UPS AND DOWNS

CHAMPIONSHIP

BLACKBURN will stay up if they get more points than Nottingham Forest tomorrow and — if they both win or lose — Blackburn will need a two-goal swing to stay up due to Forest’s superior goal difference.

BIRMINGHAM are safe if they win, or if Blackburn and Forest fail to do so. But if Blackburn and Forest win, Birmingham will be relegated if they do not because of their inferior goal difference.

AT THE other end of the table, Brighton will clinch the title with a win but Newcastle are just one point behind them with a better goal difference.

LEAGUE ONE

BRADFORD take a 1-0 lead into their play-off second leg at Fleetwood tomorrow evening, while Scunthorpe host Millwall after a goalless first leg.

LEAGUE TWO

VICTORY for Plymouth this evening would see them lift the title but if they fail to win Doncaster and Portsmouth have a chance of finishing top.

SEVEN teams are vying for the last two play-off places, with just three points separating Carlisle in sixth and Mansfield in 12th. Blackpool (7th), Stevenage (8th), Cambridge (9th), Colchester (10th) and Wycombe (11th) are also in the hunt.

ONLY a win for Hartlepool at home to title-chasing Doncaster will keep their slim survival hopes alive. Even if they do win, Hartlepool need Newport to fail to win at home to mid-table Notts County.