Today it is the turn of the Sky Bet League Championship and this division will see three sides move up into the Premier League, two automatically and the other after a playoff while, at the bottom, three drop down to the Sky Bet Division One.
Relegation:
With four games left to go the relegation picture here is quite clear. Bolton Wanderers are already down and are looking good to finish bottom of the whole table. Tomorrow they will host fellow relegation side, Charlton, who will most likely find themselves confirmed as relegated before the weekend.
A glimmer of hope now only belongs to MK Dons, but it is also fading fast. Nine points away from safety with only twelve to play for means they have to be perfect to have a chance. Away to Sheffield Wednesday tomorrow, a side chasing promotion, leads me to think that maybe the bottom end of the table could be settled this Tuesday.
Promotion:
This is a much tighter affair with things far from sorted out. Middlesbrough are currently top of the pile with Burnley two points back and Brighton, in third, only four back. The top two will play each other on Tuesday, and if Middlesbro win at Turf Moor you have to think that automatic promotion, at least, would be all but secured.
A Burnley win will see Boro drop out of top spot though and possibly end the day only a point ahead of third. In fact Boro will also play the current third place team, and potential title rival Brighton, at home on the final day. With that in mind you would have to say Boro would be favorites to finish in top spot with that in mind I think Burnley will stay in second with Brighton having to negotiate the play off rounds.
When looking at the play off round, of course we have Brighton. Joining them I think will be the other three already in those positions with Cardiff, just outside, having too much to make up with so few games left.
Brighton will play, and beat Sheffield Wednesday to face Hull City in the final, after the have defeated Derby County in the play offs. These two sides have met three times this season, with each team winning a game 1-0 and the third being a 0-0 draw. If not for the FA Cup Third Round win for Hull City the tie could be seen as being in Brighton’s favor. In a one off game though, which Hull City will turn up? The two Managers have connections with Norwich City in one way or another and one will head up as, possibly, the Canaries head the other way.
Relegated: Bolton, Charlton and MK Dons.
Promoted: Middlesbrough, Burnley and (Play off) Hull City.
Jason is a Freelance Soccer Writer. You can follow him on Twitter @PACityboy and www.facebook.com/jasonbardwell1979
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