I suppose Yeovil could beat Tranmere away and Scunthorpe lose twice in a week, but trying not to put too much of a downer on our present situation, let's have a party at Oldham and look forward to what could be some good trips away from Roots Hall 2009/10.
Charlton are certainly down. Does the new Valley count as a new ground? Will we be able to thank Mr. Bailey for his services or will he bugger off to Birmingham in another 'dream' move.
However, there's a chance that all seven new clubs in League One next year could be from the South, well Exeter is pushing it a bit but it's nearer than Bradford, I think, and it could well have been Rotherham and Darlington if points had not been deducted from both clubs.
Championship - Bottom
| 18 | Derby County | 43 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 12 | 23 | 38 | 13 | 12 | 18 | 53 | 62 | 51 | -9 | ||||
| 19 | Plymouth Argyle | 44 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 10 | 13 | 22 | 13 | 11 | 20 | 43 | 55 | 50 | -12 | ||||
| 20 | Nottingham Forest | 44 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 27 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 22 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 46 | 63 | 49 | -17 | ||||
| 21 | Barnsley | 43 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 5 | 12 | 14 | 32 | 12 | 11 | 20 | 41 | 55 | 47 | -14 | ||||
| 22 | Norwich City | 44 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 35 | 26 | 3 | 5 | 14 | 20 | 38 | 12 | 10 | 22 | 55 | 64 | 46 | -9 | ||||
| 23 | Southampton | 44 | 4 | 9 | 9 | 21 | 27 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 22 | 37 | 10 | 14 | 20 | 43 | 64 | 44 | -21 | ||||
| 24 | [R] Charlton Athletic | 43 | 5 | 7 | 9 | 27 | 34 | 2 | 7 | 13 | 19 | 35 | 7 | 14 | 22 | 46 | 69 | 35 | -23 | ||||
League Two - Top
| 1 | Brentford | 43 | 12 | 8 | 2 | 37 | 15 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 17 | 21 | 16 | 6 | 59 | 32 | 79 | +27 | ||||
| 2 | Exeter City | 44 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 34 | 23 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 28 | 25 | 21 | 12 | 11 | 62 | 48 | 75 | +14 | ||||
| 3 | Wycombe Wanderers | 43 | 11 | 9 | 2 | 31 | 14 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 17 | 7 | 51 | 30 | 74 | +21 | ||||
| 4 | Bury | 44 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 19 | 7 | 10 | 5 | 27 | 24 | 20 | 14 | 10 | 62 | 43 | 74 | +19 | ||||
| 5 | Gillingham | 44 | 12 | 6 | 4 | 38 | 21 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 19 | 34 | 20 | 11 | 13 | 57 | 55 | 71 | +2 | ||||
| 6 | Rochdale | 44 | 11 | 6 | 5 | 40 | 23 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 29 | 34 | 19 | 12 | 13 | 69 | 57 | 69 | +12 | ||||
| 7 | Shrewsbury Town | 44 | 14 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 16 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 18 | 27 | 16 | 17 | 11 | 59 | 43 | 65 | +16 | ||||
| 8 | Chesterfield | 44 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 32 | 26 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 30 | 28 | 16 | 15 | 13 | 62 | 54 | 63 | +8 | ||||
| 9 | Dagenham & Redbridge | 43 | 11 | 3 | 7 | 40 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 17 | 11 | 15 | 70 | 50 | 62 | +20 | ||||
| 10 | Morecambe | 43 | 9 | 9 | 4 | 29 | 20 | 6 | 8 | 7 | 20 | 27 | 15 | 17 | 11 | 49 | 47 | 62 | +2 | ||||
| 11 | Bradford City | 44 | 10 | 10 | 2 | 36 | 18 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 25 | 37 | 16 | 13 | 15 | 61 | 55 | 61 | +6 | ||||
Charlton Athletic 2 Blackpool 2
Charlton Athletic were relegated to League One today after a draw with Blackpool at The Valley.
The Addicks, who only dropped out of the Premier League two seasons ago, continued their alarming descent and will be in the third division next season for the first time in 29 years.
They kicked off knowing only a win would give them any chance of prolonging their battle for another few days, starting the day 12 points adrift with only a dozen to play for.
And they so nearly kept their side of the bargain on a sunny afternoon in south London, although positive results for Nottingham Forest and Barnsley would still have consigned the Addicks to the drop.
Deon Burton and Jonjo Shelvey put them 2-0 up, but DJ Campell's penalty and a stoppage-time equaliser from substitute Lee Hughes secured a point for Blackpool - who are not yet out of the woods themselves.
Charlton have, in truth, been planning for League One for some time - the club-record 18-game winless streak under first, Alan Pardew, and current boss Phil Parkinson earlier in the season was always going to be too much to claw back.
The midfielder ran Blackpool ragged, capping a fine display with a well-taken goal, and must be held on to if Charlton want to emulate Leicester and bounce straight back.
The Addicks dominated the first half but, as has been the case all season, lacked the finishing touch in front of goal.
Darren Ward headed Nicky Bailey's corner wide, Shelvey and Burton scooped shots over the crossbar and Zheng Zhi drove wide as the Addicks poured forward.
Bailey should have opened the scoring on the half-hour, but instead of shooting opted to pass to Lloyd Sam who could not get his shot away.
And while the score remains goalless, Charlton are always vulnerable and they were almost caught out when Campbell skipped past Mark Hudson only to fire over from eight yards.
But after the interval the Addicks made an immediate breakthrough when Burton met Sam's cross with a deft header which looped over Paul Rachubka and into the net.
And 90 seconds later they were two up when Zheng's clever chip fed Shelvey, who took a touch before firing an angled shot across Rachubka and into the far corner.
Blackpool pulled one back when Hudson brought down Campbell, who picked himself up to send Rob Elliot the wrong way from the penalty spot.
And in stoppage time a nervy Charlton rearguard back-tracked and allowed Claus Jorgensen to play in Hughes, who made no mistake with a curler from 12 yards to deny the hosts victory.
Ex-Farmer boss and present Charlton manger, for now, Phil Parkinson: "This club has had low moments before and has come back, and it will do so again. Everyone here today will have seen the terrific unity from the supporters and also seen that we have got some quality footballers. I don't want to discuss my position because that would be disrespectful to everybody at the club. It's not about me, it's about Charlton Football Club - a fantastic club which has been relegated but will come back strongly."
Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward, Youga (Holland 86), Sam, Zhi, Racon, Bailey, Shelvey, Burton (Tuna 78).
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Spring, Wagstaff.
Booked: Hudson, Youga.
Goals: Burton 48, Shelvey 49.
Blackpool: Rachubka, Baptiste, Barker, Evatt, Crainey, Small (Ormerod 61), Adam, Southern, Vaughan (Hughes 89), Campbell, Burgess (Jorgensen 83).
Subs Not Used: Gilks, Walton.
Goals: Campbell 67 pen, Hughes 90.
Charlton are relegated
Att: 19,615
Ref: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire).
Meanwhile, Wolverhampton Wanderers secured promotion to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers while Norwich came closer to joining Charlton and possibily Southampton in League One next season.
Ipswich Town 3 Norwich City 2
City's hopes of staying in the Championship are hanging by a thread after defeat at the home of their nearest rivals this afternoon.
Bryan Gunn's men stay third from bottom, a point behind Barnsley who have a game in hand, and three behind Nottingham Forest - and they have just two games of their own to make up the difference.
The odds will be stacked against them and all eyes will be on Barnsley's game against Coventry on Tuesday night.
Bryan Gunn recalled right winger Lee Croft, with no place for David Carney, even on the bench.
Gunn looked to have settled for a 4-4-2 formation, with Alan Gow in a nominal left flank role with licence to roam behind front pair Alan Lee and David Mooney.
There was only one striker on the bench, Cody McDonald getting the nod, sitting alongside keeper Stuart Nelson, defender Adrian Leijer and midfielders Simon Lappin and Korey Smith.
Town boss Jim Magilton was missing injured right back David Wright and midfielder Jon Walters - so Alex Bruce moved across from centre-half, where there was a recall for Ivan Campo. Giovani Dos Santos started in midfield, with Kevin Lisbie and Pablo Counago up front.
The Canaries got off to a terrific start, going ahead after just 15 minutes, when David Mooney headed home Sammy Clingan's free-kick from all of 12 yards - a terrific effort which he buried into the far corner beyond Richard Wright.
City were boosted by the goal and gave a good account of themselves before the wind was taken out of their sails 10 minutes later, when their defensive frailties were cruelly exposed.
Giovani Dos Santos flicked the ball into the path of Alan Quinn on the left side of the area and the midfielder fired past David Marshall and into the far corner.
The Canaries would be disappointed not to be ahead, certainly on the balance of play.
Both sides had their nervous moments but Alan lee, returning to his old club, went close with a shot from the edge of the area, while Jason Shackell and Gary Doherty were causing the home defence problems at set-pieces.
Darel Russell had a snap-shot tipped over by Wright, but at the other end Pablo Counago wasted a great chance to give Ipswich the half-time lead when he headed over from Jaime Peters' cross.
Ipswich lost left back Ben Thatcher just before the interval because of injury, while there were bookings for Counago, after a studs-up tackle on Lee, and Gow, for a foul on Alex Bruce.
Darel Russell and Alan Gow had gone close in the opening period, but Ipswich were stronger after the break and went ahead from the penalty spot after 55 minutes, Giovani Dos Santos firing home after City keeper David Marshall was adjudged to have fouled Kevin Lisbie.
City were often at full stretch but it wasn't until the final minutes that the scoreline was completed. Ipswich sub Jon Stead was given far too much space in the final minute and curled a low shot past Marshall.
Moments later City had their own spot-kick, Quinn penalised for a push on Alan Lee. Sammy Clingan converted, but it was too little, too late - and City face an anxious run-in.
City boss Gunn headed straight for referee Neil Swarbrick at the whistle and it was some minutes before he headed for the tunnel, applauding the travelling City fans who must now be wondering just when they will visit Portman Road again.
Norwich manager Bryan Gunn: "I was very angry, especially when the Ipswich Town manager comes up to me and said he didn't think it was a penalty. Then when you come off for Kevin Lisbie to say that he wasn't going to get to the ball, and the contact between him and David Marshall was minimal, I thought. Then the referee decides to give the penalty kick from around the halfway line, It's disappointing when you put all those things together."
Ipswich: Richard Wright, Bruce, Campo, Balkestein, Thatcher (Peters 44), Giovani (Haynes 78), Norris, Shumulikoski, Quinn, Lisbie, Counago (Stead 79).
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Garvan.
Booked: Counago, Bruce, Haynes.
Goals: Quinn 24, Giovani 62 pen, Stead 90.
Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Shackell, Doherty, Bertrand, Croft (McDonald 68), Clingan, Russell, Gow, Lee, Mooney.
Subs Not Used: Nelson, Lappin, Leijer, Smith.
Booked: Gow.
Goals: Mooney 16, Clingan 90 pen.
Att: 28,274
Ref: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire).
(Reports edited from The London Paper, Eastern Daily Press and BBC Sport Online, Sunday April 19, 2009.)