Ten games to go and somehow we have managed to find ourselves drifting towards the wrong end of the table. If the performance and tactical decisions at home to Everton were worrying, the setup and capitulation at Stoke was terrifying.

On Saturday we play Wolves at home - they are third from bottom but only four points behind us. A win is a must.

At time of writing we are 11th in the table with a league record of:

P30 W9 D9 L12 F44 A45 PTS36

Our current form (last five games) reads:

Stoke (A) 0 v 4 L
Everton (H) 1 v 2 L
Bolton (H) 1 v 1 D
Birmingham (A) 2 v 0 W
Blackburn (A) 0 v 0 D

People often refer to the 'magic 42 point mark', but I wonder if 42 points will be enough this season? Will we survive?

I am boldly predicting the outcomes of the last 10 games and, amazingly, I am doing this with my optimistic hat on:

Wolves (H) 2 v 1 win - we need the crowd behind us at this one. The hoofing that they systematically gave Joey at their place was disgusting and it will be more of the same on Saturday. It will be tough, but we WILL win it.

Villa (A) 0 v 2 loss - Villa have been in even worse nick than us this season and the fans have not warmed to Houllier. Who can forget the slaughter we put them to at the very start of this season?! However they are OK at home and it has not always been the best place for us results wise.

Manchester United (H) 1 v 3 loss - comes around the time of a Champions League semi for the Mancs which might work in our favour, though if Arsenal (or even Chelsea) maintain some sort of threat to their title ambitions they'll be well up for this one.

Blackpool (A) 2 v 2 draw - Blackpool are also 3 points behind us and have beaten us twice in our 3 recent meetings. I don't think they will make it a 3rd, but they've only won 4 games at home all season. (So have we!)

Liverpool (A) 0 v 2 loss - I think I am right in saying that only Manchester United have picked up more league points than Liverpool in 2011. We are also pretty terrible at Anfield. A loss and the inevitable Carroll goal.

Birmingham (H) 2 v 0 win - We battered them at their place, though there can be no doubt that they had one eye on the Carling Cup final. I've read numerous calls for Roger Johnson to get a game for England, but wor Leon tore him apart at St Andrew's

Chelsea (A) 0 v 2 loss - I can't see a repeat of our Carling Cup heroics.

West Brom (H) 3 v 1 win - Yet another side only 3 points behind us, they seem to have improved slightly under Hodgson. We have enough to beat them if it comes down to a 6 pointer at home.

If my crystal ball doesn't fail me, that will leave us with a record of:

P38 W12 D10 L16 F54 A58 PTS46

46 points would be enough to keep us up - it was good enough for 12th last season.

Who knows though? Let me know what you all think. Follow me on Twitter @MarcSDuffy

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