Permutations for the EFL and National League ahead of the weekend – 28th April 2023

Time to see those permutations for the EFL and National League ahead of the weekend and it’s far to say there is plenty still at stake.

We could see new champions, some playoff places sealed along with promotions and relegations.

The amount of games left to play are decreasing very quickly and it could turn out be very busy few days of presentations, celebrations and no doubt many drowning their sorrows.

Recent confirmed promotions, relegations, titles & qualifications
26 April – Arsenal clinch Champions League place
26 April – Sheffield United promoted to Premier League
25 April – Burnley clinch Championship title
22 April – Leyton Orient clinch League Two title
22 April – Rochdale relegated to National League
22 April – Wrexham promoted to League Two

Championship

Burnley were promoted back to the Premier League after a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at Good Friday. The Clarets won the title by beating Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park 1-0 in midweek.

Sheffield United were promoted after a 2-0 win over West Bromwich Albion.

Luton Town, and Middlesbrough are guaranteed to finish in the top six.

Wigan Athletic would be relegated from the Championship if they lose to Reading on Sunday. 

Blackpool may also face relegation if Saturday’s results went against them.

Reading need a win to guarantee taking their survival bid to the final day.

Blackpool v Millwall
Bristol City v Burnley
Coventry City v Birmingham City
Hull City v Swansea City
Reading v Wigan Athletic
Sheffield United v Preston North End
Stoke City v Queens Park Rangers
Sunderland v Watford
West Bromwich Albion v Norwich City
Cardiff City v Huddersfield Town
Blackburn Rovers v Luton Town
Rotherham United v Middlesbrough

League One

Plymouth Argyle, and Ipswich Town are promoted if they win against Burton Albion or Exeter City on Saturday. 

If Ipswich lose and Plymouth win, Argyle are crowned champions.

Plymouth will also be promoted if Sheffield Wednesday drop points at Shrewsbury Town, while Ipswich will go up by matching Wednesday’s result.

Sheffield Wednesday, and Barnsley have guaranteed Play-off spots.

Forest Green Rovers were the first EFL club to be relegated after a 5-1 loss to Barnsley.

Morecambe, and Accrington Stanley must win on Saturday in order to ensure their survival bids to the final day.

A defeat for Cambridge against Stanley could see them relegated on Tuesday, when they play their game in hand against Burton.

Accrington Stanley v Cambridge United
Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town
Charlton Athletic v Port Vale
Derby County v Portsmouth
Forest Green Rovers v Oxford United
Ipswich Town v Exeter City
Milton Keynes Dons v Barnsley
Morecambe v Lincoln City
Peterborough United v Bristol Rovers
Plymouth Argyle v Burton Albion
Shrewsbury Town v Sheffield Wednesday
Wycombe Wanderers v Cheltenham Town

League Two

Leyton Orient already secured promotion to League One as champions.

With wins on Saturday, Northampton and Stevenage will be promoted. Both teams have playoff places guaranteed.

The Cobblers can also still go up if they get a draw with Bradford, and Stockport and Carlisle drop points. 

Stevenage would still go up if they match the results of Bradford, Stockport and Carlisle.

Seven other teams are still able to finish in the two remaining automatic promotion spots.

Rochdale have already been relegated. Hartlepool United are down if they drop points in their next game or Crawley pick up one more point.

AFC Wimbledon v Tranmere Rovers
Carlisle United v Salford City
Crawley Town v Walsall
Crewe Alexandra v Swindon Town
Doncaster Rovers v Colchester United
Gillingham v Newport County
Hartlepool United v Barrow
Leyton Orient v Stockport County
Mansfield Town v Harrogate Town
Northampton Town v Bradford City
Rochdale v Sutton United
Stevenage v Grimsby Town

National League

Notts County, Chesterfield, Woking, Barnet, Bromley and one other team – either Boreham Wood, Southend or Eastleigh – will face off in the playoffs.

The bottom four teams will be relegated to National League North or South, and will be replaced with the champions and play-off winners of those two divisions.

Maidstone became the first club in England’s top leagues to be relegated after losing 4-0 to Boreham Wood at the beginning of April. 

Scunthorpe United joined them on the 10th of April after losing 2-0 to Oldham, then did Yeovil Town after they lost 3-0 at Wrexham on the 18th of April.

The final relegation place will be filled by Torquay, unless they win at home to champions Wrexham and either Maidenhead lose with a seven-goal swing in goal difference on the final day, or less realistically, York lose with a 14-goal swing in goal difference in favour of Torquay.

Aldershot Town v Altrincham
Barnet v Dagenham & Redbridge
Boreham Wood v Yeovil Town
Chesterfield v Maidstone United
Dorking Wanderers v Scunthorpe United
FC Halifax Town v Eastleigh
Gateshead v Maidenhead United
Notts County v York City
Oldham Athletic v Bromley
Solihull Moors v Woking
Southend United v Wealdstone
Torquay United v Wrexham

NATIONAL LEAGUE NORTH AND SOUTH

Ebbsfleet United have already been crowned National League South champions. The North title is between King’s Lynn Town and AFC Fylde with the latter two points clear.

AFC Fylde are one win away from reclaiming their place after getting the job done early at Curzon Ashton. If they beat Bradford Park Avenue this weekend, they will seal the title regardless of what King’s Lynn do.

Alfreton‘s chances of claiming a playoff place depends on beating Brackley on the final day of the National League North season or bettering results elsewhere.

A draw would likely be sufficient for both Alfreton and Brackley, based on both sides’ superior goal differences, but Scarborough, Buxton, Chorley, Kidderminster, Gloucester, Curzon Ashton, Spennymoor and Darlington can all still reach the playoffs.

Blyth Spartans v Hereford
Boston United v AFC Telford United
Brackley Town v Alfreton Town
Bradford (Park Avenue) v AFC Fylde
Chester v Buxton
Gloucester City v Chorley
Kidderminster Harriers v Kettering Town
King’s Lynn Town v Curzon Ashton
Leamington v Southport
Peterborough Sports v Darlington
Scarborough Athletic v Banbury United
Spennymoor Town v Farsley Celtic

In the National League South, with Concord relegated after their 4-3 defeat to Havant & Waterlooville, three points on Saturday against Dover Athletic would see Weymouth stay up on goal difference.

Havant & Waterlooville still could claim a playoff place, three points from St Albans who sit 7th. Havant play 16th place Welling while St Albans take on 11th place Farnborough.

Bath City v Oxford City
Chelmsford City v Taunton Town
Dover Athletic v Weymouth
Dulwich Hamlet v Chippenham Town
Eastbourne Borough v Concord Rangers
Ebbsfleet United v Hungerford Town
Hampton & Richmond Borough v Dartford
Havant & Waterlooville v Welling United
Slough Town v Braintree Town
St Albans City v Farnborough
Tonbridge Angels v Cheshunt
Worthing v Hemel Hempstead Town