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The state of play: The possible ups and downs in The Football League

22 April 2016

The finishing line is in sight. We're among the business end of the 2015/16 season, and titles, promotions and relegations are now being decided.

Northampton Town are the only Football League team to achieve promotion so far, and that's the way it'll stay for another week at least. However, a handful of teams are facing the drop...

Sky Bet Championship

Charlton Athletic's goalless draw with Bolton Wanderers in midweek ensured that they would be competing with the Trotters in Sky Bet League 1 next season.

Read more: Charlton captain Johnnie Jackson vows to return Addicks to Championship

Milton Keynes Dons look set to join the pair, and anything other than victory at home to Brentford would send Karl Robinson and his men straight back down.

With Fulham facing Nottingham Forest and Blackburn hosting Bristol City, the Dons must hope for a winner in each of those matches, and also need Rotherham's 10-match unbeaten streak to end – the Millers travel to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Nothing can be decided in terms of automatic promotion still, but the top six could potentially be confirmed – in no particular order – this weekend, dependent on results.

Up:
Down: Charlton Athletic, Bolton Wanderers

Sky Bet League 1

Colchester United picked up a point at already-relegated Crewe Alexandra in midweek to cling on to their Sky Bet League 1 status, but that won't be good enough this time around.

The U's must beat second-placed Burton Albion to give themselves another shot at survival, while hoping that Fleetwood Town and Shrewsbury Town both fail to win.

If that pair are victorious, it would also spell trouble for Doncaster Rovers, who would then need to beat Coventry City to remain in the division.

Nothing can be settled at the top of the division, with the race for automatic promotion and the Play-Offs still hotly contested.

Up:
Down: Crewe Alexandra

Sky Bet League 2

York City's 3-1 win over Play-Off chasing Portsmouth in midweek preserved their Football League status, but they face an even more daunting challenge this weekend.

The Minstermen must win at second-placed Accrington Stanley to stay in Sky Bet League 2, while hoping Newport County's trip to Luton Town proves fruitless.

At the opposite end, the race remains on to see who will join champions Northampton Town in Sky Bet League 1 next season. The push for the Play-Offs is just about alive, although there is potential for the top seven to be confirmed this weekend, dependent on a series of results.

Up: Northampton Town
Down: Dagenham & Redbridge

Read more: Dagenham & Redbridge relegated from Sky Bet League 2

The new arrivals

Aston Villa will be playing Sky Bet Championship football next season, while Cheltenham Town have already secured their immediate return to Sky Bet League 2.

The relegation battle in the top tier continues with Norwich City, Sunderland and Newcastle United fighting for survival.

In the National League, Forest Green Rovers will compete in the Play-Offs, and Grimsby Town and Dover Athletic will join them if they can triumph in the penultimate round of fixtures this weekend.

Down: Aston Villa
Up: Cheltenham Town

Don't miss it!

We'll keep you up to speed with all the goings on this weekend, via our three divisional Twitter accounts - @SkyBetChamp, @SkyBetLeague1 and @SkyBetLeague2.

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