Premier League
Table
MANCHESTER UNITED scored yet another late derby winner to close the gap to one behind behind leaders Chelsea as the race for the Premier League reaches its climax.
Paul Scholes' header 20 seconds from time was the third occasion this season that United had delivered such a sucker blow to rivals Manchester City.
It followed a 97th-minute goal in a 4-3 league win at Old Trafford and a last-gasp aggregate win in the League Cup semi finals.
Better still for United, the pressure immediately told on Chelsea who lost to Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 to stay on 77 points.
City's loss and Spurs' win allowed the North London club to move into the final Champions League spot, capping a brilliant week for Harry Redknapp's men.
Spurs had begun the week four points behind City in the battle for fourth place with a set of daunting fixtures.
But a brilliant Danny Rose debut goal set them on their way to a first North London derby win in the league since 1999.
Gareth Bale added a second early in the second half with a neat finish in the bottom corner before Nicklas Bendtner pulled one back late on.
Spurs survived the nervy finish and entered their contest with Chelsea in great spirits.
Jermian Defoe gave Spurs the ideal start, converting a penalty in front of a packed house at White Hart Lane, after John Terry's handball.
Tottenham dominated the match and got a deserved second goal when Bale scored for the second time in four days.
Chelsea's Terry was then sent off for a second booking and, while Frank Lampard pulled a goal back in stoppage time, it was not enough to prevent Spurs from their second big win in the week.
To Tottenham's further delight no doubt, Arsenal then failed to take advantage of Chelsea's slip up, suffering a second league defeat of the week - at Wigan Athletic, of all places.
It never looked likely as the Gunners held a comfortable 2-0 lead thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Mikael Silvestre.
But a dramatic final 10 minutes turned the game on its head and effectively ended Arsenal's title challenge.
First, boyhood Arsenal fan Ben Watson scored from Victor Moses' pull back on 80 minutes for what looked like nothing more than mere consolation.
Then, with just one minute left, Arsenal keeper Lukasz Fabianski dropped the ball right on to Titus Bramble's head for the easiest of equalisers.
And finally, Charles N'Zogbia struck a great shot from outside the box in-off the post for a dramatic winner, which should be enough to keep the Latics in the top flight for another season.
That is mainly because the bottom three continue to struggle.
Portsmouth were officially relegated the day before their incredible FA Cup semi final win after fourth-bottom West Ham United beat Sunderland 1-0.
But Steve Bruce's Sunderland were able to beat second-bottom Burnley 2-0 at home on Saturday to leave the Clarets four points adrift with three games left.
Hull City occupy the last relegation spot and look likely to stay there after a shocking 4-1 home loss to Burnley gave Brian Laws' men a first win on the road all season.
A drab 0-0 with Birmingham City means the Tigers retain some hope. Iain Dowie's men are just three points behind West Ham with a game in hand after the Hammers' meek 3-0 surrender at Anfield.
That win maintains Liverpool's slim chances of a top four finish. But with one fewer game than Spurs and City, and five points to make up, Rafa Benitez's guarantee of Champions League football is set to fail.
Despite also having a game in hand on the Reds, Aston Villa look even less likely to challenge Spurs and City to fourth place.
A Carling Cup final defeat, coupled with another Wembley loss in the FA Cup semi finals, has unsurprisingly dispirited Martin O'Neill's men who look set to settle for seventh.
The Championship
Table
NEWCASTLE UNITED sealed the Championship title with a 2-0 win at relegated Plymouth Argyle to cap their immediate return to the Premier League in some style.
The Magpies had already won promotion as early as Easter Monday, beating Sheffield United 2-1 after third-placed Nottingham Forest failed to beat Cardiff City.
And Chris Hughton's men have consistently shown themselves to be a step above much of the division, especially at home where they remain unbeaten.
This win at Plymouth, thanks to goals from Andy Carroll and Wayne Routledge, was United's seventh in succession and it puts them on 98 points, nine clear of West Bromwich Albion.
The Baggies will join Newcastle back in the Premier League after winning a fourth promotion in nine seasons with a 3-2 win at Doncaster Rovers.
Roberto di Matteo's men have finished the season strongly, going 10 games unbeaten, eight of which have been wins.
But the same cannot be said for Nottingham Forest who were right in the hunt for an automatic promotion spot before falling away in March.
Forest were the last Championship side to lose their unbeaten away record but they have taken just one point from their last nine matches on the road.
At least their 19-match unbeaten run in the middle of the season has been enough to confirm a spot in the playoffs, alongside Cardiff City and Leicester City.
With two matches left, the final playoff spot remains up for grabs, though Swansea City are the favourites.
The Swans looked set to blow it after a poor run of six matches without a win but two home wins against Scunthorpe United and Barnsley have settled nerves somewhat.
It means that the only side who can now overhaul Swansea are Blackpool. The Tangerines are two points behind having maintained their surprising form throughout the season.
Indeed, Ian Holloway's men have won five out of their last six games, including a 5-1 win against Swansea and, most recently, a 3-1 win against Forest.
They face Peterborough United away and Bristol City at home in their last two games, while Swansea play Sheffield United away and Doncaster Rovers at home.
At the bottom, Peterborough have long since been relegated, a testament to appointing four managers in a season after a lack of investment in a League One-standard squad.
Posh were officially demoted after a 2-2 draw with Barnsley was not enough even though this is their only point from their last eight matches.
Gary Johnson is the latest man to take the helm at London Road and if he did not know the size of the task ahead, it became pretty clear in a 6-0 loss at Reading on Saturday.
At least second-bottom Plymouth Argyle have shown some fight with recent away wins at Ipswich Town and Doncaster prolonging their Championship status.
But, after such a poor start, the Pilgrims were always fighting an uphill battle and they have fallen well short in the end.
The battle to avoid the third relegation spot will go to the wire. Sheffield Wednesday currently occupy third-bottom after they could only manage one point from the Sheffield derby.
Wednesday have 46 points from 44 games, one behind Crystal Palace who they meet at Hillsborough on the final day.
That clash looks likely to be the one which reveals the identity of the third relegated side but Watford, on 48 points, certainly cannot be excluded after a meek loss to Queens Park Rangers in their game in hand.
League One
Table
NORWICH CITY gained an instant return to the Championship after a 1-0 win at Charlton Athletic concluded a wonderful recovery.
The Canaries were relegated on the last day of last season at the Valley but their visit this year will provide much happier memories.
Norwich suffered a nightmare start to life in League One, losing 7-1 on the opening day at home against Colchester United.
But, after appointing the winning manager from that day, Paul Lambert, City have never looked back.
A mid-season run of 14 wins and two draws overhauled Leeds United at the top in January and ever since Lambert's men seem to have been extending their lead.
Norwich are nine points clear of second-placed Leeds with three games left, and the East Anglian club will be confirmed as champions by winning just one more point.
Leeds' future is less certain after their dramatic collapse in the second half of the season.
Simon Grayson's men even dropped out of the automatic promotion places after Swindon Town condemned them to a fourth successive loss earlier this month.
Three wins in a row against bottom half sides steadied the ship but another loss at Gillingham on Saturday showed just how vulnerable Leeds are.
Fortunately for them, all of their promotion rivals also suffered the jitters.
Millwall lost at Huddersfield Town for their first defeat in 12, Swindon made it just two points from a possible nine in their 1-1 draw with Walsall, and Charlton lost to Norwich.
With three matches left, Leeds are on 80 points, Millwall are on 79, Swindon are on 78 and Charlton are on 77.
Leeds travel to Charlton on May 1 while Millwall and Swindon meet on the last day.
Huddersfield's win against Millwall ensured that Norwich are still the only away team to win at the Galpharm Stadium, and that home record looks like it will be enough to grab the Terriers the last playoff spot.
Lee Clark's men are six points clear of Colchester with three matches left though eighth-placed Southampton still have an outside chance.
The Saints would have been in sixth place if they had not been deducted 10 points but, as it is, they are seven points behind with three matches left.
Just two points from a possible 33 have confirmed Stockport County's position as the worst team in League One, albeit one with severe financial difficulties.
The Hatters have won just 25 points all season, 14 adrift of second-bottom Southend United who also look in deep trouble on and off the pitch.
The Shrimpers have won just once in their last 19 league games and that run has put them seven points adrift of safety with three games left.
Third-bottom Wycombe Wanderers have been in trouble all season long but three successive wins have suddenly given the Chairboys hope of pulling off a great escape.
It is still looks an unlikely task, though. Despite the recent upturn in their form, the Adams Park club are still five points adrift of safety.
Of all the teams currently in the relegation zone, Tranmere Rovers look the most likely to escape after a vital win in their most recent home game.
The 3-1 success at Prenton Park over Exeter City closed the gap on the Grecians to just two points.
Meanwhile, Gillingham, in 19th on 47 points, and Leyton Orient, in 18th on 48 points, still need at least another win to be safe.
League Two
Table
NOTTS COUNTY took a step closer to the League Two championship after beating Rochdale 1-0 in a top-of-the-table clash at Meadow Lane.
Lee Hughes scored his 31st goal of the season on the half-hour mark with a delicate lob to put the Magpies four points clear.
The win extended County’s run to 12 wins and two draws in the 14 games since Steve Cotterill became the third manager of a turbulent, but ultimately successful, season.
Both clubs had already sealed promotion allowing them to focus fully on going for the league.
But, while County look set to take the honours, this current Rochdale team is still rightfully proud of achieving the club’s first promotion in 41 years.
Bournemouth will join the pair in League One this season with one more win, and that will also be quite some achievement for the youngest manager in the Football League, Eddie Howe.
Howe is just 32 years old but has led the Cherries to 77 points despite operating under a transfer embargo. They are eight points clear of fourth-placed Rotherham United with three games left.
The Millers are more likely to be concerned with securing a playoff place, having just emerged from a poor run of four successive losses to take four points from their last two games.
That puts them on 69 points, one ahead of Bury in fifth place with the Shakers also struggling somewhat to get over the line.
Aldershot Town and Dagenham & Redbridge, both on 66 points, complete the top seven places at present but the race remains wide open.
Chesterfield, in eighth, also have 66 points while Port Vale and Morecambe are both on 64 points.
Even Northampton Town, on 63 points, and Shrewsbury Town, on 62 points, cannot be totally discounted from a top-seven finish.
The bottom of the table is much more clear-cut, as it has been for some time.
After a season-long struggle, Darlington were finally put out their misery, despite producing a stunning result to beat Rochdale.
That win and a subsequent draw with Cheltenham Town have at least given the Quakers’ points total of 27 an air of respectability, though they remain 11 points adrift of second-bottom Grimsby Town.
The Mariners look likely to join Darlington in the Blue Square Premier after a crushing 3-0 home loss to fellow strugglers Torquay United.
The loss left Neil Woods’ side seven points adrift of safety with just three games left.
Barnet, on 45 points, and Lincoln, on 46 points, are most in danger of an unlikely comeback after both suffered four losses in their last five games to end already-poor seasons miserably.
Blue Square Premier
Table
STEVENAGE BOROUGH will play in the Football League for the first time in their history after proving to be the strongest link in the Blue Square Premier this season.
Boro had won the Conference previously in 1995-96 but were denied entry to the league because their ground did not match certain criteria.
But that is not an issue this time and Boro’s form in the run-in – 13 wins from the last 14 matches – has given Graham Westley’s men a deserved championship.
Luton Town also produced a fine run in the final stretch, scoring for fun in a 12-match unbeaten run but the Hatters’ February form is only good enough for the playoffs.
There, they will meet long-time leaders Oxford United who must be the most disappointed of the top sides as to how this season has panned out.
Rushden & Diamonds and York City complete a quartet of former Football League clubs aiming to get back there the hard way.
Following Chester City’s expulsion, there are only three relegation spots.
Grays Athletic have long since reserved one of them, though at least their fans gained the consolation of seeing a first win in 21 games against AFC Wimbledon.
With just one game left, the other two places are currently occupied by Ebbsfleet United, on 41 points, and Gateshead, on 42 points.
Looking over their shoulders are Eastbourne Borough, on 43 points, and Histon and Forest Green Rovers who are both on 45 points.
In those final matches, Ebbsfleet travel to Tamworth Town while Gateshead host AFC Wimbledon.
Eastbourne and Histon have home matches against Oxford and Barrow respectively while Forest Green should secure safety by beating Grays away.
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