Why 30 points may be good enough

The usually accepted benchmark of 40 points, which many Premiership managers believe guarantees survival, will not apply this season. West Ham went down with 42 points two seasons ago but, this season, a club could retain their top-flight status on little more than 30 points. However, Micky Adams who was manager at Leicester City when they fell through the Premiership trap-door in May, believes that it is misguided to suggest that bottom-six standards have deteriorated this year.

"I would not say that the teams in the bottom six are any worse than those who have been there in the past, but at the top end teams have improved their sides dramatically," said Adams.

"I think Chelsea and Manchester United sometimes used to have off-days against the bottom three, but that doesn't seem to happen any more. The likes of Birmingham and Charlton spent significantly in the summer and it's getting very difficult to compete at that sort of level. If you don't invest large amounts of cash you find yourself adrift."

None of the bottom six will be breaking the bank during the upcoming transfer window, though Southampton could be more active than most. Harry Redknapp looks certain to offload James Beattie to provide the funds for new faces.

However, Adams believes that the Southampton manager will not solve all his problems via the January sales. "I think Portsmouth were in a similar position last season and Harry came up trumps in the transfer window," he said.

"But I think the worrying thing for Southampton is the fact that in the past they have always had a good home record - if that goes, they might have problems."

Winning home matches, along with the importance of beating fellow strugglers, is seen as imperative for survival.

As such, the portents are not promising for Southampton, who have still to face Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool at St Mary's. By contrast, four of Blackburn's remaining nine home games are against sides in the bottom five. Adams added: "I think you try and win every game that you possibly can, though I changed my policy last season when I said games against the teams at the top are 'free games' because you don't expect to get anything from them.

"But, significantly, down at the bottom end of the table the games you play against other struggling sides are vital and six-pointers."

Palace have excelled in these games. The nine points they have collected against those teams around them is more than any of the other bottom-six sides. Equally,

in Andrew Johnson they have a top-class striker, who, having scored 10 goals this season, is a constant threat to opposition defences.

Fulham and Blackburn can, to a lesser extent, point to the contribution of Andy Cole and Paul Dickov this season, though for Norwich, Southampton and West Brom the absence of a regular goalscorer is glaring.

However, Adams points to Leicester's relegation last season as a warning to those who believe finding a prolific frontman is a sure route to Premiership survival.

"The strange thing about us last season was we had three goalscorers - Les Ferdinand, Marcus Bent and Paul Dickov, who all got into double figures," he said. "But I think the worry is for teams who rely on one man to produce the goals, and in terms of goalscoring that applies to Palace. They have a great team ethic, look supremely fit and appear organised. That all stands you in good stead, but the problem could be if Johnson gets an injury."

Fulham, in contrast, have a plethora of forwards from which to choose, though accommodating Tomasz Radzinski, Collins John, Cole and Luis Boa Morte has proved problematic for Coleman. Nevertheless Adams is confident his former club will climb to safety.

"I don't see a real problem in terms of Fulham," he said. "They have got strikers in Cole and Boa Morte who are capable. I think they have had injuries to key players at times that have upset their rhythm, but I think as soon as Chris gets a settled side they will be fine."

Fulham hope to have Boa Morte fit for the clash against Palace.

The former Arsenal forward, who has not played since pulling up with a hamstring strain at Everton almost six weeks ago, successfully completed 45 minutes in the reserves against Brentford on Wednesday.

If Boa Morte does start, John would be the most likely to make way, with Radzinski switching to the right-hand side. Coleman may also decide to recall Steed Malbranque, having dropped the Frenchman to the substitutes' bench for the past two matches.