Burnley regain top-flight status
The Premier League will welcome Burnley back next season as they finished their impressive, and ultimately efficient, campaign to regain top-flight status. A Sam Vokes header was enough to see off QPR at home; with Middlesbrough and Brighton playing each other on the final day, a two-point gap between the chasing pack is enough to ensure promotion. Middlesbrough were held 2-2 away at Birmingham City, whilst fellow Premier League hopefuls Brighton relied on a last-minute equaliser from James Wilson to share the points with Derby. Next weekend’s clash between the two will be the most anticipated fixture of the season: Brighton
need nothing less than a win, whilst Middlesbrough can end a seven-year absence with just a draw. Below them, Sheffield Wednesday secured a play-off spot in emphatic style, cruising to a 3-0 victory against fellow competitors Cardiff City.
Automatic Promotion: Burnley.
Play Offs: Hull, Derby, Sheffield Wednesday.
Relegated: Charlton, MK Dons, Bolton.
Wigan crowned champions
Bloomfield Road, the home of Blackpool Town, was the site of polar emotions; a 4-0 loss to Wigan, meant the home side are balancing on the precipice of relegation, whilst Wigan were crowned champions.
The race for second spot will enter the final day of the season, as Walsall won 3-1 against Fleetwood Town, ensuring they are only three points behind Burton, who currently hold second place. Burton only need a draw next weekend to gain promotion, but a loss and a Walsall aggregate win of two, would mean they would face a dog-fight in the play-offs.
Play off hopefuls Barnsley drew 2-2 against Colchester, opening up a path for the chasing pack: Scunthorpe 1-0 win against Port Vale means they are now level on points with Barnsley, whilst Gillingham failed to capitalise on Barnsley’s slip up, falling 2-1 away at Burton.
Doncaster will be left ruing a huge opportunity to climb out of the relegation places, losing 3-1 away to Crewe, after Blackpool and Fleetwood lost. With an insurmountable goal-difference, Doncaster will be surely relegated next weekend. Thus, the battle to maintain League One status comes down to the final day of the season: a Fleetwood draw would mean safety, boasting a superior goal difference to Blackpool, whilst a loss could be translate into relegation, if Blackpool win.
Automatic Promotion: Wigan.
Play-offs: Millwall, Bradford.
Relegated: Colchester, Crewe.
Three into two does not go
Wins for Accrington Stanley, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers mean the search for promotion into League One will be decided next weekend. Three teams can gain automatic promotion; Northampton have already clinched the title, meaning three teams are jostling over two spots.
Wimbledon were able to secure the final play-off spot, with a 0-0 draw at Stevenage being enough to see off rivals Cambridge.
Automatic Promotion: Northampton.
Play-offs: Portsmouth, Plymouth and Wimbledon.
