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Championship
Promoted: Coventry.
Relegated: Sheffield Wednesday.
The battle for second is very much on after Ipswich dropped points at home to Middlesbrough on Sunday. The Tractor Boys have a game in hand over their rivals but one point separates three teams, with Millwall and in-form Southampton (who have won 11 of their past 12 matches, including FA Cup wins over Fulham and Arsenal) closing on Ipswich, who will be desperate to get back on track at Charlton on Wednesday. Boro have a slim chance of automatic promotion but will probably have to settle for the playoffs, although even that is not certain. They could be caught by those below but Wednesday’s match against … Sheffield Wednesday … should allay those fears.
Realistically, sixth (currently Hull) should be the only playoff berth up for grabs for the chasing clubs, Wrexham and Derby. On Tuesday, Hull and Wrexham face relegation-threatened teams in Leicester and Oxford United respectively, but they will be wary of those teams scrapping for their Championship lives. Derby, on paper at least, face a tricker trip to in-form Norwich, who are eighth but have left their playoff push a little too late.
There is unrest at Leicester, with the Foxes midfielder Harry Winks clashing with fans following the home defeat by relegation rivals Portsmouth. That meant three wins on the spin for Pompey, who are almost safe. Sitting 18th, they are the highest team that can be caught by third-bottom Oxford. Leicester will be relegated on Tuesday unless they win and will go down on Wednesday regardless in the event that Blackburn secure victory at Sheffield United that night, Charlton avoid defeat at home to Ipswich and West Brom have beaten Watford on Tuesday. Oxford could also be relegated on Wednesday. Blackburn’s position is more perilous than the table may initially suggest – they have played a game more than their rivals and face Leicester on the last day.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Coventry v Portsmouth
Leicester v Hull
Norwich v Derby
Oxford United v Wrexham
QPR v Swansea
Southampton v Bristol City
Stoke v Millwall
West Brom v Watford
Wednesday’s fixtures:
Birmingham v Preston
Charlton v Ipswich
Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield United v Blackburn
League One
Promoted: Lincoln, Cardiff.
Relegated: Rotherham United, Northampton Town.
The two automatic promotion spots are sewn up – Lincoln will be champions if they draw or win at Doncaster on Tuesday or if Cardiff do not beat Port Vale on Wednesday – so attention turns to the race for the playoffs. Bolton look safe for a top-six finish and probably need no more than a point from their final two games to guarantee a place but everything else is in flux. Bradford v Plymouth on Tuesday is a gargantuan match. The Yorkshire club, in fourth but with a low goal difference, would confirm a playoff spot with a win but would be in real danger of being caught if they lose. Fifth-placed Stockport (who host Mansfield on Tuesday) and sixth-placed Stevenage (who face Barnsley) will also be wary of Plymouth and Luton, who are seventh and eighth respectively. Jack Wilshere’s Hatters are unbeaten in nine and will be confident of winning at an already-sunk Rotherham.
Down at the bottom, it’s last-chance saloon for Port Vale, who are 11 points adrift of safety and must win their four remaining matches, starting with a trip to Cardiff on Wednesday, to stand any chance of avoiding relegation.
Assuming Vale don’t survive, there are six sides hoping to avoid the one remaining relegation spot currently occupied by Exeter. AFC Wimbledon, Leyton Orient, Burton, Peterborough and Blackpool occupy the places immediately above, although these sides do not play until Saturday.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Bradford v Plymouth Argyle
Doncaster v Lincoln
Rotherham v Luton
Stevenage v Barnsley
Stockport v Mansfield
Wednesday’s fixture:
Cardiff v Port Vale
League Two
Promoted: Bromley.
Relegated: Nothing decided.
MK Dons will be promoted if Salford do not beat Bromley on Thursday. Even if they do, the Dons’ +38 goal difference helps and a win against Tranmere on Saturday would end any doubt. Currently third, Cambridge United look most likely to claim that third automatic spot, especially with a game in hand over their rivals. A win over Grimsby on Tuesday would give them a four-point cushion with two matches remaining. If Cambridge slip up, Salford, Notts County and Swindon are lying in wait (although Swindon would need a dramatic set of results to overcome their deficit and goal difference). Grimsby will move into the final playoff spot if they win at Cambridge.
At the foot of the Football League, two points separate five teams battling to avoid the two relegation spots. Goal difference is also preposterously tight so Tranmere’s game in hand (at Cheltenham on Tuesday) looks pivotal. For the rest of those under threat, such as Harrogate and Newport, Saturday’s games could decide their future.
Tuesday’s fixtures:
Cambridge United v Grimsby
Cheltenham v Tranmere
Thursday’s fixture:
Salford v Bromley
