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Saturday Night Takeaways: Aston Villa a disgrace, Newcastle and Sunderland still fighting for their lives

There are five games left to play in this year's Premier League. As the table straightens itself ...



Saturday Night Takeaways: Asto...
Soccer

Saturday Night Takeaways: Aston Villa a disgrace, Newcastle and Sunderland still fighting for their lives

There are five games left to play in this year's Premier League. As the table straightens itself out, the proverbial cream will rise to the top and whatever's left will be left floating in the mire. 

Aston Villa, a side who have been swimming in the mire for the entire season, have been officially cut off from the rest of the Premier League and will play their football in the second tier of English football for the first time during the Premier League era.

What did Lescott mean?

Not that Villa's relegation is a talking point - we knew it was coming for weeks and were just awaiting confirmation - but Jolean Lescott has raised eyebrows, yet again, with a quote that makes no sense on several levels, is disrespectful to fans and has received plenty of attention.

The former England international said, "Now it's confirmed maybe it's a weight off the shoulders and we can give these fans what they deserve, some performances."

He came under plenty of scrutiny for the comments and there are plenty of people sitting at their computer clicking refresh on his twitter page to see whether or not he posts another picture of a car to rub in fan's faces.

Lescott's comments are ridiculous but they are indicative of a club with no direction, leaders or common sense and given the current state the club is in, the only place for them is away from the white-hot heat of the Premier League spotlight.

Sunderland and Newcastle still fighting

The cliched relegation three-pointer between Sunderland and Norwich City ended with a 2-0 victory for the Black Cats and Newcastle gave Rafa Benitez a thoughtful birthday present; A 3-0 victory over fellow relegation candidates Swansea.

Aston Villa were relegated but it remains a mystery as to who will join them in the Championship next season. 

Sunderland and Newcastle have a game in hand over a recently resurgent Norwich but Alex Neil's side looked lifeless against Big Sam and his Sunderland side. There are fifteen points up for grabs for Newcastle, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and West Brom but Norwich, and Swansea remain in serious trouble if the chasing pack can win their game in hand. Arsenal play Palace tomorrow and a loss will pull them right back into the danger zone too.

Leicester's Vardy, Mahrez and Kante have ensured plenty of suspense at the business end of the table but there is still plenty of action left to unfold during the run-in of games at the foot of it too. 

Conte has plenty to contemplate

The war of words leading up to Kevin de Bruyne's return to Stamford Bridge was perilously close to entering petty territory but Chelsea have felt his loss this season given the fact that he is a direct rival now on a team preparing for another season rubbing shoulders with Europe's finest, gearing up for a Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid.

Chelsea's season is over but Antonio Conte will have seen their latest performance and wondered just what he is dealing with. Cesc Fabregas looked laborious and languid, Thibaut Courtois looks like a player who doesn't want to be at the club anymore, Pato returned to anonymity and Pedro has never reached third gear in a Chelsea kit.

We can expect to see plenty of movement from Roman Abramovich this summer in both directions as many of his players might have signed in order to play Champions League football. That is something the club can no longer guarantee and we suspect De Bruyne is breathing a sigh of relief that Jose didn't take a liking to him.

Where they go next is anyone's guess but a clear-out is necessary and Antonio Conte needs to arrive in London with a coherent, if not drastic, plan of action.

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