Goodbye to Sunderland, Birmingham and Leeds

Last updated : 30 April 2007 By Michael Morris
Hull's win in Cardiff coupled with former Bluebird Alan Lee's goal for Ipswich at Elland Rd means that Leeds are three points from safety with just one game to go.

The problem they have is that they are 9 goals worse off than Hull. So even if they were to get a win at Derby and Hull lose at home it would need to see a 9 goal swing (Leeds to win 5 - 0, Hull to lose 4 - 0 at least).

So it's all over for Leeds. They drop to the third tier of the football league structure. Just 12 months after losing in the play off final they find themselves preparing from trips to Hartlepool, Port Vale, Orient, Cheltenham and Doncaster.

Leeds will go down with Luton and Southend Utd.

At the other end of the table Sunderland and Birmingham are promoted. Derby County needed to win at Crystal Palace to keep their automatic hopes alive but they put in a Cardiff City like performance and were easily beaten by Palace 2 - 0 and that confirmed the promotion of Sunderland and Cameron Jerome's Birmingham. The Blue's promotion should trigger a £500,000 windfall for City from the Jerome transfer.

So far the only clubs confirmed to be joining the Championship next season are Scunthorpe (from League 1) and Watford (from the Premiership).

Either Bristol City, Forest or Blackpool will get the final automatic promotion place from League 1 and pick any two from West Ham, Charlton, Wigan, Fulham or Sheff Utd to be relegated from the Premiership.