Iain Dowie told Sky Sports News it's a case of three from four to be relegated from the Premier League.
It's Blackpool, Wolves and West Ham or Blackburn, says Dowie
Iain Dowie says Wolves and Blackpool are destined for the drop - and either West Ham or Blackburn will join them.
The former Crystal Palace, Coventry and Charlton boss, who was in charge of Hull when they were relegated from the Premier League last season, believes it is now a case of three from four at the foot of the table.
Blackpool's home defeat by Wigan on Saturday plunged them into the relegation zone for the first time this season, while Mick McCarthy's men are rock-bottom, but still have a game in hand.
And Dowie, a former West Ham player, expects the third of the trio to be decided on May 7 when the Hammers take on Blackburn at Upton Park.
"I think Wolves have got it all to do, and I have to say it's going to be Blackpool," he told
Sky Sports News. "So I think it's a case of Blackburn or West Ham and Wolves and Blackpool.
"I think West Ham's season comes down to the last three games of the season (Blackburn at home, Wigan away, Sunderland at home); Blackburn at home is going to be crucial.
"You just sense a buzzing atmosphere for that game and you can see them getting something out of that game, you really can.
"They must beat Blackburn at home - if they don't I think that's them going down. That's the game for them, because that flips it around and puts Blackburn in real problems."
Just six points separate the bottom 10 clubs, from FA Cup finalists Stoke in 12th place, down to Wolves.
Wigan moved out of the bottom three with that win at Bloomfield Road, while Birmingham's 2-0 success over Sunderland made it a timely seven points from nine games.
In contrast, Stev Bruce's side have picked up just one point from nine games, but are still five points clear of that crucial 18th place.
But Dowie is still backing them, Wigan and the Blues to be the ones to survive, along with the winners of that May 7 showdown.
Here is his verdict on the sides in trouble...
BLACKPOOL - 18th place, 33pts
"Don't forget Wigan went to Bloomfield Road as the lowest away scorers in the Premier League and they got three goals. It was disappointing in light of Blackpool's recent poor run but Ian Holloway knows he's still got goals in his team; they score far and away more goals than anyone else. They just need to tighten up a bit. The errors that occurred in the game against Blackpool, you can't legislate for and Ian said as much. It almost comes down to their next two home games - they must get points against Newcastle and Stoke."
WIGAN ATHLETIC - 17th place, 34pts
"It's amazing; two or three weeks ago everyone would've said they were their favourites to go down, but now with the run-in they've got - they've got a huge game at Sunderland this week - I think they have enough to get out of it. There seems a enough belief and I think Roberto Martinez has done very well since the disappointment of signing (Mauro) Boselli, who never quite hit it off. He seems to have got a format that works well and as a result they're in good form at the right time."
WEST HAM - 19th place, 32pts
"I think their season comes down to the last three games of the season. Blackburn at home after those two away games (Chelsea and Manchester City) is going to be crucial. You just sense a buzzing atmosphere for that game and you can see them getting something out of that game, you really can. They must beat Blackburn at home - if they don't I think that's them going down. That's the game for them, because that flips it around and puts Blackburn in real problems."
SUNDERLAND - 15th place, 38pts
"I can't see Sunderland getting sucked into that. They've had a poor, poor run of form; they've only scored nine goals since Darren Bent has left the club - and look what he's done for Villa, goals fundamentally change games. I don't think Sunderland will get sucked into; Steve Bruce knows what he's doing, so does Eric Black and I think they'll get at least one more result. I just sense in a packed Stadium of Light, they'll find a way to get a home win over Wolves."
BIRMINGHAM - 14th, 38pts
"It's not about how well you play at this stage of the season, it's about the points return. Alex McLeish will be absolutely delighted with the Sunderland result - Birmingham can find a way. They can grind out results and they could find themselves Carling Cup winners with another season in the Premier League; it's been a great pick-up in form."
BLACKBURN - 16th, 35pts
"It's their home form. I think with Sam they won 50 per cent of their home games at the start of the season, now they're getting down to something like 25 or 30 per cent. Their home form was key because they're not good away from home - they're the second lowest points scorers (11) away from home. It just worries me about the goals that Blackburn are conceding at the moment."
