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18:39 GMT, Thursday, 1 May 2008 19:39 UK

League One last day lowdown

While some of the promotion and relegation issues have already been decided in League One, seven teams still have something to play for.

Four of them play each other in games which will have significance at both ends of the table - and BBC Sport examines the permutations below.

Swansea have already won the title but Doncaster, Nottingham Forest and Carlisle are battling for the second automatic promotion place. The two unsuccessful teams will join Southend and Leeds in the play-offs.

Meanwhile, bottom club Luton and fellow strugglers Port Vale have already been relegated - but Gillingham, Bournemouth, Cheltenham and Crewe face a four-way tussle for the final two places. CLICK HERE TO launch BBC Sport's League One Predictor

AUTOMATIC PROMOTION

Swansea wrapped up the title on 19 April, having guaranteed promotion the previous week - and were confirmed as champions after Leeds' appeal against their 15-point deduction was rejected.

KEY FIXTURES


Doncaster's Sean O'Driscoll, Nottingham Forest's Colin Calderwood and Carlisle's John Ward

Doncaster are in pole position to claim the second automatic spot as they lead both Nottingham Forest and Carlisle by a point going into the final day.

A Doncaster win at Cheltenham will guarantee promotion for Rovers - while it would also leave Cheltenham in danger of the drop at the expense of Doncaster boss Sean O'Driscoll's old team Bournemouth.

If Doncaster match Forest's and Carlisle's results, that will also send Rovers up.

However, if Doncaster fail to win, Nottingham Forest can guarantee promotion by beating Yeovil at the City Ground - as their goal difference is 13 better than Carlisle's.

Realistically, Carlisle need to win to have any hope of snatching second spot because their goal difference is inferior to both Doncaster's and Forest's - while victory might also help Cumbrians boss John Ward's old team Cheltenham's survival chances.

But the Cumbrians would still need to better Forest's result - as a win for either Doncaster or Forest will scupper any chance Carlisle still have. CLICK HERE TO launch BBC Sport's League One Predictor

PLAY-OFFS

Two from Doncaster, Forest and Carlisle will enter the play-offs, where they will be joined by Southend and Leeds - who lost their appeal against their 15-point deduction on Thursday.

KEY FIXTURES


But neither Southend nor Leeds can finish higher than fifth place - so both will be away from home in the second leg of their play-off semi-finals, and thus Saturday's games will just determine who finishes fifth and sixth respectively.

The Shrimpers host already-relegated Port Vale - while Leeds' game has plenty of relevance to the relegation scrap as they entertain struggling Gillingham, who must win at Elland Road to have any hope of staying up. CLICK HERE TO launch BBC Sport's League One Predictor

RELEGATION

Crewe, Cheltenham, Bournemouth and Gillingham will all be trying to avoid joining Port Vale and Luton in the League One drop zone at the final whistle on Saturday.

Gillingham's prognosis is the simplest - anything less than a win at Leeds and they will be playing League Two football next season.

KEY FIXTURES


Crewe, Cheltenham, Bournemouth and Gillingham are bidding to avoid the last two relegation places But even a victory at Elland Road would see the Gills relegated anyway if either Bournemouth or Cheltenham win. And if Bournemouth lose but Cheltenham draw, Gillingham would need to win by a five-goal margin to stay up.

Crewe also have a fairly straightforward task on Saturday - avoid defeat at home to Oldham and the Railwaymen are safe whatever happens elsewhere.

The only combination of results which would relegate Crewe would be a defeat for them and wins for both Bournemouth and Cheltenham - a scenario which would see the Alex relegated on goal difference.

Cheltenham's destiny is also in their own hands - beat Doncaster and they are safe, but anything less than a win and they could be overtaken by Bournemouth and/or Gillingham.

If the Robins draw, they will be relegated if Bournemouth win or if Gillingham win by a five-goal margin. If Cheltenham lose, they will go down if Bournemouth avoid defeat or if Gillingham win.

Bournemouth make the long trip to Carlisle on the back of a six-game winning run, but still need at least one other result to go their way if they are to stay up.

If the Cherries win at Carlisle, they will stay up if Crewe lose or if Cheltenham fail to win. Even a draw would be enough for the Dorset side if Cheltenham lose and Gillingham fail to win.

However, a defeat at Brunton Park would see Bournemouth relegated, whatever happens in the other games. CLICK HERE TO launch BBC Sport's League One Predictor




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Related to this story:

Leeds points appeal unsuccessful (01 May 08 |  Leeds )
Ups and downs (29 Apr 08 |  Football )
BBC Sport's football predictor (19 Apr 08 |  Football )

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