We all know that the EPL title race is one of the most exciting in years (although it’ll never top AGUEROOOO) and I suppose Leeds & Sheffield United are making the English Championship fairly entertaining too, but who cares about England? Exactly. This week I’m going to take a look and all the potential promotions and relegations from the four SPFL Leagues.
The Premiership
We’ll start with the boring one. They’ve got four games left – twice as many as the other three leagues – but Celtic have all but wrapped up their eighth consecutive title. A 0-0 draw with Hibs means Celtic are nine points clear with 12 to play for, making a collapse about as likely as Johnny Harvey getting offered the Scotland job.
At the other end, Dundee, St Mirren and Hamilton can all still be relegated, with Dundee six points adrift in the relegation place. There’s just two points separating St Mirren and Hamilton in the race to avoid the playoff, which will make for an exciting, although not particularly high-quality, conclusion.
Champions: Celtic (obviously)
Relegated: Dundee and Hamilton
The Championship
The Championship, like every other league, is more interesting at the bottom than the top. Ross County are all but champions, with Dundee United needing back to back 9-0 wins to even have a chance of catching them.
We are just about there….
See you next Friday #Staggies pic.twitter.com/sJ4hzmAAU7
— Ross County FC (@RossCounty) April 19, 2019
At the bottom, unbelievably, it’s still a six-horse race on paper. Morton’s 2-0 win over Falkirk – a win made all the more special for ‘Ton fans after Ray McKinnon left them for Falkirk in, erm, questionable circumstances – left the Bairns bottom of the pile. It’s a strange position for them to be in after fighting for promotion consistently over the last few years.
Part-time Alloa have managed to string together a few wins in an attempt to save themselves but they’re still in danger alongside Partick Thistle, QotS, Morton and Dunfermline, although the latter need a maximum of one point so will be fine.
THE FINAL WHISTLE BLOWS. GET IN THERE!!!!!
— Greenock Morton (@Morton_FC) April 20, 2019
Champions: Ross County (also obviously)
Promoted: Dundee United
Relegated: Falkirk
League One
I mentioned in last week’s blog that Dick Campbell’s Arbroath were the first to secure the title and it looks like the promotion Playoff places are all secured too. Forfar, Raith and Montrose will all be licking their lips at the thought of meeting whichever shambolic Championship club ends up ninth. At the bottom, it’s a two-horse race between Stenhousemuir and Brechin after Stranraer secured their League One status on Saturday. Brechin face back-to-back relegations, whilst Stennie face an immediate drop back to the league they earned promotion from last year.
FT | Stranraer 3-0 Brechin City#monblu ?⚪
WE ARE STAYING UP!
First half goals from Mark Lamont and Ali McCann – and an unstoppable late winner from Cameron Elliott – earn survival for Stranraer. pic.twitter.com/48R5lOIz7d
— Stranraer FC (@StranraerFC) April 20, 2019
Champions: Arbroath
Relegated: Stennie and Brechin
League Two
Peterhead are left needing a win from two games to secure the title, with Clyde breathing down their necks. This title race could have gone right to the wire, as there would have been nothing but one goal in it if Clyde hadn’t been deducted four points.
Full Time: Albion Rovers 3 @EdinburghCityFC 2 #TheGreatestEscape
— Albion Rovers F.C. (@albionrovers) April 20, 2019
At the bottom, a win for Albion Rovers on Saturday coupled with yet another pumping for Berwick means the latter are now all but doomed to face Cove Rangers or East Kilbride in the playoff to avoid relegation to the non-leagues. They can mathematically still survive, being only five points behind with six to play for, but with one win in 22 and without a goal in well over 500 minutes of football, it looks highly unlikely.
Champions: Peterhead
Promoted: Clyde
Relegated: Berwich (Sadly)