Football League: All still to play for as season draws to a close

QPR: joining the Premiership

But even with just two weeks to go until the end of the season, there are plenty of positions still up for grabs across the three divisions, and you can almost guarantee that there will be twists, turns and surprises as the 2010/11 season reaches its climax. The Yorker offers its opinion on the final games of the season.

In the Championship, only goal difference separates Queen’s Park Rangers from promotion to the top flight, and if they beat Watford on Saturday then Neil Warnock’s men will clinch not only promotion but the Championship title as well.

Just as goal difference is the only barrier between QPR and promotion, it is the only lifeline that is keeping Sheffield United, Scunthorpe and Preston from relegation, and it would now seem a near certainty that these three clubs will be playing League One football next year.

The race for second place is a much tenser affair, as Norwich and Cardiff are currently separated by just one point. The Canaries have been in imperious form recently, and Cardiff arguably have the tougher run in, but they do have an excellent team spearheaded by the outstanding Craig Bellamy. However, I fancy Norwich to carry their impressive recent form through to the end of the season and clinch promotion to the Premiership.

Also up for grabs in the Championship is one final play-off place. It seems almost certain that Reading and Swansea will be there, but the final spot sees a four way battle between Nottingham Forest, Millwall, Leeds United and Burnley. Forest and Leeds have faltered recently, and Millwall have been consistent all season without ever being spectacular. I’m going to back Burnley as the outside bet to take the final play-off place, as they have been in excellent form recently and have, in my opinion, the best young manager in the country in Eddie Howe.

In League One, Brighton have already sealed promotion and the title, and look set to be joined by Southampton or Huddersfield in the automatic promotion slots. Peterborough have booked their play-off place, and the MK Dons and Bournemouth will do so too with wins at the weekend. Leyton Orient will still believe they have an outside chance of sneaking into the play offs, but being three points behind with only two games to go and an inferior goal difference, it seems more likely that they will just fall short.

As for relegation from League One, Swindon’s Easter Monday defeat at Sheffield Wednesday ensured that they will be playing in League Two next season, and the other relegation spots will be filled with any three from Plymouth, Dagenham and Redbridge, Bristol Rovers and Walsall. Here, I’m going to say that Walsall are the most likely to avoid the drop, but don’t rule out Plymouth just yet as they have a game in hand over their relegation rivals.

Chesterfield and Bury will rise from League Two to play League One football next season and will face a battle for the title over the next two games. They look set to be joined by either Wycombe or Shrewsbury, and it will be Accrington Stanley, Stevenage, Gillingham and Torquay United that battle it out for the three remaining play off places.

Stockport County will be relegated from the Football League this season, with Barnet, Lincoln and Northampton also fighting to avoid the drop. Although Barnet are currently in the relegation zone, I fear for Lincoln’s safety as they are currently in freefall and have a terrible goal difference compared to their rivals.

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