EFL ups and downs as Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest fight for Championship promotion

  /  autty

We're at the business end of the season in the EFL with matters of promotion, relegation and play-offs all set to be decided in the next few days.

The regular League One season concludes on Saturday, with the Championship and League Two climaxing next weekend, and there's so much still up for grabs.

Sportsmail runs you through all the important fixtures in the three divisions and those all-important permutations.

THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Who will be joining Fulham in the Premier League next season?

Fulham secured their return to the Premier League when they beat Preston North End 3-0 on April 19 - but the Cottagers haven't yet secured the Championship title.

They lost 1-0 at home to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday but it's pretty certain they'll be lifting the trophy given they need only two points from their last two matches.

A win at home to Luton Town on Monday evening will get them there.

The second automatic promotion place looks likely to go down to the wire, with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest the main candidates but Huddersfield Town are also still in the equation.

Bournemouth are currently in second spot and are three points ahead of Forest in third and Huddersfield in fourth. They have an identical goal difference of +30.

Both the Cherries and Forest have a game in hand on the Terriers and, intriguingly, that game in hand sees them play each other at the Vitality Stadium on Tuesday next week in what could effectively be a promotion shoot-out.

Before that, Bournemouth travel to Blackburn Rovers and Forest host Swansea City on Saturday afternoon.

Huddersfield can't be ruled out ahead of their trip to Coventry but would need both Bournemouth and Forest to slip-up in the final week.

Who'll win the mad scramble for the play-offs?

Bournemouth, Forest and Huddersfield are assured of at least a place in the play-offs.

Luton look pretty certain to be in the play-offs as well given they have a five-point buffer to seventh with just two games to play.

But sixth place, the final play-off position, is up for grabs.

Sheffield United are currently there, having strengthened their grip with a 3-1 win at Queens Park Rangers on Friday night, but Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall can mathematically still make it.

Middlesbrough play Stoke on Saturday while Millwall are at home to already-relegated Peterborough.

In the play-offs, third will play sixth and fourth will play fifth, with the higher-ranked team enjoying home advantage in the second leg.

The first legs of the semi-finals will be played on May 13/14 with the returns on May 16/17. The final, at Wembley, is on Sunday May 29.

Who has been relegated to League One?

Relegation matters have already been decided with Derby, Barnsley and Peterborough heading down to League One.

Derby's relegation was confirmed when they lost 1-0 at QPR on April 18 and Barnsley's fate was sealed by a 2-0 defeat at Huddersfield four days later.

Peterborough went down last Saturday when they lost 1-0 at home to Forest.

LEAGUE ONE

Which two of Wigan, Rotherham or MK Dons will be going up automatically?

The final day of the League One season on Saturday is shaping up to be a real nerve-shredder with issues unresolved at both ends of the table.

Wigan Athletic, Rotherham United and MK Dons are all going for the two automatic promotion places.

Wigan are in the box seat ahead of their trip to Shrewsbury Town, sitting two points ahead of Rotherham and three ahead of MK Dons.

So the Latics need only to draw to secure promotion but may have to win to secure the title depending on how Rotherham get on at Gillingham and the Dons fare away to Plymouth Argyle.

Rotherham will need to win their game if MK win theirs. If MK only draw, a point will be good enough for the Millers. MK will need to win and hope one of the pair above them stumble.

A final afternoon play-off dogfight

The unlucky club to miss out will have to refocus on the play-offs. Below them, a four-way fight for just three places will add to the final day intrigue.

Entering the action, Sheffield Wednesday are fourth, Sunderland fifth and Plymouth sixth. But Plymouth and seventh-placed Wycombe are level on 80 points, with Argyle two better off in the goal difference column.

Wycombe are playing at Burton Albion and will need to better Plymouth's result against MK Dons to sneak in. Alternatively, Wycombe will need to rack up the goals if both teams win.

Wednesday are at home to Portsmouth and Sunderland travel to Morecambe in the other key games, with each kicking off early at 12.30pm.

The first legs of the League One play-off semi-finals are scheduled for May 5/6 with the second legs on May 8/9. The final is on May 21.

Who will pull off a great escape from relegation?

We already know that Crewe Alexandra are going down - that was confirmed back on April 9 when they lost 2-0 to Doncaster Rovers - but everything else at the bottom is still to be decided on the last day.

Doncaster are as good as down given they would need a 27-goal swing to survive even if they do take all three points at Oxford United.

AFC Wimbledon are three points from safety ahead of their home game with Accrington Stanley and they require a seven-goal swing to escape.

Fleetwood (20th) and Gillingham (21st) are locked together on 40 points either side of the relegation divide. Fleetwood have the far healthier goal difference, which could prove decisive.

The Gills host promotion-chasing Rotherham, while Fleetwood make the trip to Bolton Wanderers.

Morecambe are two points above Fleetwood and Gillingham so could still go down if they lose to Sunderland and the other two both win.

LEAGUE TWO

Who'll join Forest Green and Exeter in League One next season?

Three go up automatically from League Two and we already know the identity of two of them. Eco-club Forest Green Rovers sealed promotion with a 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers last weekend, while Exeter City went up after they beat Barrow on Tuesday night.

Locked on 83 points, the title will go down to the final day next weekend. This Saturday, Forest Green host Harrogate Town and Exeter are away to Northampton Town.

That is certainly an important one for Northampton, who are currently in the third promotion place but can be overhauled by Port Vale, Mansfield Town, Bristol Rovers, Sutton United and Swindon Town in the final two games.

The Cobblers are just a point ahead of Port Vale and Mansfield so there's still everything to play for.

Who will be the play-off quartet?

Those sides that don't finish third will contest the play-offs. Port Vale, Mansfield, Bristol Rovers and Sutton are currently extending their season but Swindon, Salford City and Tranmere Rovers have a chance of catching them.

On Saturday, Sutton host Bradford City, Bristol Rovers make the journey to Rochdale and Swindon Town are at home to Barrow. On Bank Holiday Monday, Salford play Mansfield and Port Vale host Newport County.

The League Two play-off semi-final first legs will be on May 14/15 with the return games on May 18/19. The final is at Wembley on May 28.

Who is dropping down into non-league?

The two going down to the National League are Scunthorpe United and Oldham Athletic.

Scunthorpe were relegated on April 15 after they lost 3-0 at Leyton Orient. Oldham's fate was sealed last weekend with their game against Salford finished behind closed doors when Latics fans angry at the epic mismanagement of the club invaded the pitch to protest.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

Which teams are heading up into the EFL?

Stockport County are sitting pretty in the National League's one automatic promotion place. They are four points ahead of Wrexham with a game in hand.

Wrexham, FC Halifax Town, Solihull Moors, Notts County, Chesterfield and Grimsby Town currently occupy the play-off positions.

Related: Nottingham Forest Rotherham United AFC Bournemouth Huddersfield Town
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