Alright, lets do a brief look into the lower leagues of England for some follow up now that the playoffs are close at hand.
Championship- Both Burnley and Leeds United are confirmed promoted and have been for a bit. Leeds play Bristol tomorrow and then they both will have one more game to see who wins the league but they both got the big prize. Sheffield and Sunderland are confirmed for the playoffs as the 3rd and 4th seeded teams. Bristol (67), Coventry (66), Millwall (66), Blackburn (65), and Middlesbrough (64) are fighting for the last 2 spots. Bristol are the only team with a game in hand but everything else will come down to the last day. Cardiff City, with Aaron Ramsey as a player manager, are confirmed for relegation. Oxford United in 17th are the only team that are safe going into the last weekend. Plymouth Argyle (46), Hull City (4
, Luton Town (49), Preston (49), Derby County (49), and Stoke City (50) will have to wait until the last day to see if they survive.
Interesting games-
Sheffield United vs Blackburn Rovers. Blackburn need a win to push for a spot in the playoffs and Sheffield will already be there. Could be 3 matches in a row between these 2 if everything falls right
Plymouth Argyle vs Leeds United. Leeds don't care but Plymouth need a win and a lot of help to avoid relegation.
West Brom vs Luton Town- Luton are 1 point out of relegation and need a huge win over West Brom to avoid 2 relegations in 2 years. They may get some luck here with West Brom being out of playoff contention following 2 losses and a draw in their past 3 games
Derby County vs Stoke City- This one should be a real fun watch. Derby County might get relegated with a draw if Luton, Hull, and Preston win their final game so they need a win here. But a loss will put either team into potential relegation, needing a lot of help elsewhere. Should make this one very interesting
Portsmouth vs Hull City- Portsmouth are safe and in the bottom half of the table while Hull can avoid relegation with a win. Thanks to Derby County vs Stoke, a win for Hull does see them avoid relegation.
Bristol City vs Preston- Bristol play Leeds on Monday and that will determine whether they are in the playoffs already or need a win on the final day to secure their place. Preston need a win to confirm that they stay in the Championship.
Burnley vs Millwall- Millwall are on the outside looking in on the playoffs thanks to goal differential with Coventry. Need a massive win here against an insane Burnley defense that is already promoted.
Coventry vs Middlesbrough- Coventry are holding on to the last playoff place while Middlesbrough are 2 points back from them. They would still need a win and then a Blackburn and Millwall loss, but Middlesbrough could realistically get into the playoffs with a win here. A draw helps neither of them
League one
Birmingham are promoted with 3 games in hand. They have reached 102 points in 43 games so no interesting events there. Going up with them is everybody's favorite team apparently, wrexham, with a 5 point gap and 1 game remaining. Stockport, Wycombe, and Charlton are all in the playoffs with the only thing up for grabs with the 3 is which place they will finish in for the playoffs. Final playoff spot will come down to Leyton Orient and Reading who are both tied on 75 points but separated by an 8 goal differential. With 4 teams being relegated from this league, Cambridge United and Shrewsbury have been relegated. Bristol Rovers and Crawley Town are both on 43 points but they can potentially catch up to Burton on 46 points. But they would have to make up at least 12 goal differential in Crawley's case, and 14 goal differential in Bristol Rover's case. Burton do have a game in hand against Wigan Athletic, so that might help with the goal differential or seal the relegation battle. Not too much excitement on the final deadline day but here are some games to watch (assuming Burton lose on Tuesday to Wigan)-
Charlton vs Burton- Again, assuming Burton lose on Tuesday, Charlton could be looking to get 3rd or 4th place for a better spot in the playoff positions. While Burton currently have a 12 goal differential, having 2 games lost and the teams behind them win, that might put them in much more of a shitty position coming into this.
Reading vs Barnsley- Reading need a win here by a lot and need some help from the next game in the list to make the playoffs. Barnsley are solidly mid table and probably checked out
Huddersfield vs Leyton Orient- a win by Leyton basically assures them of getting in the playoffs but anything else will spell trouble. Huddersfield are also mid table so probably checked out
Shrewsbury vs Crawley Town- Crawley Town do need a win here and a lot of help from Wigan and Charlton. But with Crawley scoring 55 goals this year (higher than most of the teams in the bottom half of the table) and Shrewsbury giving up 77 this year (easily the highest in League One), this could be a 3-4 goal win for Crawley Town. Not sure if that will be enough to make up a 12 goal differential but 2 losses from Burton could make this close.
Blackpool vs Bristol Rovers- Worth a should as Bristol Rovers aren't technically out (and a Wigan win would help). But its a very long shot to happen.
Wycombe vs Stockport- Both of these teams are comfortably in the playoffs. However, a draw might see them playing each other in the first round of the playoffs if Charlton beat Burton on the last day. A win from either team will see them face 6th place with the loser facing Charlton in the playoffs.
League 2
No games in hand here and no relegation battle to be had so its all on the promotion places. Morecambe were relegated a while ago and Carlisle lost to relegate them as well. Doncaster and Port Vale are confirmed to go up with one more automatic spot up for grabs and plenty of playoff spots available. Bradford City sit in the final automatic promotion place (75) with Walsall (74) and potentially Notts County (72) able to catch them. AFC Wimbledon (70) sit in the third playoff spot but that's not a guarantee with Salford City (6
and Grimsby Town (6
both in striking distances although Salford are in a playoff spot as well. Chesterfield (67) and Colechester (66) can both still make a play on the final playoff spot as well. Games to watch-
Crewe Alexandra vs Walsall- Walsall need a win to potentially take the final promotion spot. They could still be caught by Notts County and theoretically play a tougher opponent in the playoff, but automatic promotion is the goal here.
Colchester vs Barrow- Barrow are mid table and have been for a while. Colchester are 2 points behind a playoff spot so they will need a lot of help but anything but a massive win won't be enough.
Salford City vs Carlisle- Carlisle are a relegated side and Salford need a win to keep their playoff spot. A draw could see Grimsby and/or Chesterfield overtake them on points for the final spot
Notts County vs Doncaster- Notts County will need some help to get that automatic promotion spot, mainly a Walsall draw/loss and a Bradford City loss, but they have a better goal differential than Bradford. Plus they can get a better opponent (potentially) if they manage to leap frog Walsall in the table
Grimsby Town vs AFC Wimbledon- Grimsby Town are on the outside looking in on the final playoff spot and they face AFC Wimbledon who have a hold of the third playoff spot. If Grimsby Town win and Salford City win, then AFC Wimbledon will drop out of the playoff spots altogether. So this is the big one this weekend for League 2.
Accrington Stanley vs Chesterfield- Chesterfield will need some help, being a point behind Salford and Grimsby, but its not out of the realm of possibilities. They will also need to beat Accrington Stanley, who have confirmed their spot in League Two next season with a win this weekend.
Bradford City vs Fleetwood- A win means Bradford get promoted. A draw or a loss could mean they get dragged into the playoffs.
