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What can be decided in the English leagues this week?

ByPA Sport

Published 30/04/2018 at 11:32 GMT

There is still plenty to play for at the top and bottom of the Premier League and English Football League divisions.

West Brom’s relegation is near to being confirmed despite their late rally under caretaker boss Darren Moore (Owen Humphreys/PA Images)

Image credit: PA Sport

Promotion and relegation issues are quickly being decided but there is still plenty to play for in the Premier League and English Football League.
Here, Press Association Sport looks at the issues that can be settled this week.

Premier League

With the top of the Premier League pretty much decided, the intrigue comes at the bottom. West Brom’s late rally appears to be too little, too late as any win for 17th-placed Swansea in their remaining three matches would condemn the Baggies to demotion.
Stoke, in 19th, could claim a maximum of 36 points, so if West Ham and Huddersfield claim two points (out of a possible nine) and Swansea claim four (out of nine), the Potters would be demoted. Southampton, in 18th, have nine points available and could claim a maximum of 41 with three wins. Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Watford, all with 38 points, appear safe, while 14th-placed Brighton are a point worse off, but should survive.
Manchester United’s win over Arsenal on Sunday saw them secure a Champions League qualifying place behind record-chasing champions Manchester City.
A win for Liverpool at Chelsea next Sunday would ensure the Reds a place and effectively end fifth-placed Chelsea’s bid. Tottenham are the other team in contention, but the Blues must hope for Spurs to slip up.
Arsenal need four more points from three matches to be confirmed in sixth. Burnley require just a point to secure seventh and a place in Europe for the first time in more than 50 years.

Championship

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Wolves have been promoted to the Premier League as champions

Image credit: PA Sport

Wolves have been confirmed as Championship winners, with one round of matches to go on Sunday. Cardiff will join Wolves in being promoted automatically to the Premier League with victory at home to Reading. If Cardiff fail to win and Fulham claim three points at Birmingham, the Cottagers will go up in second place.
Aston Villa and Middlesbrough’s places in the play-offs are confirmed, with Derby needing a point against Barnsley – barring a major swing in goal difference – to clinch sixth and the final play-off place ahead of Preston, who play Burton.
Sunderland have been condemned to a second successive relegation and Bolton will join them unless they can beat Nottingham Forest and other results go their way. Barnsley are currently out of the drop zone on goal difference, so Burton must better Barnsley’s result to stay up. Reading and Birmingham, with 43 points, are not yet safe. A point for either side should confirm their status.

League One

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Charlton, managed by Lee Bowyer, centre, will hope to secure their play-off place

Image credit: PA Sport

Wigan need one more point in League One to be confirmed as champions ahead of Blackburn, who have also been promoted. Wigan play at Doncaster and Blackburn at home to Oxford.
Rotherham are in the play-offs with third-placed Shrewsbury. Plymouth could sneak in by beating sixth-placed Scunthorpe on Tuesday and securing a better result than the Iron, or Charlton, on Saturday’s final day. The Pilgrims play at Gillingham, Scunthorpe face Bradford and Charlton play Rochdale.
One point from two games would keep Walsall and AFC Wimbledon in League One. MK Dons and Bury are already demoted and Northampton are effectively down, due to their goal difference, but could still have a say in the survival race. Northampton play Oldham, who must match or better Rochdale’s result against Charlton. Rochdale have a superior goal difference to their Lancashire rivals.

League Two

Accrington have been promoted as champions, with Luton and Wycombe joining them in going up automatically. Exeter and Notts County are in the play-offs. Coventry and Lincoln, who play Morecambe and Yeovil respectively, should also be in the play-offs. Defeat for either side could see Mansfield creep in by beating Crawley.
Barnet will join Chesterfield in dropping out of the English Football League, unless they beat the Spireites and Morecambe lose. A draw at Coventry should see Morecambe stay up.
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