And fittingly, the four key places still to be decided today are neatly divided along such lines . . . the good hoping to ascend to the bountiful golden fields of European football, the bad praying to escape condemnation to the fiery, barren pits of the Championship.

Naturally, it's the latter that assumes the most importance and emotion, particularly with that hefty �30m prize tag attached to 17th place. Of course, that West Ham are still in the hunt to attain it, let alone favoured to do so, is down to what pretty much amounts to a miracle . . .

or, if you're so inclined, some fairly skewered readings of the rulebook. Yet, for all the complaints from Wigan and Sheffield United about the handling of the Javier Mascherano/Carlos Tevez hullabaloo . . . and they weren't moaning when Tevez's wayward shooting and Alan Pardew's misuse of Mascherano essentially aided their seasons for the first five months . . . they have only themselves to blame for their current predicaments. Ten points clear of danger only a few months ago, Neil Warnock's side looked safe.

However, injury to Rob Hulse saw the goals dry up, as well as the points as they only have eight from their last 10 games. Wigan's slump has been even more catastrophic, their season going into freefall after that eight-game losing streak over Christmas.

Once 12 points clear of danger, they haven't won in over two months. West Ham on the other hand, despite losing to every single one of their relegation rivals . . . even Charlton and Watford . . . have remarkably won six of their last eight.

It's clear who the momentum is with, yet the fixture list might just underscore that, particularly as it has allowed the novel situation of all three retaining control of their own fate. West Ham have the especially tricky task of a visit to Manchester United, but for all the talk of Alex Ferguson avenging 1995 or Sheffield United and Wigan engineering a result to send the Hammers down, given their motivation, a draw isn't beyond the means of Alan Curbishley's side. That would leave a straight shoot-out at Brammal Lane where, in one of their few pluses this season, the Blades have only lost once in the last eight. Wigan's only hope is that the heightened chaos of the final day may allow them to grab a highly unlikely win. Whatever happens, the bad feeling around one of the most bitter relegation scraps in history will only heighten. And no doubt go on off the field.

A far cry from the Uefa Cup race where so placated is Reading's Steve Coppell that he has already received a rebuke from Uefa for threatening to play a reserve side in the competition next year to consolidate their league status. That might have more to do with the fact only one place of the three genuinely looks available though. With Reading away to Blackburn and Portsmouth hosting Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton's three-point gap looks enough, regardless of their own fixtures. Bolton meanwhile, for all the difficulites behind the scenes, should be able to hold out one last time at home for a result against Aston Villa.

All ifs and buts of course, but one guarantee we do have today is that we're going to see a lot of grown men cry.

Just don't judge, the table will do that for you.

WHAT THEY NEED. . .

5. Everton, (a) v Chelsea Need only a draw for Uefa Cup place. Defeat enough if either Bolton or Reading fail to win.

6. Spurs, (h) v Man City Need only a draw. Defeat enough if either Bolton or Reading fail to win.

7. Bolton, (h) v Aston Villa Need a win to secure place.

Draw enough if Reading or Portsmouth fail to win.

8. Reading, (a) v Blackburn Must win and hope Tottenham lose or Bolton draw/lose. Draw enough if Bolton lose and Portsmouth draw/lose.

9. Portsmouth, (h) v Arsenal Must win and hope Bolton and Reading lose or draw.

16. Sheff United, (h) v Wigan Need only a draw for safety.

Even defeat will be enough if West Ham lose.

17. West Ham, (a) v Man United Draw will secure safety. Defeat enough if Wigan fail to win.

18. Wigan, (a) v Sheff United Must win, when it will then go down to goal difference/scored