Scott Minto has tipped Wigan to drag themselves out of the bottom three with Birmingham dropping down.
Minto believes Birmingham and Blackpool will be relegated
Ahead of
Survival Sunday in the Premier League this weekend, Scott Minto has tipped Wigan to drag themselves out of the bottom three with Birmingham dropping into the relegation zone.
Any of five teams could join already-doomed West Ham in the Championship next season with Blackburn, Wolves and Alex McLeish's Blues currently just safe.
Blackpool and Wigan occupy 18th and 19th respectively, although the Tangerines go to Manchester United needing a big performance. The Latics travel to Stoke after a heroic display against the Hammers last time out.
Blackburn and Wolves lock horns at Molineux while Birmingham head to the capital to face Europa League contenders Tottenham.
Scott told
Sky Sports News: "You want to be standing in the tunnel with your heart thumping on the back of a couple of good wins.
"Blackburn picked up a very good draw against Manchester United last week but Mick McCarthy's Wolves do have momentum and that is very important. They got the win against West Brom and also a really good win against Sunderland.
"McCarthy has said all along that it's about where they are on 22nd May and a couple of weeks ago most people would have said they're down but it's been an incredible season. It will be an interesting game and a difficult one to call - I think it will be very tight and nervy with maybe just the one goal in it.
"Steve Kean has always looked at the positives, even when there haven't been many positives around, but certainly he can say 'if we perform like we did against United then we can get something out of this game'. But I think Wolves will just nick it."
City blues
On Birmingham's chances of survival, he added: "I didn't see Tottenham going to Anfield and getting a really good win so I thought this game would be null and void to be honest with you but now Tottenham have a chance of getting in the Europa League.
"If you'd have talked to me a week ago I would have said Birmingham would be safe, purely because I thought they would beat Fulham at home. But playing at home and going a goal down - things can then get very nervy.
"I don't see Birmingham getting anything out of this either, I'm going Spurs 2 Birmingham 0."
Manchester United may have one eye on the upcoming UEFA Champions League final at Wembley but for Blackpool to get anything from their tie at Old Trafford will take a monumental effort.
"First of all, in terms of United's second string I'd say speak to Schalke. Look what their second string did to them at Old Trafford. It's a fantastic squad that Manchester United have," Minto said.
"For Blackpool it's going to be very difficult and I can see why Ian Holloway is getting frustrated. As a player if you know you're playing Barcelona in the Champions League final six days later, that will be in the back of your mind no matter how professional you are.
"Therefore I think it will be better for the teams around Blackpool that Manchester United make a lot of changes because I think the first-team players will have their heads on Barcelona.
"With Blackpool, they've been everybody's second favourite team this season. They have goals in them but they can concede goals as well. They're playing a team that has won 17 and drawn one of their home games this season. If they go a goal down can they come back? I'm not sure.
"I don't see them getting a goal unfortunately, I'm going for Manchester United 2 Blackpool 0."
Latics lift
Finally, Scott believes Wigan will do the business against a tired Stoke outfit at the Britannia Stadium.
He said: "I think Tony Pulis' side will always be 100 per cent at it, but if ever there was a game where they will not be then it is this one. Their heads may be on the beach a little bit. I think the performance we saw in midweek was a tired Stoke City side.
"On paper you'd look at this and say a Stoke win, but I don't think that's necessarily going to be the case. Wigan can take a lot of confidence from how they've played in the last few games - especially after going 2-0 down against West Ham last week.
"I think they will have belief, even if they go a goal down, right until the last second. I actually fancy Wigan to get something out of this game. I think Wigan will just about sneak a point.
"I think there will only be one change, and unfortunately for Alex McLeish, I think his side could slip into it and Wigan may just get out."
