t see them losing but a stalemate wouldn’t be the end of the world for either team, so I’d have Blues in the ‘draw no bet’ market.

With no game, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy will be able to assess the damage of a costly couple of weeks. It will be uncomfortable viewing waiting for the results to come in, but one man happier with his lot at the moment will be Roy Hodgson.

Things couldn’t have gone better for West Brom since his appointment and they’ve earned the right to enjoy tomorrow’s game against Chelsea, no matter the result.

Chelsea have problems on and off the pitch and the Baggies might find it a good time to play Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

However, last season’s champs will be smarting from their Euro exit and should edge it.