D-Day for Aston Villa, Newcastle and Sunderland as big drop looms

England’s famous three clubs face the harsh reality of playing in the Championship next season if games go against them this weekend

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West Ham's Andy Carroll has been in terrific form in the Premiership, scoring a hat-trick against Arsenal last week. Could he be the thorn in Leceister’s side on Sunday? Photo: AP

Published: 4:12pm, 15 Apr 2016Updated: 4:20pm, 15 Apr 2016

While Leicester City stand on the verge of becoming English champions for the first time - which would make them the first to achieve that feat since Nottingham Forest 38 years ago - three of the oldest and most decorated names are facing up to the reality of life in the Championship.

Those three famous clubs have been crowned English champions on 17 occasions between them - all ranking in the top ten of title winners

Aston Villa are clinging on to the faintest of mathematical hopes but to all intents and purposes are already relegated, with Newcastle and Sunderland currently most likely to join them in falling into the Championship and leaving behind the wealth of the Premier League, which from next season will be more bountiful than ever.

Those three famous clubs have been crowned English champions on 17 occasions between them - all ranking in the top ten of title winners - but in stark contrast to Leicester they have been pushed to the brink by mismanagement and under-investment.

Aston Villa fans are clinging on to the tiniest of hopes that they will survive the drop. The Villans face Manchester United on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

This could be make-or-break weekend when Sunderland visit Norwich for a match that, more than most, lives up to the billing of “relegation six-pointer’” Norwich are one place above the relegation zone and the only team that, realistically, can be caught by Sunderland or Newcastle.

If Norwich win tonight’s early kick-off, they will open a seven-point gap on Sunderland, who will still have a game in hand but only five matches in which to catch the Canaries. If Sunderland win, they will be only one point behind and will need only to draw that game in hand to move above Norwich on goal difference.

Norwich manager Alex Neil is hoping his side can take points off Sunderland in their Premiership survival. Photo: Reuters

Newcastle, meanwhile, will probably be hoping for a Sunderland win - a strange state of affairs, to say the least - as they are only two points behind their great north-east rivals and also have a game in hand on Norwich.