As promised, here is an update from the English footy action at the weekend! On an incredible couple of days of high drama and disappointment, there were few questions answered with a month of the season still to go...
In the Premier League, Leicester City continued on their merry way to what seems a highly improbable title. Against a spirited Sunderland side, a brace from Jamie Vardy put the Foxes one step closer to a first ever top tier league win. Tottenham kept the pressure on with a superb 3-0 demolition job on Manchester Utd, who cannot now win the PL. While Spurs are still very much in contention - seven points behind - the same cannot be said for West Ham, who now join United as also-rans. An entertaining 3-3 against third-placed Arsenal ended their quest for the title, although there is a European spot up for grabs.
Arsenal, meanwhile, could have done with more than a solitary point, as they are now thirteen points behind the leaders, with just six games remaining. Of course, they do have a game in hand on the leading two. They are also two points ahead of Manchester City, who added another win to keep alive their slim hopes of regaining the title they won in 2013-14.
At the foot of the table, Aston Villa's long run in the top flight appears to be over. Mathematically, it is still possible for them to stay up, but a home defeat by Bournemouth pretty much means that they are returning to the second level of league football, in which they last competed in 1988. I would think that Newcastle will also be down, but Sunderland could still catch Norwich.
The Championship is still anybody's. Well, not quite anybody's, but Brighton's win last night means that they are still in with a shout of glory alongside Burnley and 'Boro. Just two points separate the top three. Hull, Derby (unless the fold again like they did this time last year) look set for the playoffs, probably to be joined by Sheffield Wednesday.
At the other end, Bolton's performances have been every bit as ineffective as Villa's, and having been in the drop zone since October, they are now guaranteed League One football next season. Charlton and MK Dons look like joining them, although if Forest's freefall continues, who knows?
Wigan and Burton Albion should be taking two of those places, with the third going to one of Bradford, Millwall, Gillingham, or Walsall. Down in the basement, Crewe are gone, and Doncaster and Colchester should be the next two casualties. It's a logjam above them, but while Blackpool - currently fourth from bottom - are just a point from safety, all the teams above them have at least one game in hand.
As far as League Two, we know that Northampton Town will be swapping places with Crewe, although the title itself is still not decided. While not being THAT closely packed behind the Cobblers, there are no real gaps - until we come to the final playoff spot. At the moment, that place is being held by my beloved AFC Wimbledon! With six games remaining, we are still seven points adrift of Portsmouth, the team immediately above us. Looking over our shoulders, however, it is a VERY different scenario... The five teams behind us are all within three points of us! Again, the one thing in our favour - hopefully - is the fact that we have a game in hand on all of them. To get three points from that game in hand would be huge, although we do have a slightly superior goal difference to all of them too.
Dagenham and Redbridge are set to return to the National League, ending their nine-year stint in the Football League. York City will probably do the same, after just four seasons out of the then-Conference. Cheltenham seem set to clinch the NL, and assuming they do, Forest Green are assured of a playoff spot. As for the other playoff positions, it's too close to call...
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