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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ricky Charlesworth

All possible Championship, League One and League Two permutations on crucial EFL weekend

This weekend marks the penultimate round of fixtures in the Championship and League Two, whilst League One sees the regular season come to a close.

The second tier still has a number of issues that need deciding. Fulham earned promotion straight back to the Premier League earlier this month but missed the chance to clinch the title in midweek.

Marco Silva's side could be crowned champions without kicking a ball on Saturday. That will happen if Bournemouth drop points away at Blackburn. Even if the Cherries win, Fulham can get the job done themselves with a win at home to Luton on Bank Holiday Monday. Bournemouth cannot be promoted this weekend, with only Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield capable of catching them.

Next Tuesday's meeting between Scott Parker's side and Forest has the potential to be a shoot-out for second spot. Two of Bournemouth, Forest and Huddersfield are guaranteed a play-off place. They will be joined by Luton, if they win against Fulham or if Middlesbrough drop points against Stoke on Saturday.

Friday night sees Sheffield United, who are sixth, travel to QPR. A win for Paul Heckingbottom's side would be a huge stride towards confirming their spot. Middlesbrough, Blackburn and Millwall all realistically need to win this weekend to take their play-off push to the final day.

At the bottom all three relegation spots have already been confirmed with Peterborough joining Barnsley and Derby in the third tier next season.

In League One, the final day of the season has plenty riding on it at both ends of the table. Remarkably, of the six confirmed promotion and relegation spots only one has been confirmed after 45 games of the season.

Wigan Athletic fans thought they were going to be celebrating promotion midweek when they went 2-0 up away at Portsmouth. But a superb comeback from the hosts saw them flip the game on its head and Pompey's 3-2 win denied the Latics the point they needed to seal elevation.

It means Leam Richardson's side have to wait a little longer but they are still heavy favourites to be toasting promotion come Saturday. They will confirm their spot in the Championship if they avoid defeat at Shrewsbury or simply match MK Dons' result. The only way they cannot go up is if they lose to the Shrews, MK Dons beat Plymouth (with a considerable goal swing) and Rotherham win against Gillingham. Rotherham know they will be promoted if they match MK Dons' result.

The unlucky side to finish third out of the aforementioned trio will go into the play-offs along with three from Sheffield Wednesday, Sunderland, Plymouth and Wycombe.

At the bottom, Crewe Alexandra's demotion was confirmed weeks ago but the identity of the three sides joining them is still to be determined. Doncaster and Wimbledon look odds-on to go down. Both need to not only win their final match, against Oxford and Accrington respectively, but hope both Fleetwood and Gillingham both lose - with huge goal swings to boot. Gillingham are in the bottom four on goal difference below Fleetwood so they need to better their result. Gills host Rotherham whilst Fleetwood go to Bolton.

Morecambe can clinch survival in their first-ever season in League One with a win over Sunderland. If they draw or lose they have to hope that Fleetwood and Gillingham do not both win. All games in League One kick-off at 12.30pm on Saturday.

In League Two, Northampton could clinch the third and final automatic promotion spot this weekend. The Cobblers need to beat Exeter, who clinched promotion midweek, and hope that Port Vale and Mansfield both lose and that Bristol Rovers and Sutton both drop points too.

The title, which will be won by either Exeter or Forest Green, cannot be decided this weekend. The scramble for the play-off places could also go to the final day, although Swindon, Salford and Tranmere could all see their chances end this weekend.

Oldham were relegated last weekend, and will join Scunthorpe in the National League next season.

Confirmed ups and downs in EFL so far

CHAMPIONSHIP

Promoted

Fulham

Relegated

Barnsley

Derby County

Peterborough United

LEAGUE ONE

Relegated

Crewe Alexandra

LEAGUE TWO

Promoted

Forest Green Rovers

Exeter City

Relegated

Oldham Athletic

Scunthorpe United

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