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Who can be promoted, relegated and secure European or playoff spot? – 29th April 2022

In this article, with another busy few days ahead, we look at who can be promoted, relegated and secure European or playoff spot this week?

With the season’s end just around the corner, and many already turning their focus to new campaign, there is still a lot at stake.

This is the fourth matchweek which sees potential ups and down in professional and semi pro English football, so here is what could be confirmed…

Premier League

As usual, the top four teams will qualify for the Champions League group stage. Manchester City and Liverpool are already assured of their top-four places. If either club come out at winners in this season’s Champions League, there is no “extra” place for English clubs.

If West Ham win the Europa League but finish outside the top four, they will also play in the Champions League group stage.

The fifth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the Europa League group stage, as well as the FA Cup winners. If Liverpool win the FA Cup, or if Chelsea win it and finish in the top four , that Europa place reverts to the league. At worst, Chelsea will play in the Europa League as even if they lose the FA Cup final, they cannot finish lower than fifth.

Liverpool winning the Carabao Cup Final booked them a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round, so that Conference League spot reverts to the league.

If Leicester win the Europa Conference League, they will qualify for the Europa League group stage.

Find out how NINE clubs could represent the Premier League in European competitions next season by clicking HERE.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to the Championship. Norwich’s relegation will be confirmed on Saturday if they lose and Burnley beat Watford – a result which would also leave the Hornets close to the drop.

Saturday 30th April 2022
3pm Aston Villa v Norwich City
5.30pm Leeds United v Manchester City
12.30pm Newcastle United v Liverpool
3pm Southampton v Crystal Palace
3pm Watford v Burnley
3pm Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion

Sunday 1st May 2022
2pm Everton v Chelsea
2pm Tottenham Hotspur v Leicester City
4.30pm West Ham United v Arsenal

Monday 2nd May 2022
8pm Manchester United v Brentford

 

Championship

Promoted: Fulham

Relegated: Derby County, Barnsley, Peterborough United

Fulham sealed promotion after seeing off Preston North End 3-0 and the Cottagers will take the title on Monday with a win over Luton Town or if Bournemouth drop points at Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town can still mathematically claim the last remaining automatic promotion spot, with the Cherries in the driving seat, sitting second and three points above Forest in third.

Luton will book a play-off place if Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall fail to win against Stoke, Bournemouth and Peterborough.

Sheffield United will join them if they win at QPR on Friday night and Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall fail to win.

After falling to a 1-0 defeat to Queens Park Rangers on Easter Monday, Derby became the first second tier side to be relegated to League One.

Barnsley fell to a 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield in the Yorkshire derby to confirm the drop, before the Posh followed, losing 1-0 defeat at the hands of Nottingham Forest.

Friday 29th April 2022
7.45pm Queens Park Rangers v Sheffield United

Saturday 30th April 2022
12.30pm Barnsley v Preston North End
3pm Blackburn Rovers v AFC Bournemouth
3pm Blackpool v Derby County
3pm Bristol City v Hull City
3pm Cardiff City v Birmingham City
3pm Coventry City v Huddersfield Town
3pm Middlesbrough v Stoke City
3pm Millwall v Peterborough United
3pm Nottingham Forest v Swansea City
3pm Reading v West Bromwich Albion

Monday 2nd May 2022
5.15pm Fulham v Luton Town

 

League One

Relegated: Crewe Alexandra

A nervous final day awaits in League One as the three-way race for automatic promotion between Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United and MK Dons heats up. An 87th-minute Portsmouth winner saw the Latics spurn the opportunity to seal the deal in midweek, leaving the trio of teams each with the opportunity to be crowned champions.

Wigan have a three-point cushion on third-placed MK Dons, meaning a draw guarantees promotion, but Rotherham have only a one-point advantage in second place, setting up an exciting final day.

All three sides are away from home, with Wigan at Shrewsbury Town, while Rotherham’s trip to Gillingham and MK Dons’ head to Plymouth Argyle.

In the race for the playoffs, four teams are chasing the remaining three spots. Two points separate Sheffield Wednesday in fourth and Wycombe Wanderers in seventh, with Sunderland and Plymouth in between.

There is a scenario where Sheffield Wednesday and Wycombe Wanderers could finish with identical records – the same number of points, goal difference and goals scored. For instance, if the Owls were to draw 1-1 at home to Portsmouth, and Wycombe were to win 2-0 at Burton Albion, both sides would have 83 points, a goal difference of 25 and goals scored of 75. In this scenario, Wycombe would finish above Wednesday based on their head-to-head record this season (a 1-0 win for Wycombe and a 2-2 draw).

Here is a reminder of regulation 9.2: If two or more Clubs have the same number of points, goal difference and goals scored the highest placed Club shall be determined by the respective League records against each other, taking into account in order of precedence, points gained, goal difference and goals scored.

Meanwhile, Crewe Alexandra, who sit rock bottom of League One, became the first EFL side to suffer relegation. After losing to rivals Doncaster Rovers the Alex ended their two-season stay in the third tier.

Sheffield Wednesday will be in the playoffs if they win at home to Portsmouth. A point is enough, if the three sides below them – Sunderland, Plymouth and Wycombe – don’t all win and Wycombe don’t win by two goals at Burton.

Sunderland will secure a playoff place if they win. A point will be enough unless Plymouth and Wycombe both win and Sheffield Wednesday avoid defeat.

Plymouth will be in the playoffs if they win and either Sheffield Wednesday or Sunderland fail to win or Wycombe fail to win by three goals. A point will be enough if Sunderland lose or Wycombe fail to win.

Wycombe are in the playoffs if they win and either Sheffield Wednesday lose, Sunderland fail to win or have two-goal swing with Plymouth. A point will be enough if Sunderland lose by three goals or Plymouth lose.

Doncaster will be relegated if they fail to win away at Oxford. Just the 27-0 goal swing needed.

AFC Wimbledon will be go down if they fail to win against Accrington at Plough Lane. They will only survive if they win and Fleetwood lose with an eight-goal swing and Gillingham lose.

Gillingham will be relegated if they fail to better Fleetwood’s result.

Fleetwood will be relegated if Gillingham better their result or if they lose to Bolton and AFC Wimbledon win with an eight-goal swing.

Morecambe will go down if they lose and Fleetwood and Gillingham both win.

Saturday 30th April
12.30pm AFC Wimbledon v Accrington Stanley
12.30pm Bolton Wanderers v Fleetwood Town
12.30pm Burton Albion v Wycombe Wanderers
12.30pm Cambridge United v Cheltenham Town
12.30pm Gillingham v Rotherham United
12.30pm Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic
12.30pm Lincoln City v Crewe Alexandra
12.30pm Morecambe v Sunderland
12.30pm Oxford United v Doncaster Rovers
12.30pm Plymouth Argyle v Milton Keynes Dons
12.30pm Sheffield Wednesday v Portsmouth
12.30pm Shrewsbury Town v Wigan Athletic

 

League Two

Promoted: Forest Green Rovers, Exeter City

Relegated: Scunthorpe United, Oldham Athletic

Forest Green Rovers made history, winning promotion to League One for the first time in their history, securing a point against Bristol Rovers as the two teams played out a goalless draw.

And second-placed Exeter City came from behind against Barrow to join Forest Green in sealing promotion. The Grecians now sit level on points with the League leaders, as Exeter and Forest Green prepare to battle it out for the League Two title.

Northampton will be in the play-offs if they avoid defeat against already-promoted Exeter, while Bristol Rovers will secure a top seven spot if they beat Rochdale and either Sutton lose at home to Bradford or Swindon fail to beat Barrow.

Sutton will be in the play-offs if they win and Swindon fail to win.

At the reverse end of the table, Scunthorpe United’s fate was sealed as they suffered a 3-0 defeat to Leyton Orient, ending the Iron’s 72-year stay in the League. And Oldham Athletic were relegated following a 2-1 loss to Salford City.

Saturday 30th April
3pm Carlisle United v Stevenage
3pm Colchester United v Walsall
3pm Crawley Town v Leyton Orient
3pm Forest Green Rovers v Harrogate Town
3pm Northampton Town v Exeter City
3pm Rochdale v Bristol Rovers
3pm Scunthorpe United v Hartlepool United
3pm Sutton United v Bradford City
3pm Swindon Town v Barrow
3pm Tranmere Rovers v Oldham Athletic

 

National League

The champions will be automatically promoted to League Two, though can’t be secured this weekend. Stockport and Wrexham have already booked at least a play-off place, with FC Halifax Town close to joining them.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to National League North or South. So far bottom club Dover Athletic, who were deducted 12 points for failing to complete their 2020-21 games, were the first club from England’s major leagues to be relegated after losing 2-0 against Yeovil on the 19th of March.

They were joined by Weymouth on the 26th of April after they lost 6-1 to Wrexham, while the final place will be filled by King’s Lynn unless they win their last three games and Aldershot take no more than one point from their last four.

Saturday 30th April
3pm Aldershot Town v Notts County
3pm Barnet v Grimsby Town
3pm Bromley v Chesterfield
3pm Dover Athletic v Altrincham
3pm FC Halifax Town v Yeovil Town
3pm King’s Lynn Town v Eastleigh
5.20pm Stockport County v Boreham Wood
3pm Torquay United v Maidenhead United
3pm Wealdstone v Dagenham & Redbridge
3pm Weymouth v Solihull Moors
3pm Wrexham v Southend United

 

National League North and South

Two more wins will do it for Maidstone United over the next four days, although they could be crowned National League South champions as early as Saturday if they win against Chelmsford City and Dorking Wanderers lose at St Albans City.

As reported by the National League, a four-point advantage will be too much regardless if they see off Chelmsford and then win at Welling United on Monday. The Stones have already won their last games in a row and took 30 points from a possible 30 at home.

Dorking Wanderers will be hoping Chelmsford can continue their best run of the season, not losing in five and picked up wins recently over St Albans and Billericay Town.

Is it all set in stone for Maidstone or will there be a dramatic late twist to the title race?

Vanarama National League South
3pm Bath City v Tonbridge Angels
3pm Braintree Town v Hemel Hempstead Town
3pm Concord Rangers v Oxford City
3pm Eastbourne Borough v Billericay Town
3pm Ebbsfleet United v Chippenham Town
3pm Havant & Waterlooville v Hampton & Richmond Borough
3pm Hungerford Town v Welling United
3pm Maidstone United v Chelmsford City
3pm Slough Town v Dartford
3pm St Albans City v Dorking Wanderers

The only thing that Gateshead will be looking to do is win their remaining matches to become champions of the National League North.

They have a two-point advantage over second place Brackley Town and boast a far superior goal difference.

Gateshead’s remaining games are: Southport (H), Chorley (A), Hereford (H)

Brackley’s remaining games are: Blyth Spartans (H), Hereford (A), Chester (H)

Vanarama National League North
3pm AFC Fylde v Kettering Town
3pm AFC Telford United v Boston United
3pm Alfreton Town v Chester
3pm Brackley Town v Blyth Spartans
3pm Bradford (Park Avenue) v Darlington
3pm Curzon Ashton v Leamington
3pm Farsley Celtic v York City
3pm Gateshead v Southport
3pm Gloucester City v Chorley
3pm Kidderminster Harriers v Guiseley
3pm Spennymoor Town v Hereford

 

NON LEAGUE PLAYOFFS

Friday 29th April
Isthmian League – North Division Play-off Final
7.45pm – Canvey Island v Brentwood Town

Saturday 30th April
Northern Premier League – West Division Play-off Final

3pm Runcorn Linnets v Marine

Saturday 30th April
Northern Premier League – East Division Play-off Final

3pm Marske United v Stockton Town

Saturday 30th April
Northern Premier League – Midlands Division Play-off Final

3pm Chasetown v Belper Town

Saturday 30th April
Step 4/5 Inter-Step Play-off

3pm Histon v Consett AFC
3pm Witham Town v Saffron Walden Town
3pm Chalfont St Peter v Boldmere St Michaels

Saturday 30th April
Isthmian League – South East Division Play-off Final

3pm Ashford United v Herne Bay

Saturday 30th April
Step 4/5 Inter-Step Play-off

3pm Lancing v Newhaven Town
3pm Kempston Rovers v Eccleshill United
3pm Cinderford Town v Skelmersdale United

Sunday 1st May
Isthmian League – South Central Division Play-off Final
3pm Chertsey Town v Hanwell Town

Monday 2nd May
Northern Premier League – Premier Division Play-off Final

3pm Scarborough Athletic v Warrington Town

Monday 2nd May
Isthmian League – Premier Division Play-off Final

3pm Hornchurch v Cheshunt

Monday 2nd May
Southern League – Premier Central Play-off Final

3pm Peterborough Sports v Coalville Town

Monday 2nd May
Southern League – Premier South Play-off Final

3pm Hayes & Yeading United v Farnborough

Monday 2nd May
Southern League – Central Division Play-off Final

3pm Ware v North Leigh

Monday 2nd May
Southern League – South Division Play-off Final

3pm Winchester City v Bristol Manor Farm

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