Football League permutations: What can happen this weekend?

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 25 April 2015

As we enter the final week of the Football League season, Sports Mole looks at each of the possible permutations in all three divisions this weekend.

The Football League finishing line is now well and truly in sight as we enter the final week of the season, yet there is still plenty to be decided at both ends of the table in each division.

Championship promotion could be wrapped up for Watford over the coming days should results go their way, while it is very much a two-horse race between MK Dons and Preston North End to join Bristol City in gaining an automatic berth at the top of League One.

In League Two, meanwhile, potentially decisive fixtures will take place up and down the country which could have a big say in who faces the drop and who gains a place in the second tier next season.

With that in mind, Sports Mole takes a closer look at all the possible permutations this weekend for what is likely to be another hugely entertaining round of action.

Championship

Race for promotion

Just one point separates the Championship's top three teams, but it is Slavisa Jokanovic's Watford side who currently lead the way at the top. Should they beat Brighton & Hove Albion in the day's early kickoff this afternoon, and Bournemouth and Middlesbrough both fail to win, then the Hornets will secure their place back in the Premier League for the first time in eight years.

This is where things begin to get a little complicated, because Watford can also gain automatic promotion in the coming days even if one of their closest challengers manages to win, but that would require fourth-placed Norwich City slipping up in their meeting with strugglers Rotherham United.

Bournemouth do not play until Monday evening when they welcome Bolton Wanderers to the South Coast, however, so it could be an agonising wait for Jokanovic and his men. Middlesbrough will be hoping to pile the pressure on the Cherries by claiming all three points from their visit to Fulham, while Brentford and Wolverhampton Wanderers will be desperate for victories of their own to keep their slender playoff hopes alive.

Fight for survival

A three-point deduction handed to Rotherham has ensured that the battle to avoid the drop could potentially remain alive right up until the final minutes of the campaign. The Millers were four points clear of danger while also boasting a game in hand, but that gap has now been reduced to just a single point ahead of the visit of Norwich this afternoon.

Wigan Athletic were one of the two sides to benefit from that decision made by the Football League, in the knowledge that they could find themselves out of the drop zone should they get the better of Wolves. Defeat, on the other hand, coupled with a Rotherham win, will confirm their plight from Premier League football to League One all in the space of a few short years.

It is a similar case for Millwall, also, who could be in the lofty heights of 21st place with a win, or essentially relegated should they fail to pick up maximum points and the Millers claim victory. That is down to their goal difference of -32, which will prove far too difficult to overcome should they match Steve Evans's men for points on the final day.

League One

An assortment of Bristol City players celebrate their promotion to the Championship on April 14, 2015

Race for promotion

Bristol City confirmed the inevitable earlier this month when they sealed their return to the Championship, while last weekend's goalless draw against Coventry City saw them wrap up the title with time to spare.

It is now a straight shootout between Preston and the Dons over the next eight days to secure the second automatic promotion berth. Victory for North End at home to Swindon Town later today, combined with an MK Dons defeat, will see them join Bristol in the second tier next season.

That could prove to be a pivotal clash at Deepdale between the two promotion rivals, and Karl Robinson's charges, who take on Rochdale at Spotland, will be waiting to pounce should points be dropped in Lancashire. Swindon still boast a game in hand over the two sides directly above them, but they must now settle for a place in the end-of-season playoffs. Sheffield United and Chesterfield are best placed to join them, although Rochdale still harbour hopes of breaking into the top six.

Fight for survival

Yeovil Town have already been consigned to relegation, meaning that three places still need to be filled up at the bottom. Colchester United, Notts County and Leyton Orient are the ones currently in immediate danger of the drop, but all can still pull to safety before the curtain comes down on the season next Sunday.

Colchester find themselves four points adrift of Crewe Alexandra in 20th place, although with games against Fleetwood Town and Swindon Town to play in the coming days, they will remain confident that they can reduce that deficit prior to the final-day showdown.

County and Orient can both have their fates sealed today should they lose, Crewe win and Crawley Town avoid defeat. The other permutation, which requires County and Orient drawing, Crewe and Crawley both winning and Port Vale avoiding defeat, will also be enough to see them both join Yeovil in the bottom tier.

League Two

Race for promotion

Burton Albion will be playing League One football in August for the first time in their history, having secured promotion last time out. With three automatic promotion places up for grabs in the third tier, there is still plenty of jostling to be done, though.

Shrewsbury Town are best placed to join Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's side, requiring a victory over Cheltenham Town to secure a top-three spot, or both Wycombe Wanderers and Southend United falling to defeat in their respective games. Wanderers need to beat Morecambe and hope that Southend and Bury both fail to win if they are to go up this afternoon.

Plenty of permutations, then, with just three points separating three sides vying for an automatic promotion berth, while six other sides - Stevenage, Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town, Newport County and Exeter City - are all still in contention for a place in the playoffs. The picture will surely look a little clearer come 5pm this afternoon, with Plymouth and Stevenage both very much in the driving seat.

Fight for survival

Tranmere Rovers' 94-year stay in the Football League is at risk of coming to an end this weekend, with defeat at promotion-chasing Plymouth or a win for Hartlepool United being enough to condemn them to non-League football next year.

Cheltenham will also be down if they succumb to defeat at home to Shrewsbury and Hartlepool beat Exeter, but there is still plenty of hope with just the single point proving the difference between themselves and the Monkey Hangers in the final throes of the campaign.

Even bottom-of-the-table Tranmere could find themselves out of the drop zone with a win at Home Park, in a fixture which could have major implications at both ends of the table.