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Danny Bloomer

Micah Richards says rivals will be more worried than Newcastle about relegation

Micah Richards does not think Newcastle United supporters will be the most worried about relegation of the teams currently just outside the bottom three.

The Magpies currently sit 17th in the table but have picked up 11 points from their last five games, with momentum now well and truly behind Eddie Howe’s side.

Despite that, though, two of the sides currently occupying the bottom three picked up impressive away wins at the weekend.

Watford secured their first victory since November as they defeated Aston Villa 1-0 at Villa Park., while Burnley also picked up just their second win of the season as they comfortably dispatched Brighton & Hove Albion 3-0 at the AMEX Stadium.

The three teams directly above Newcastle at the moment – Everton, Leeds United and Brentford – are all struggling for form at present.

When asked which supporters he thinks will be the most nervous at the moment, Richards pointed to those three teams, as opposed to Newcastle.

Speaking on BBC 5Live’s Monday Night Club, he said: “Burnley are now in a little bit of good form, Newcastle have got that edge, I would say the fans of Leeds and Brentford, they’ve played 24 and 26, Everton have got 22 points, Leeds have got 23.

“Leeds keep getting an injury in pretty much every game. It looked like the bounce was back at Everton but then they go and lose, so if you ask me who’s nervous I’ve got to say Leeds, Everton and Brentford because of the teams under them.

“Burnley have been there and done it, we all have a laugh with Rory but he is right in terms of the stats. If you’re always down there at some stage you probably are going to go down but I just think they (Burnley) are the best equipped to deal with it as they’ve done it on a consistent basis.”

Richards added: “You think your talent can just get you over the line. When you’ve got talent in Everton’s team, in Leeds’ team you think you’re going to be alright. But when the teams that are winning underneath you gather a little bit of momentum, you do start to worry. They will be looking over their shoulders, 100%.”

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