Are We About To See The "Fix" Of The Century?

What about the farce back in the 1970s when the Mackems were relegated? Bristol City and Coventry started their game late, supposedly because of crowd safety, and when the Sunderland result was shown on the big screen at Highfield Road both teams realised a draw would keep them both in the top flight. They played out the last half hour without a single attack on either goal.

On Sunday all eyes will be on Bramall Lane, although West Ham boss Alan Curbishley has dismissed the conspiracy theory that Sheffield United and Wigan could collude in a bid to get the Hammers relegated.

If West Ham lose at Manchester United on Sunday, a Wigan victory at Bramall Lane would send the Hammers down.

Apparently, it is the result all the other struggling clubs want to see after West Ham avoided a points deduction, despite being found guilty of irregularities relating to the signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.

Curbishley: "I keep hearing all these conspiracy theories that if it's not going so well for West Ham at Old Trafford then Sheffield United can relax and if Wigan get the result [they could stay up].

"But everyone has to be prepared to go into any game to win it. You can't go into any game thinking you just turn it on when it goes against you.

"Sheffield United have got to play as if they need to stay up because, if they don't, they could easily find it turn around on them.

"That happened a couple of years ago. Crystal Palace were six minutes away from staying up and suddenly went down.

"Sheffield United need to get their result at the weekend, Wigan need to get their result and we need to get that result.

"The difference is that, if we get our result, the rest takes care of itself."