Warnock: 'Record low points total to secure survival'

To date, the lowest number of points needed to survive has been 31 in 2010. That season, Burnley were the unfortunate side to have taken the final relegation place that year, with an agonising total of 30 points. 

In 2007, when Neil Warnock was in charge of Sheffield United, his side got relegated with 38 points, while his current side Cardiff have recorded just 5 points in 11 games at the start of this season. Amazingly though, Cardiff are only 1 point adrift of safety. 

As such Warnock believes that the trend of recent years will continue this season; as an even lower points tally than the existing record 31, may be enough to see a given side stay in the top flight. 

Warnock told the media: "I think the low points will continue until the end of the season. With Sheffield United we went down with 38 points, let me tell you, I would take that now. It does look like the total to survive is going to be low this year doesn't it?"

The Cardiff City boss continued: "Brighton are 12th but they will still be looking over their shoulder. They won't be looking up, they'll be looking down at the bottom three.This is the first season like this I think, and we could benefit from that more than anyone. Because we are hanging in there."

Warnock believes that a host of clubs are set to be dragged into a relegation battle this season, with just three points currently separating the team in 14th and 20th in the table.

He added: "You can't really predict, but it does seem the bigger teams are pulling away. There aren't many shocks anymore are there? There is a wider margin, but I think any club in the bottom half really (could go down). Any club can quite easily hit a bad run. It's wide open down there."

Warnock concluded: "I think we've just got to take it on board and try and give it our best shot, but if I am honest, I think there will be a lot more nerves in other dressing rooms, clubs with bigger expectations than us. We are quite capable of picking up points. Apart from the top five teams, every game is winnable, home and away."

Up next for Warnock's Cardiff City is a home match against fellow strugglers Brighton and Hove Albion on Saturday afternoon.