1 month ago
Championship
Promoted: Coventry City.
Relegated: Sheffield Wednesday.
The conflict for 2nd is very overmuch connected aft Ipswich dropped points astatine location to Middlesbrough connected Sunday. The Tractor Boys person a crippled successful manus complete their rivals but 1 constituent separates 3 teams, pinch Millwall and in-form Southampton (who person won 11 of their past 12 matches, including FA Cup wins complete Fulham and Arsenal) closing connected Ipswich, who will beryllium hopeless to get backmost connected way astatine Charlton connected Wednesday. Boro person a slim chance of automatic promotion but will astir apt person to settee for nan playoffs, though moreover that is not certain. They could beryllium caught by those beneath but Wednesday’s lucifer against … Sheffield Wednesday … should allay those fears.
Realistically, sixth (currently Hull City) should nan only playoff berth up for grabs for nan chasing clubs, Wrexham and Derby County. On Tuesday, Hull and Wrexham look relegation-threatened teams successful Leicester City and Oxford United respectively, but they will beryllium wary of those teams scrapping for their Championship lives. Derby, connected insubstantial astatine least, look a tricker travel to in-form Norwich City, who are eighth but person near their playoff push a small excessively late.
There is unrest astatine Leicester, pinch Foxes midfielder Harry Winks clashing pinch fans pursuing the location conclusion by relegation rivals Portsmouth. That meant 3 wins connected nan rotation for Pompey, who are almost safe. Sitting 18th, they are nan highest squad that tin beryllium be caught by third-bottom Oxford. Leicester will beryllium relegated connected Tuesday unless they triumph and will spell down connected Wednesday sloppy successful nan arena that Blackburn Rovers unafraid triumph astatine Sheffield United that night, Charlton Athletic debar conclusion astatine location to Ipswich and West Brom person beaten Watford connected Tuesday. Oxford could besides beryllium relegated connected Wednesday. Blackburn’s position is much perilous than nan array whitethorn initially propose – they person played a crippled much than their rivals and look Leicester connected nan past day.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Coventry v Portsmouth
Leicester v Hull City
Norwich City v Derby County
Oxford United v Wrexham
QPR v Swansea
Southampton v Bristol City
Stoke v Millwall
West Brom v Watford
Wednesday’s fixtures:
Birmingham City v Preston North End
Charlton Athletic v Ipswich Town
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers
League One
Promoted: Lincoln City, Cardiff City.
Relegated: Rotherham United, Northampton Town.
The 2 automatic promotion spots are sewn up – Lincoln will beryllium champions if they tie aliases triumph astatine Doncaster connected Tuesday aliases if Cardiff do not hit Port Vale connected Wednesday – truthful attraction turns to nan title for nan playoffs. Bolton look safe for a top-six decorativeness and astir apt request nary much than a constituent from their last 2 games to guarantee a spot but everything other is successful flux. Bradford City v Plymouth Argyle connected Tuesday is simply a gargantuan match. The Yorkshire club, successful 4th but pinch a debased extremity difference, would corroborate a playoff spot pinch a triumph but would beryllium successful existent threat of being caught if they lose. Fifth-placed Stockport County (who big Mansfield connected Tuesday) and sixth-placed Stevenage (who look Barnsley) will besides beryllium wary of Plymouth and Luton Town, who are seventh and eighth respectively. Jack Wilshere’s Hatters are unbeaten successful 9 and will beryllium assured of winning astatine an already-sunk Rotherham United.
Down astatine nan bottom, it’s last-chance saloon for Port Vale, who are 11 points adrift of information and must triumph their 4 remaining matches, starting pinch a travel to Cardiff connected Wednesday, to guidelines immoderate chance of avoiding relegation.
Assuming Vale don’t survive, location are six sides hoping to debar nan 1 remaining relegation spot presently occupied by Exeter City. AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Burton Albion, Peterborough United and Blackpool inhabit nan places instantly above, though these sides do not play until Saturday.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Bradford City v Plymouth Argyle
Doncaster Rovers v Lincoln City
Rotherham United v Luton Town
Stevenage v Barnsley
Stockport County v Mansfield Town
Wednesday’s fixture:
Cardiff City v Port Vale
League Two
Promoted: Bromley.
Relegated: Nothing decided.
MK Dons will beryllium promoted if Salford do not hit Bromley connected Thursday. Even if they do, nan Dons’ +38 extremity quality helps and a triumph against Tranmere connected Saturday would extremity immoderate doubt. Currently third, Cambridge United look astir apt to declare that 3rd automatic spot, particularly pinch a crippled successful manus complete their rivals. A triumph complete Grimsby connected Tuesday would springiness them a four-point cushion pinch 2 matches remaining. If Cambridge gaffe up, Salford City, Notts County and Swindon Town are lying successful hold (although Swindon would request a melodramatic group of results to flooded their shortage and extremity difference). Grimsby will move into nan last playoff spot if they triumph astatine Cambridge.
At nan ft of nan Football League, 2 points abstracted 5 teams battling to debar nan 2 relegation spots. Goal quality is besides preposterously tight truthful Tranmere’s crippled successful manus (at Cheltenham connected Tuesday) looks pivotal. For nan remainder of those nether threat, specified arsenic Harrogate and Newport, Saturday’s games could determine their future.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Cambridge United v Grimsby Town
Cheltenham Town v Tranmere Rovers
Thursday’s fixture:
Salford City v Bromley
