Andy Bone

MAKING NO BONES ABOUT IT...

Championship - Sunday 4th May

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship has an amazing thirteen clubs involved in promotion or relegation on the last day of the season.

At the top West Brom are looking to win the title at QPR. Stoke entertain Leicester and need a point for automatic promotion, while Hull, who could still go up by Sunday evening, travel to Play Off hopefuls Ipswich.

Bristol City, who are assured of a Play Off spot, entertain Preston, while Crystal Palace host Burnley knowing three points will get them a Semi final place. Wolves need to win at home against Plymouth and hope others slip up.

In the other games, relegated duo, Scunthorpe and Colchester play each other, while Cup Finalists Cardiff play against Barnsley, the team they beat in the Semi Final.

At the bottom, Southampton host Sheffield United, who have an outside chance of making the Play Off. Saints need to better Leicester's result to stay up. The Foxes are at Stoke. Also in the mix are Sheffield Wednesday, who host Norwich, and following Saints draw at West Brom on Monday evening, it brings Blackpool, who are at home to Watford, and Coventry, who go to Charlton, back in to the mix.

League One - Saturday 3rd May

There are issues to be decided at both ends of Coca-Cola Football League One on the final day of the season.

Doncaster are in pole position for automatic promotion, along with Champions Swansea, when they travel to Cheltenham, who are involved in a relegation dog fight.

Nottingham Forest, who entertain Yeovil at The City Ground, and Carlisle, who have Bournemouth visiting Brunton Park, are also in with a chance as they trail Doncaster by just one point.

Southend and Leeds, who are both in the Play Off, host Port Vale and Gillingham respectively.

Champions Swansea celebrate their title at Brighton.

At the bottom, as you will have already read, Bournemouth, who have won an amazing six games on the bounce, and Gillingham both travel needing to win to survive, while Cheltenham and Crewe, who host Oldham, know a win will secure League One football next season.

In the other games, Leyton Orient host Bristol Rovers, Luton play Huddersfield, Northampton have Tranmere visiting Sixfields, Millwall go to Swindon and Walsall entertain Hartlepool.

League Two - Saturday 3rd May

In the Coca-Cola Football League Two the only issue to decide is the Play Off line up.

Rochdale (4th) host Shrewsbury at Spotland, while Darlington (6th) face a tricky trip to Peterborough. Stockport (5th) have Brentford visiting Edgeley Park, while Wycombe (7th) are also at home. Bradford being the visitors.

Champions MK Dons host Morecambe at the Stadium:MK where they will collect the League Two trophy.

In the other games, Accrington play Bury, Chester host Macclesfield, Notts County go to Chesterfield, Promoted Hereford host Grimsby and Barnet are at cash-strapped Rotherham.

Wrexham and Mansfield play their last games in the Football League for at least a season when they travel to Lincoln and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively.

Championship - Saturday 26th April

WARNOCK

As the Coca-Cola Football League Championship clubs go in to their penultimate games there are still many promotion and relegation issues to decide.

Leaders West Brom play struggling Southampton on Monday evening with both clubs either having the benefit of knowing Saturday's results, or more applied pressure!

Stoke could gain promotion this weekend if they can win at relegated Colchester and Hull slip up against Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace.

Bristol City face a difficult trip to in-form Sheffield United, who have James Beattie in hot form. Gary Johnson's men should make the play off.

Watford's stuttering form sees them play Scunthorpe at Vicarage Road, a place they have lost seven times this term.

Wolves need a victory if they are going to sneak in to the play off places and they will go to play a Coventry side buoyed after their 5-1 away win at Colchester last weekend. A win should all but ensure Championship football for Chris Coleman next year.

The big game at the bottom sees Leicester host Sheffield Wednesday. A win for Ian Holloway will keep The Foxes up, while counterpart Brian Laws needs points but faces the second best home defensive record in the league.

Burnley host Cardiff, who's Cup run has caught up with them. Owen Coyle's side will finish in a mid table berth.

Barnsley host a Charlton side who have surprisingly fell away during the spring after bringing in players like Leroy Lita on loan. The Tykes could confirm their Championship status if results go their way this weekend.

Norwich and Blackpool are other sides looking to secure their Championship places when the host QPR at Carrow Road and travel to Plymouth respectively.

In the other game, Ipswich go to Preston knowing they need two wins from their last two games if they are to stand any chance of going up. Jim Magilton's side have lost twelve games away, a telling factor, which is the joint second worse in the league. A record they ironically share with their opponents.

League Two - Saturday 26th April

INCE

In Coca-Cola Football League Two MK Dons could clinch the title with a win at Bradford City, while Peterborough will hope to gain ground if Dons slip up when they go to play at out-of-form Grimsby.

Third place is still up for grabs with Hereford going to Brentford where they will hope to celebrate at the pubs on each corner of the ground if results go their way!

Rochdale are at Bury while Stockport have a game in hand and will hope to keep up the pressue on The Bulls with a trip to Barnet.

Darlington and Wycombe both have two matches to prepare for the play off games as they are unable to go up automatically. Both clubs have a massive say in how the relegation final place could turn out though as Darlington host Dagenham & Redbridge, while Wycombe go to Notts County, who will survive with three points.

Mansfield are still chasing and will be looking to beat Rotherham at Field Mill so they are not in the bottom two before the last game.

In the other games, Macclesfield play Chesterfield, Lincoln go to Morecambe, Shrewsbury host Chester and Wrexham get ready for life in the Blue Square Premier with a home game against Accrington.

Blue Square Premier - Saturday 26th April

The Blue Square Premier finishes on Saturday for the season with only relegation issues to decide before the play off games commence.

Champions Aldershot go to Rushden, while the Semi Final line up is set to be completed as Torquay, who host Crawley, will play whoever finishes in fifth. That could be any one of Cambridge, who go to Northwich, or Burton Albion and Exeter, who play each other.

Any two of three sides could be relegated as Farsley Celtic entertain Grays knowing that they need other results to go their way even if they are victorious. Halifax host Stevenage, who fell just short of a play off place, while Altrincham go to play a Weymouth side who saved themselves with an excellent midweek win.

In the other games, Ebbsfleet play Oxford, Histon host Forest Green, York travel to Salisbury, Kidderminster go to Woking and the bottom two clubs play their final Premier game for at least a year as Stafford are at home to Droylsden.

CHAMPIONSHIP

Cureton

The Coca-Cola Football League Championship is building for an exciting climax as every club could mathematically be either promoted or relegated with just three games remaining. With the six play off contenders all playing each other (3 v 4, 5 v 6, 8 v 7) it looks set to go to the wire.

The current leaders West Brom have a trip to Carrow Road to play Glenn Roeder's Norwich, although being at the summit is proving to be a jinx. Seventeen times the lead has changed this season.

Hull City have been the form team in the second half of the season but Phil Brown's men face a tricky away tie to Sheffield United who, although in twelfth position, are just five points off the play offs themselves and have James Beattie in excellent form.

In the Sky live game, Stoke and Bristol City go head-to-head at The Britannia. Gary Johnson's side have had just one win in their last six games while Stoke have drawn three in the same timescale. Automatic promotion could beckon the winners of this tie.

Watford host Crystal Palace, who, love him or hate him, you cannot take away the excellent job Neil Warnock has done for his Chairman, Simon Jordan.

With points being dropped due to this weekend's fixtures, the chasing pack will have the chance to make up ground.

Wolves host Ipswich knowing a defeat, plus results going against them, could effectively knock them out of the race. Although victory and a Tuesday night game against Cardiff could see them rocket up the table.

Charlton, another team who have found spring a season to forget, face a tricky trip to a QPR, while Plymouth host Preston knowing only three points is good enough.

Cardiff, with a game in hand, travel to play Scunthorpe and could be the big movers up the table but face a difficult trip to Wolves on Tuesday evening.

At the bottom of the table, with Colchester relegated and Scunthorpe needing a miracle to stay in the Championship, it leaves a just one relegation spot left.

Barnsley could avoid relegation if they beat Leicester, who are sat in the trap door spot. Simon Davey's side are showing that their FA Cup run put the Tykes in a false position.

In another big game, Blackpool, who have been sucked in to the relegation fight, face a Sheffield Wednesday side looking to pull away from danger. Another six-pointer!

Coventry's Manager Chris Coleman must be looking to at his visit to Colchester as a great chance to collect maximum points. The Layer Road side though are in good form of late and showed this when they were only held by a last minute Iain Hume goal at Leicester last weekend.

Southampton face a Burnley side who have a very rare chance of a play off spot but they look set for a mid table finish. The Saints are struggling to find goals from anyone else but Stern John and with West Brom and Sheffield United to play, this is a big weekend for Nigel Pearson's men.

LEAGUE ONE

With Swansea having won promotion from Coca-Cola Football League One at Gillingham last week, they will now be looking to clinch the title when Yeovil visit the Liberty Stadium.

Carlisle, in second, will be pushing for the other automatic promotion slot when they host fifth place Southend at Brunton Park. The men from Roots Hall look set for a play off spot along with Nottingham Forest, who host relegated Luton Town.

Doncaster travel to Leyton Orient hoping to replace Carlisle in the second automatic place. Sean O'Driscoll's side have a superior goal difference to the Cumbrian side.

Leeds, who go to Millwall, currently hold the final play off position (sixth), but have Walsall, who host Bournemouth, Brighton, who entertain Hartlepool, and Tranmere, who travel to Huddersfield, hoping to step in if they slip up. They all need wins this weekend if they are to stand any chance of playing Championship football next season.

The task of reaching the Play Off Semi Finals is very slim for Northampton and Oldham, who play each other at Sixfields this weekend. Defeat would rule either club out of a place.

Gillingham, who are sat in the last relegation place, need three points when they go to Bristol Rovers, and hope Crewe lose at home to Cheltenham. The Railwaymen though have Nicky Maynard is superb form.

Swindon host Port Vale, who were relegated last weekend, at The County Ground.

LEAGUE TWO

In Coca-Cola Football League Two the top four clubs are involved in games against each other, while time is running for the teams at the bottom.

Table toppers MK Dons face a difficult trip to fourth place Stockport but just need a point to be certain of automatic promotion. Paul Ince's focus though will be to go up as Champions, while Stockport are hot on the heels of third place Hereford after a fantastic run by Jim Gannon's men.

Third place Hereford have second place Peterborough as their visitors to Edgar Street this weekend with automatic promotion on their minds. Peterborough faulted against Stockport last Saturday and need five points from their final three games to be certain of League One football next season.

Rochdale and Wycombe are both at home as they look to secure a play off place. Chester visit Adams Park, while Spotland plays host to Morecambe.

Chesterfield are chasing Wycombe for the final play off spot but trail them by five points. This weekend they must beat sixth place Hereford if they are to stand any chance.

Another team who has to win this weekend is Wrexham, but this time it is to avoid the drop! They host Notts County who, if they do not get beat, will all but relegate the welsh club.

Mansfield host Shrewsbury, buoyed by their 3-0 hammering of Wrexham last Sunday. The Stags are four points behind John Still's Dagenham & Redbridge but boast a better goal difference. The Daggers are in free fall and hope to reverse this trend when they go to Rotherham's Millmoor.

In the other games, Accrington Stanley play Barnet, Grimsby go to Bradford, Bury host Macclesfield and Lincoln City have Brentford as their visitors.

BLUE SQUARE PREMIER

Aldershot will be looking to celebrate their Blue Square Premier title, clinched at Exeter on Tuesday night, by being the first club in the division to reach 100 points for the season.

The Shots travel to play at Halifax, who themselves are sat in the relegation zone, in a difficult game to call at The Shay.

Five clubs are contesting the four play off places following the recent round of matches, with one point covering four of those concerned.

Torquay, who face Rushden & Diamonds at Nene Park on Thursday evening, need just one point to secure a play off place. They face York at Plainmoor on Saturday.

Third place Burton Albion entertain Stevenage, who are fifth, on Friday evening in another big game of the weekend.

Cambridge go to face Salisbury, who have lost just three times at home all season. Jimmy Quinn's men will be looking to bounce back from their shock home defeat to Stafford Rangers last weekend.

Exeter, currently out of the play off places, will be looking to take advantage of other sides playing each other with their trip to Rushden & Diamonds' Nene Park. Paul Tisdale's side were beaten Play Off finalists twelve months ago and will be looking to go one better this time around.

Four of the five sides at the bottom entertain on Saturday. Halifax play Champions Aldershot, Northwich Victoria host Grays Athletic, Farsley Celtic are at home to Forest Green and Weymouth have Kidderminster as their visitors. Altrincham are the only team to travel when they go to Ebbsfleet, who also play on Thursday evening against Droylsden.

Three games will not effect promotion or relegation - Histon play Droylsden, Stafford Rangers host Crawley and Oxford go to Woking.

Football League Preview - Saturday 12th April

In the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, leaders West Brom play host to a Watford side looking to bounce back after their 3-0 home mauling by Barnsley.

Second placed Bristol City host Wolves, who are on the fringes of the play offs, while Hull and Crystal Palace will be looking to take advantage of their home matches against lower opposition when they play QPR and Scunthorpe respectively.

Stoke and Charlton will also be looking to beat struggling pair Coventry and Southampton. The Sky Blues play host to Tony Pulis' men, while Alan Pardew and Nigel Pearson come together at The Valley after good results last weekend.

In the basement battle, Colchester will be relegated if they do not beat Leicester, who have slipped back in to the bottom three.

Also facing each other are Burnley and Sheffield United, who could both yet make the play offs, as could FA Cup Finalists Cardiff, who play against Blackpool at Ninian Park.

Barnsley's mixed emotions of the past few days sees them travel to play Preston at Deepdale.

On Monday evening, Sheffield Wednesday have their former Manager Paul Sturrock returning with his Plymouth side in a game to be featured live on Sky.

League One - Preview

In Coca-Cola Football League One, Swansea's hopes of an automatic promotion spot could become a reality this weekend, but they travel to face a Gillingham side fighting to get out of the relegation zone.

Two games catch the eye as second place Carlisle go to Elland Road to play sixth place Leeds, while it is seventh v fifth as Tranmere entertain Nottingham Forest.

Third place Doncaster entertain Swindon on Friday evening, while fourth placed Southend entertain Northampton at Roots Hall.

Of those clubs chasing a play off place, Walsall go to Cheltenham, while Brighton are also on the road when they go to bottom club Luton, who could be relegated this weekend.

Oldham host Leyton Orient in a mid table fixture at Boundary Park.

At the bottom, Bournemouth and Port Vale, who have both started winning, are at home this weekend. Vale face Huddersfield while the Cherries entertain Bristol Rovers.

Crewe, who are only one place above the drop zone on goal difference, face a tricky trip to Yeovil.

Finally, Millwall, also in a relegation scrap, go to Hartlepool.

League Two - Preview

In Coca-Cola Football League Two, six of the top seven play each other as the race hots up for who gains promotion automatically and which sides will have to play off for a League One place.

MK Dons could cement an automatic spot when Wycombe, fresh from their injury time draw with Peterborough last Saturday, are the visitors to the Stadium:MK.

Darren Ferguson's assault on the title sees his Peterborough side host a Stockport team, who have 'keeper John Ruddy on loan from Everton in fantastic form. Ruddy won the League Two Player of the Month for March for keeping five clean sheets in six games.

It is fifth v third as Darlington host Hereford as the coverted third place is very much up for grabs.

Rochdale, in sixth, go to Dagenham & Redbridge, who are sat just two places above the drop zone. John Still's side will be hoping not to return to the Blue Square Premier after just one season in the Football League.

Only Chesterfield can realistically make the play offs. They are off to Morecambe's Christie Park this weekend.

Wrexham have a must-win game if they are to avoid relegation to the Blue Square Premier when they go to Shrewsbury on Sunday. Fellow strugglers Mansfield play at Macclesfield while Notts County have Accrington Stanley as their visitors.

In the other games, Barnet host Bury, Bradford go to Brentford, Chester entertain Lincoln and Grimsby play Rotherham.

Blue Square Premier - Preview

Aldershot could clinch the Blue Square Premier title this weekend if they beat Burton Albion and Torquay fail to take maximum points at Stevenage.

With four of the top five playing each other, Cambridge and Exeter cannot afford to faulter as they host strugglers Stafford Rangers and Northwich Victoria respectively.

Histon and Forest Green must win if they are to have any chance of to making the play offs. Histon go to free scoring Kidderminster, while Rushden & Diamonds visit The Lawn.

Altrincham and Halifax will be hoping for a valuable three points as both clubs have slipped in to the bottom four after a spell of good recent results by clubs around them. Altrincham will hope the goals of Colin Little, who has scored 15 in 15 games, will drive them on to defeat Nick Holmes' Salisbury, while The Shaymen face a tricky trip to Grays, who have Jon-Paul Pittman on fire.

Just above the drop zone, Weymouth go to Crawley and Farsley Celtic play at Oxford.

Droylsden, buoyed by their first away win on Tuesday night, host FA Trophy Finalists, Ebbsfleet.

In the other game of the day, Woking, who have today appointed Ex Spurs left back Justin Edinburgh as Assistant Technical Director, go to the Kit Kat Stadium to play York.

STEELE GRABS PLAYER OF THE MONTH AWARD

Northwich are toasting a double success after their run of nine matches unbeaten has seen them edge three points clear of the relegation zone. Dino Maamria has won the Blue Square Premier Manager of the Month award for March, while Lee Steele was been awarded the Blue Square Premier Player of the Month for March. The Ex Oxford striker scored eight goals in the month. A far cry from the Victoria team that started the season 19 games without a victory.