WRITERS from newspapers covering the eight clubs battling it out with Blackburn Rovers for Premier League survival give their verdicts on how their team will fare and who will go down.

Hull Daily Mail - Philip Buckingham

I don’t think anyone at Hull has ever thought the club were safe from relegation but the win at Fulham the other week could well prove a very key result.

People perhaps thought that would be a turning point but the defeat at Wigan was a setback, and in a way it is back to square one.

While they are in the position they are, Hull do still seem to be in a bit of a comfort zone and while other teams keep losing that will stay the same.

The place is still quite buoyant under Phil Brown and the confidence is still there but the league is so tight at the moment it is very difficult to predict.

The next three games for Hull will be critical.

After the international break, they play Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Sunderland and after them I think you could almost know what league Hull will be playing in next season.

After that they have to play Liverpool and Manchester United but hopefully by then safety will already be guaranteed.

Blackburn’s chances: Blackburn should have enough to stay out of trouble.

Having said that though I am surprised they haven’t climbed the table quicker under Sam Allardyce.

At this stage of the season, teams seem more concerned about not losing games and that could be the case for Blackburn.

I am sure it won’t be pretty but they should be fine.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle United.

Stoke Sentinel - Martin Spinks

Everything is looking a lot rosier in these parts now after picking up their home form again, while the fixture run-in does seem favourable after a tough period over Christmas and the new year.

The one obvious concern is their away form and that might just put added and unwanted pressure on their home games, particularly those crunch clashes against Newcastle and Blackburn.

Tony Pulis has no major injury worries, while the fans backing has to help.

There is genuine momentum at this crucial stage and everyone is justifiably optimistic in the Potteries, but certainly taking nothing for granted.

The run-in isn’t too bad compared to some. The Newcastle and Blackburn home games will be critical though.

Blackburn’s chances: No-one appears to be backing Blackburn for the drop since Big Sam arrived and I think that’s pretty spot on.

They seem to be drawing an awful lot of matches to keep themselves down with the dead men, but they’ll surely have enough points to survive before the last couple of games.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough and Hull.

The Bolton News - Marc Iles

I don’t think the threat of relegation had ever gone away from here.

I know the bookies have not concentrated on Wanderers being a contender to go down but it is that tight in the league, Bolton fans have always been fairly realistic.

They are a realistic set of fans but they also know the club have a fairly easy run-in, that will give them the perfect chance to stay clear of trouble.

Another four points would probably enough, I think 38 points and safety is done and dusted.

The run-in is good. Middlesbrough are next up at home and a win there and you can almost say the threat of relegation is gone.

Some teams have some horrible run-ins, so Bolton’s is definitely another reason to feel confident.

Blackburn’s chances: Sam Allardyce will make sure Blackburn stay up I am sure.

It might not be pretty but at this stage of the season, all that matter is finishing above those bottom three positions.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough and Hull.

Sunderland Echo - Graeme Anderson

The natives are getting nervous around here, you could definitely sense an atmosphere of concern at the last home game against Wigan.

The home game before against Tottenham, Sunderland conceded a late equaliser and that was taken into the Wigan game.

So when Wigan scored the fans voiced their worries and that didn’t help.

There is definitely no complacency because, unlike Blackburn and Stoke, Sunderland are on a downward spiral - that is the worry for Ricky Sbragia.

Every team has their two or three games you don’t expect to win and Sunderland’s are against Manchester United and Chelsea.

But what kept Sunderland up last season was their ability to beat teams around them and games against Hull, Portsmouth, West Ham, Bolton and Everton are winnable.

Blackburn’s chances: Blackburn will be okay and I have thought that ever since Sam Allardyce was appointed.

He is a very canny, shrewd manager. The football is never going to be sexy and he isn’t someone who will be loved by the fans but he is just a very good manager.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough and Newcastle.

Middlesbrough Evening Gazette - Eric Paylor

We are in the middle of a five-match run that is regarded as winnable and that will prove crucial to whether Middlesbrough can stay up or not.

That was starting with the draw at Portsmouth, which was seen as a missed opportunity, and then Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Stoke City.

Stoke was a very tight game and we had enough chances to win the game in a classic away performance, unfortunately we missed them and were hit by a killer blow.

Performance wise, they played well at Stoke but again we are paying a high price for not being able to score goals.

I am sure Gareth Southgate will be able to lift them in time for the next game but, Middlesbrough are now odds on to be relegated and that is fair enough.

After the next three games, which are crucial, there is a really tough last few games ahead, including games against Arsenal, Manchester United and Aston Villa.

We play at Newcastle third from last game and, with all the traditional rivalry, that is being seen as the crunch game.

Blackburn’s chances: Middlesbrough were probably playing for the point when they drew 0-0 with Blackburn and they were quite fortunate to get that.

I would think Blackburn will be alright because they have got a lot of quality in the side.

Sam Allardyce is a wily old fox and should have enough nous to just about get them clear, although I don’t think they will be a million miles away.

I would be amazed if they were one of the three though.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough, Newcastle.

Newcastle Evening Chronicle - Neil Farrington

Saturday was the moment a lot of people in Newcastle decided relegation was probable rather than possible for Newcastle.

The fact that we have lost two key defenders, in Taylor and Bassong, for probably around a month each means most fans see the prospect of keeping clean sheets impossible.

There are not many goals going in for us and without those two in defence, you start fearing the worst.

The club is like a ship without a rudder, they need someone to take control, someone with managerial experience, because Chris Hughton is a natural born number two.

At the moment the players are trying to organise themselves, perhaps Joe Kinnear returning after his health problems will be that lifeline.

People are looking at three home fixtures as absolutely key.

Chelsea at home are up next and you have to assume that will be a defeat, but the three other home games are Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Fulham.

Blackburn’s chances: A few people up here would not shed a tear if Blackburn went down but I think Sam Allardyce will just have enough nous and manage-rial ability to keep them up.

Relegated: West Brom and Middlesbrough are already down and then one of Newcastle, Portsmouth, Rovers, Sunderland and Hull. At the moment you would have to say Newcastle.

Birmingham Mail (West Bromwich Albion reporter) - Chris Lepkowski

I think the players are doing their best impression of fooling themselves, in that they are saying the right things but not getting any closer to getting out of trouble.

They threw everything into getting maximum points against Bolton in the last 10 to 15 minutes.

By the end we only had two defenders, that was how desperate they were to win the game.

I think there the feeling around the place now is that is it.

Five wins are probably needed from eight games and even then favours will be needed, it really would take some doing now.

The fans have given up hope and I have given up hope because I don’t think you could find three teams in the league that are weaker.

I would describe it is as a mixed run-in. The next home game is against Stoke and, for any chance of staying up at all, that is a must-win although traditionally West Brom don’t do well against them.

Then they play Portsmouth and Manchester City away, which are tough games while there are also some tough looking home games.

Blackburn’s chances: Rovers should be fine. I think they have more than enough talent in the squad to climb the table.

Other teams are struggling for form whereas at least Blackburn are getting results.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough, Hull.

Portsmouth News - Neil Allen

LAST Saturday’s home win against Everton was a massive result because I don’t think anyone really expected that.

Getting that three points had made things suddenly look a lot more optimistic.

Since Paul Hart was appointed and he brought Brian Kidd in, they have taken eight points from five games and so there is certainly the confidence to make sure they avoid trouble.

Drawing to Middlesbrough the other week was a massive blow but Peter Crouch is back in form and the signs are there that there will be more good results to follow.

Portsmouth have a decent run-in, compared to some of the stinkers other teams have.

Looking at the fixture list, you have to say Newcastle and Sunderland face horrendous ends to the season, while Blackburn’s doesn’t look great either.

Their next match is at Hull and that could prove a key fixture.

Blackburn’s chances: They will be okay for two reasons.

Firstly they are capable of scoring goals with the likes of Benni McCarthy, Jason Roberts and Roque Santa Cruz in the side.

Secondly they have got a quality manager, which a lot of teams in this position are lacking.

Sam Allardyce has the experience to get them out of trouble.

Relegated: West Brom, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.

Overall votes for relegation

West Bromwich Albion - 8 out of 8
Middlesbrough - 7 out of 8
Newcastle United - 4 out of 8
Hull City - 2 out of 8
Sunderland - 1 out of 8