#relegation

#relegation

The table is so tight that the title race and the fight to survive relegation looks like going to the wire, with teams battling for Europe still also looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone.

Dublin's victory over Carlow was marked by a remarkable performance, with twelve different scorers contributing to a 14-point win, securing their promotion to Division 1A.

The lack of pressure on Scott Parker this season, despite a collection of desperate performances and an impending relegation, has been mystifying. Plenty at Turf Moor feel a strong sense of loyalty to Parker, especially the chairman, Alan Pace, but support in the stands is dwindling. The lack of backing in the winter transfer window left the squad short of quality and with limited routes out of their current predicament.

Three points against rivals Brighton eased any lingering relegation worries for Crystal Palace, who would put 20 points between themselves and Burnley with a win at Selhurst Park. Burnley are in a dire spot, above only Wolverhampton Wanderers and now 14 points from safety with 13 matches left to play. With just three wins this season, the Clarets' need a miracle.

Starting with the hosts, while Pisa might have only made their iconic Serie A return this season, it is no secret that Alberto Gilardino's men have a real battle on their hands in the race to keep hold of their top-flight status. Despite clinging to a 2-2 stalemate away at Cagliari last time out, the Towers are firmly sat in the drop zone and they opened Christmas Day sat three points adrift of safety.

Fans of Internacional, first of all, I acknowledge that I didn't make a good statement about the color pink during my press conference. Before this spreads, I apologise. Colors don't define genders. What defines is character. Internacional needs peace and a lot of hard work. Come on, Inter!

Oxford United took the long road back to the second tier of English football. After they were relegated from what was then Division One in 1999, they spent the next quarter of a century dropping and then climbing again. Where some teams bounce around from one level to another, Oxford committed to the way down and then the way back. They changed direction only once, in 2009-10, when they were promoted after four years in the Conference.