No team wants to be caught in a relegation battle as the season nears its end, and the final weekend of the campaign is the last place anyone wants to find themselves fighting for survival. However, Oxford United, Stoke City, Portsmouth, and Hull City all managed to collect crucial points in their recent matches, which helped them distance themselves from the bottom three. With the Easter weekend approaching, these teams will look to build on their progress and push towards ensuring that the final weeks of the season are as stress-free as possible.
With just four games remaining, Football League World is examining the run-ins for these four sides who are all striving to secure their place in the league. The question is whether they can afford to relax and enjoy the holiday weekend, or if the pressure will continue to mount.
For Oxford United, currently sitting 17th with 48 points, the last five games have been promising, with three victories against Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United, and Watford. These results have placed them in a relatively safe position, six points clear of the relegation zone. With the upcoming Easter fixtures, Oxford can approach their Good Friday home game against league leaders Leeds United as a “free hit,” knowing that their crucial match will be the following Monday when they travel to Cardiff City, currently in the relegation zone. If Cardiff falters in their match against Sheffield United, a win for Oxford against Cardiff would put them nine points clear with only six points left to play for, virtually confirming their survival. However, if Luton Town or Plymouth Argyle were to win both of their Easter games, Oxford would still need a couple of points from their remaining fixtures to seal safety.
| Oxford United’s remaining Championship fixtures | ||
| Date | Opposition | League Position |
| 18th April | Leeds United (H) | 1st |
| 21st April | Cardiff City (A) | 22nd |
| 26th April | Sunderland (H) | 4th |
| 3rd May | Swansea (A) | 12th |
Stoke City, in 18th place with 47 points, also saw a significant boost in their survival hopes after a dramatic late win over Cardiff. With a five-point cushion above the bottom three, they now face a tough but manageable set of fixtures. Stoke’s next three matches, including away games against Leeds United and Sheffield United, are challenging, followed by a final-day trip to relegation rivals Derby County. Before these tough encounters, Stoke hosts Sheffield Wednesday, who boasts the best away record in the league outside the top four. The team’s goal will be to secure at least a few more points from their upcoming games to further distance themselves from the danger zone and ensure safety before heading into their final match. In the best-case scenario, they will hope the teams currently in the bottom three fail to pick up points in their upcoming fixtures, easing Stoke’s relegation concerns.
| Stoke City’s remaining Championship fixtures | ||
| Date | Opposition | League Position |
| 18th April | Sheffield Wednesday (H) | 14th |
| 21st April | Leeds United (A) | 1st |
| 26th April | Sheffield United (H) | 3rd |
| 3rd May | Derby County (A) | 21st |
Leave a Reply