The survival rivals: BBC expert marks Wanderers' card

Froggatt, who experienced two successful survival fights with Sky Blues between 1998 and 2000, was at the Stadium of Light as an expert summariser for BBC Radio Five Live this week.

And he believes the Black Cats' luck has finally run out following Monday's dismal 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City.

"Sunderland were very poor - the worst team I have seen all season," Froggatt told BBC Sport Online HERE

"I have seen a lot of the bottom clubs play in recent weeks and most have done enough to suggest they could pull away from the drop zone.

"But Sunderland were dire."

Premiership tradition dictates that the side bottom of the table at Christmas has always been relegated.

So here, Froggatt runs the rule over the Premiership's survival rivals:

West Ham (20th, P17, Pts 13):

You can never say that a team is too good to go down but I have seen enough to suggest that they are good enough to stay up.

It would be a shame to see West Ham go because they are such an attractive entertaining side.

They have conceded a lot of goals but have suggested they have enough to get them out of trouble just when they need it.

Sunderland (19th, P17, Pts 14):

They are the worst team I have seen all season and you could tell by the reaction of the punters on Monday that that is what they have come to expect this year .

Howard Wilkinson made a good start and they had a mini revival but they have lost four or five on the trot now and the alarm bells are certainly ringing.

They have got key players missing and have got no money to go and buy anyone else and against Manchester City they had a relatively inexperienced midfield that is probably not going to pull them out of the mire.

Wanderers (18th, P16, Pts 14):

Along with Sunderland, I think Bolton will struggle to escape from the bottom three.

Neither team is scoring goals and it is pretty bleak at both places at the moment.

And, like Sunderland, Bolton have got one or two really tough games coming up, so we will know more after that.

West Bromwich Albion (17th, P17, Pts 15):

The Baggies didn't spend real money in the summer.

They really bought First Division players to go in the Premiership and West Brom have struggled because of it.

They have had a lot of good performances and they have the battling qualities and spirit that can save them.

But I feel they lack quality and they are going to be right around there until the death.

Leeds United (16th, P17, Pts 17):

I think they are in real trouble.

All Leeds have ever been used to is success and all of a sudden this is a new experience for a lot of the younger players.

To be in a relegation battle is horrible and a few of the teams down at the bottom are pretty battle hardened to fight against the drop.

They know what it takes to get out of it but Leeds don't, though if anyone has got the ability to get them out of it it's Terry Venables.

Aston Villa (15th, P17, Pts 19):

Is this the one team really too good to go down?

Graham Taylor has inherited some quality playersa from John Gregory and if Darius Vassell starts hitting the net regularly they will surely edge clear of the drop zone.

Birmingham (14th, P17, Pts 20):

I think they have done brilliantly and Steve Bruce has been excellent for them.

They set their stall out at the start of the season. They didn't spend ridiculous money but they spent £4m on Aliou Cisse, they got Robbie Savage in and they spent £4m on Clinton Morrisson.

So they have given it a real go from the start of the season and that could see them through.

Froggatt's relegation verdict:

"I think the three or four who are down there at the moment will be there for the rest of the season.

"You get to Christmas and find yourself adrift of the fifth or sixth from bottom team and it becomes so difficult.

"Every game is a mountain to climb, you have to win and if you don't then the pressure builds.

"It could be anyone, though I think Bolton and Sunderland really will struggle and it could be any one of four above that."