CALA AND MARSHAL IN PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM OF THE WEEK!

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Tactical talking point: who is going down?

Will Fulham's defeat of Norwich help keep them up? Photograph: Javier Garcia/BPI/REX
Sunderland: 20th, 25 points. Form W0 D1 L5
The current mood at the Stadium of Light couldn't be further from the euphoria felt a couple of months ago when Sunderland were preparing themselves for a Capital One Cup final and an FA Cup quarter-final having racked up seven wins from eight matches in all competitions.

Fast-forward to the present day and the sense of impending doom has overridden the optimism. After five successive Premier League defeats, the cup runs seem to have finally taken their toll, with their last three points coming in another memorable 3-0 rout at Newcastle at the start of February.

Though the Wearsiders have six games left to play, their three away trips are to the Etihad Stadium, Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford. With three of the top seven to play in their next four matches, the home game against Cardiff City sandwiched between is simply must win. While matches at the Stadium of Light against West Brom and Swansea also follow, Poyet's side have the worst home record in the division (13 points from 16 matches).

Man City v Sunderland, April 16
Chelsea v Sunderland, April 19
Sunderland v Cardiff, April 27
Manchester United v Sunderland, May 3
Sunderland v West Brom, May 7
Sunderland v Swansea, May 11

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Cardiff City: 19th, 29 points. Form W2 D1 L3
An unlikely win away at Southampton has given Cardiff a fighting chance that seemed to have disappeared after a crushing home defeat to Crystal Palace. The win on the road was their first in the league since September and they will need to pick up points in their remaining away games against a Newcastle side that have ground to a premature halt and the one team beneath them in the league, Sunderland. The enormity of that match cannot be overstated for either side.

Before then, they host Stoke City, who have only picked up 10 points from away matches this season. Cardiff will need to secure as many points as they can in their next three matches as they host Chelsea on the last day of the season.

Cardiff v Stoke, April 19
Sunderland v Cardiff, April 27
Newcastle v Cardiff, May 3
Cardiff v Chelsea, May 11

Fulham: 18th, 30 points. Form W3 D0 L3
Back-to-back wins have given Fulham hope. Their defensive woes have cost them all season but, their third manager this season, Felix Magath, seems to be having the desired effect.

While an away trip to Tottenham next time out may seem unfavourable, the uncertainty at Spurs with regards to the managerial position may well be a distraction, and Sherwood's side have been inconsistent of late. With six points possibly a minimum requirement, Fulham's home matches against Hull City and Crystal Palace, both of whom have realistically secured their safety and have won just 11 away points apiece this season, are extremely positive.

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Nice! High hopes for the Chaulker/Cala partnership!