Sunday, April 19, 2015

Football League Updates...

As promised last week, here are the weekend's updates from all the league action in England and Scotland.

Premier League

Chelsea moved a huge step closer to another title with a 1-0 over Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.  Eden Hazard's 38th-minute winner leaves the Blues with a 10-point cushion over London rivals Arsenal, and with just six games remaining, it would require a collapse of monumental proportions for them not end up as Champions.  United stay in third, having played an extra game, while Manchester City currently hold the last Champions League spot.  Assuming the top four stay the same, Liverpool, Southampton, and Spurs will battle it out for a place in the Europa League.

At the other end of the table, Leicester moved off the bottom with their 2-0 win against Swansea, but it its still very tight.  While the three going down are likely to come from Sunderland, Hull, Leicester, QPR, and Burnley (just three points separate the bottom five),  F.A. Cup finalists Aston Villa certainly aren't out of danger.

Championship

Bournemouth were a couple of minutes from retaining pole position, but Sheffield Wednesday's stoppage-time equaliser saw the Cherries drop to second behind Watford.  Middlesbrough's 1-0 victory at Norwich keeps them on level points with Bournemouth, with the Norfolk club now two points back.  With two games left, it is still anybody's, but the two who miss out on automatic promotion are guaranteed their places in the playoffs, where they will be joined by two from Ipswich, Brentford, Wolves, and a rejuvenated Derby.

Blackpool are relegated, and look like being joined by Wigan and Millwall.  One of them will certainly go down, and for either to survive, they MUST win both remaining matches.  Problem is, Wigan have to face Wolves and Brentford, while the south Londoners square off against Derby and Wolves!

League One

Bristol City are already Champions, and the other automatic promotion spot will go to either Preston or MK Dons.  The playoffs will be completed by Swindon, and most likely, Sheffield United and Chesterfield.  Yeovil are down, but the other three to go could come from eight teams.

League Two

Burton Albion are definitely up, and should be joined by Shrewsbury.  Whatever happens, Wycombe, Bury, and Southend are guaranteed playoff places at least, should they not go up by right,  The other spots should be filled by any two from Stevenage, Plymouth, and Luton, but Newport, Northampton, and Exeter are still mathematical possibilities.

Two teams will be relegated to the Conference, and there are only three options here.  With two games left, Hartlepool are on 41, Cheltenham on 40, and Tranmere Rovers one back on 39.

Scottish Premiership

Celtic look like lifting the title, and are five clear of second-placed Aberdeen, with the extra advantage of a game in hand.  At the other end, St. Mirren are ten points adrift of Motherwell, and look certain to be playing in the Championship next season.  Should something bizarre happen in the next few weeks, though, the two face each other on the final day.

Scottish Championship

Hearts are Champions.  The Edinburgh side are an incredible 22 points clear of Rangers, their closest challengers.  Livingston are three points clear at the foot of the table, but do have a game in hand on both Alloa and Cowdenbeath - and a vastly superior goal difference,  So, that extra game left really could make a difference,..

Scottish League One

Forfar's defeat at Peterhead on Saturday saw them drop from first to third.  With only one automatic promotion, there is still just a point separating the top three, and next week's clash between top two Stranraer and Morton could prove decisive.  No such battle at the bottom, with Stirling Albion down, 11 points adrift of the rest.

Scottish League Two

Albion Rovers are Champions, and Queen's Park are runners-up.  Arbroath are in the playoffs, with the last spot likely to be filled by East Fife or Elgin - who meet on the last day of the season!  The bottom position in the Scottish League is going to Montrose.


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