Who can be promoted, relegated and secure European or playoff spot? – 6th May 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 fifth matchweek which sees potential ups and down in professional and semi pro English football, so here’s who can be promoted, relegated and secure European or playoff spot…

Premier League

The fifth-placed Premier League team will qualify for the Europa League group stage, along with the FA Cup winners. If Liverpool win the FA Cup, or if Chelsea finish in the top four (as looks extremely likely) and win the Cup, 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, while Arsenal will also be in the Europa League at worst as they cannot finish below sixth.

Liverpool’s win in the Carabao Cup final earned them a place in the Europa Conference League play-off round, so that Conference League spot reverts to the league.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to the Championship. Norwich City‘s relegation was sealed on the the 30th of April after they lost 2-0 at Aston Villa, while Watford are on the brink of joining them, sitting 12 points from safety with only four games remaining.

Saturday 7th May 2022
3pm Brentford v Southampton
5.30pm Brighton & Hove Albion v Manchester United
3pm Burnley v Aston Villa
3pm Chelsea v Wolverhampton Wanderers
3pm Crystal Palace v Watford
7.45pm Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur

Sunday 8th May 2022
2pm Arsenal v Leeds United
2pm Leicester City v Everton
4.30pm Manchester City v Newcastle United
2pm Norwich City v West Ham United

Championship

Sheffield United will book a play-off place if they win. A point will be enough if Luton or Middlesbrough fail to win.

Luton will also secure a top-six finish if they win. A point will be enough if Sheffield United lose or Middlesbrough fail to win.

Middlesbrough will make the play-offs if they win and Sheffield United lose or Luton fail to win. Boro can also make the top six if they win by three goals and Sheffield Utd and Luton fail to win.

Millwall will be in the play-offs if they win, Luton lose and Middlesbrough fail to win. If they win and Sheffield United lose with a six-goal swing – they will also be in the play-offs if Luton lose and Middlesbrough fail to win.

There is, however, a scenario in which Sheffield United and Middlesbrough could finish level on points, goal difference and goals scored.

In that scenario, Sheffield United would finish ahead of Middlesbrough due to a better head-to-head record – Middlesbrough won 2-0 at the Riverside; Sheffield United won 4-1 at Bramall Lane.

Saturday 7th May 2022
12.30pm AFC Bournemouth v Millwall
12.30pm Birmingham City v Blackburn Rovers
12.30pm Derby County v Cardiff City
12.30pm Huddersfield Town v Bristol City
12.30pm Hull City v Nottingham Forest
12.30pm Luton Town v Reading
12.30pm Peterborough United v Blackpool
12.30pm Preston North End v Middlesbrough
12.30pm Sheffield United v Fulham
12.30pm Stoke City v Coventry City
12.30pm Swansea City v Queens Park Rangers
12.30pm West Bromwich Albion v Barnsley

League Two

Exeter will be champions if they win or Forest Green fail to better their result, while Forest Green will be champions if they better Exeter’s result.

Northampton will be promoted if they win, providing Bristol Rovers don’t win by five more goals. A point will be enough if Bristol Rovers, Mansfield and Port Vale all fail to win.

Bristol Rovers will be promoted if they win and Northampton fail to win or if they win by five more goals than Northampton do. A point will be enough if Northampton lose and Mansfield and Port Vale fail to win.

Mansfield will be promoted if they win and Northampton & Bristol Rovers fail to win. A point will be enough if Northampton lose by five goals, Bristol Rovers lose and Port Vale and Swindon fail to win.

Port Vale will be promoted if they win and Northampton, Bristol Rovers and Mansfield all fail to win.

Swindon will be promoted if they win, Northampton and Bristol Rovers lose and Mansfield and Port Vale fail to win.

And in the play-off picture…

Mansfield will be in the play-offs if they avoid defeat.

Port Vale will be in the play-offs if they win.

Swindon will be in the play-offs if they win.

Sutton will be in the play-offs if they win, Mansfield or Port Vale lose or Swindon fail to win.

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

Saturday 7th May 2022
3pm Barrow v Northampton Town
3pm Bradford City v Carlisle United
3pm Bristol Rovers v Scunthorpe United
3pm Exeter City v Port Vale
3pm Harrogate Town v Sutton United
3pm Hartlepool United v Colchester United
3pm Leyton Orient v Tranmere Rovers
3pm Mansfield Town v Forest Green Rovers
3pm Newport County v Rochdale
3pm Oldham Athletic v Crawley Town
3pm Stevenage v Salford City
3pm Walsall v Swindon Town

National League

The champions will be automatically promoted to League Two, with the next six teams entering a play-off. Stockport, Wrexham, Halifax and Solihull Moors are already assured of at least a play-off place, with Notts County close to joining them.

Stockport will become champions if they beat Wrexham on Sunday with the game live on BT Sport.

The bottom three teams will be relegated to National League North or South with bottom club Dover Athletic, deducted 12 points for failing to complete their 2020-21 fixtures, the first from England’s major leagues to be relegated after a 2-0 defeat by Yeovil back in March. They were joined by Weymouth on the 26th of April after they lost 6-1 to Wrexham, and King’s Lynn Town on the 30th of April after a 3-3 draw with Eastleigh.

The champions and play-off winners of the North and South divisions will all be promoted to the National League, bringing the numbers back up to 24 clubs. Maidstone United won the South title on the 30th of April, with Gateshead crowned North champions on the 2nd of May, big celebrations are planned at their next home game with Wor Flags helping them with a display. The playoffs in both the North and South needs confirming, with clubs battling ti out for the final few places.

Saturday 7th May 2022
3pm Bromley v Dover Athletic
3pm FC Halifax Town v Aldershot Town
3pm Grimsby Town v Maidenhead United
3pm Notts County v Altrincham
3pm Solihull Moors v Dagenham & Redbridge
12.30pm Torquay United v Chesterfield
3pm Wealdstone v King’s Lynn Town
3pm Weymouth v Barnet
3pm Woking v Eastleigh
3pm Yeovil Town v Boreham Wood

Sunday 8th May 2022
12.30pm Wrexham v Stockport County

Saturday 7th May 2022
3pm AFC Fylde v Leamington
3pm AFC Telford United v York City
3pm Alfreton Town v Guiseley
3pm Brackley Town v Chester
3pm Bradford (Park Avenue) v Southport
3pm Curzon Ashton v Kettering Town
3pm Farsley Celtic v Boston United
3pm Gateshead v Hereford
3pm Gloucester City v Blyth Spartans
3pm Kidderminster Harriers v Darlington
3pm Spennymoor Town v Chorley

Saturday 7th May 2022
3pm Bath City v Oxford City
3pm Braintree Town v Billericay Town
3pm Concord Rangers v Welling United
3pm Dulwich Hamlet v Hemel Hempstead Town
3pm Eastbourne Borough v Dartford
3pm Ebbsfleet United v Chelmsford City
3pm Havant & Waterlooville v Chippenham Town
3pm Hungerford Town v Dorking Wanderers
3pm Maidstone United v Hampton & Richmond Borough
3pm St Albans City v Tonbridge Angels

Now you’ve seen who can be promoted, relegated and secure a European or playoff spot, which are you hoping to see do? Let us know your thoughts via our socials!