WEST Brom manager Gary Megson claims it could take less than the traditional 40 points to secure Premiership survival this term.
Just three seasons ago, Bradford stayed up with only 36 points - three more than third-from-bottom Wimbledon.
And in the 1995/96 season, the first year the top flight was reduced to 20 teams, Southampton escaped the dreaded drop with 38 points, on goal difference from Manchester City.
Even in six out of the last seven seasons, when the fourth-from-bottom side has amassed 40 points or more, they could still have survived with less as the stats below provided courtesy of the official www.wba.premiumtv.co.uk/ web site prove.
2001/02
17 Sunderland 40
18 Ipswich 36
2000/01
17 Derby 42
18 Man City 34
1999/00
17 Bradford 36
18 Wimbledon 33
1998/99
17 Southampton 41
18 Charlton 36
1997/98
17 Everton 40
18 Bolton 40
1996/97
17 Coventry 41
18 Sunderland 40
1995/96
17 Southampton 38
18 Man City 38
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