The 'B's' are in big trouble

 Carling Cup Final week can be seen as a key point of a football season. Firstly and without doubt you will hear Messrs Lineker and Stelling use the classic presenter line as 'the first major silverware of the season' within the first minute of the live coverage but it signifies spring and the final third of the season, which means games and points become more and more precious.

Points are already a commodity at the bottom of the league table as yet again the 'B's' at the basement of the Premier League struggle, causing alarming concerns about their tenure in the elite league.

Firstly Bolton - who were simply shocking in the local derby against Blackburn and former boss 'Big Sam Allardyce'.  Their problems are evident to see, they miss the presence and leadership of Gary Cahill, and for the exception of Matthew Taylor, they have a workman-like midfield and a real inability to score goals up front - it’s going to a real long fight for Bolton.

The same could be said for the 'B' at the bottom Burnley - who are still without an away win in the Premier League this season which is largely contributing to their plight this season. Whilst watching the game against Aston Villa they still adopt the ‘Owen Coyle’ approach of playing good free-flowing football. There are some positives in the team, the debut of on-loan Jack Cork with two assists, the goal-scoring nous of Stephen Fletcher and playmaking ability of Chris Eagles. But the problem as it often is with prompted team is defensive and the step-up in class of opponent.

I had barely had a chance to get my seat for the second half to see three goals in 5 minutes and end this as a contest. To add to the problems each of the goals in the 5 minute spell could have been avoided. First Burnley should have cleared Stewart Downing weak yet accurate effort off the line, the third goal Agbonlahor was played a mile on-side by Leon Cort and the shot from Downing could have been closed down more quickly by Eagles. As for the fourth, Gabby Agbonlahor roasted down the left hand side like a pizza delivery boy in a hurry before cooling delivering the goods to Heskey just in time before the no fee 30 minute deadline!! A fifth goal capped off by the pizza man that came just off the training ground nice and easy! To easy - almost as quick to change your hair colour!!

As mentioned in my mid-season review these are the two teams that show all the signs of trap door exit of the Premier League, their only saving grace Bolton could the poor form of other teams around also fighting for survival, but these recently performances show strong clues to who be exiting via the trapdoor.