Ups and downs in England on Saturday...

By Paul Vinnell

Image: Ashley Westwood - not quite down, but almost out

Who is up, who is down, who is still waiting and who had a near-miss in Saturday's league fixtures?

Premier League

It is not quite goodbye to Aston Villa yet, despite their 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth. Norwich's 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace means Villa were not relegated on Saturday, but if Sunderland win at leaders Leicester on Super Sunday, the Midlands club will be down.

After a humiliating season that must rank among the worst in the Premier League era, Villa remain destined to play in the second tier for the first time since the 1987-88 season.

The seven-time English champions and former European Cup winners are 15 points adrift of safety with only five games left and a vastly inferior goal difference to Norwich, and with 18th-place Sunderland (potentially 14 points clear of Villa after Sunday) playing Norwich next weekend potentially, neither side can lose all of their remaining games. 

Leicester could secure a top-four spot if they beat Sunderland on Sunday and Manchester United and drop points at Tottenham on Sunday. The Foxes, who have six games to play, are currently 16 points clear of United in fifth and 17 clear of the Hammers in sixth (although both those sides have a game in hand).

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Image: Leicester could guarantee a top-four spot this weekend

Those results, however, wouldn't guarantee the Foxes a Champions League position, as fourth place in the Premier League could lose their qualification spot this year if Manchester City win the Champions League and finish outside the top four, and Liverpool win the Europa League.

More importantly, Leicester need just four wins from their final six games to win the Premier League title.

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Championship

Image: Bolton players sense the game is up at Derby

Bolton Wanderers have been relegated to League One following their 4-1 defeat to Derby County.

Wanderers had to win to survive another week but victory at promotion-chasing Derby was too much to ask, and the Trotters will start next season in the third tier. It's been a miserable season on and off the pitch at the Macron Stadium...

League One

Image: Wigan currently lead the way in League One

It all remains up for grabs at the top. Wigan are all-but in the play-offs after beating Coventry City 1-0. Barnsley were beaten 2-1 by Chesterfield and those results mean league-leading Latics are 18 points clear of seventh-placed Barnsley - who would only have six games left to play.

But it's farewell to Crewe Alexandra - they are relegated after going down 3-0 at Port Vale, their sixth straight defeat. 

Image: Northampton Town's Nicky Adams (right) celebrates scoring

League Two

Northampton Town have been promoted to League One following their 2-2 draw with Bristol Rovers. The biggest home crowd since 1987 at Sixfields began the party as the Cobblers roared into a 2-0 lead. Rovers hit back to draw 2-2, Ellis Harrison scoring the equaliser two minutes from time. But, no matter, Northampton will be playing in League One next season. Oxford United's win at Crawley means the League Two title remains undecided.

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