Premier League promotion watch: Hull and Leicester slip up as Crystal Palace face crucial derby
Hull City and Leicester City both suffered defeats which could harm their promotion chances in the weekend fixtures, while Crystal Palace face a huge game with rivals Millwall.
Michael Regan
Leicester suffered a potentially fatal blow for their playoff hopes as they and their rivals Nottingham Forest look to gain access to a chance at promotion. Watford stormed into a 2-goal lead thanks to the ever-reliable Troy Deener before Nathaniel Chalobah fired in an absolute stunner - Harry Kane pulled one goal back for the hosts, but could not find an equaliser as the Foxes campaign suffered a huge setback.
Leicester are now two points behind Nottingham Forest and Bolton, although have a better goal difference than either. They will need to hope that both fail to win on the last day in order to make the playoffs, unless Crystal Palace lose tonight, in which case another defeat for them on the final day could also put them within reach. For Watford, they must now better Hull City’s result on the final day to secure automatic promotion.
Millwall 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest kept themselves in the hunt for a playoff place to draw level with Bolton Wanderers after Greg Halford got a early goal to win a close game at Millwall. Forest are now level with Bolton, who are in the playoffs, on points, but have a slightly inferior goal difference. They will also need to look over their shoulder at their rivals Leicester - if Crystal Palace avoid defeat tonight, the final day will see one playoff place up for competition between the trio of Leicester, Forest, and Bolton.
Leeds United 1-2 Brighton and Hove Albion
Brighton made the second playoff place guaranteed as they prevailed in an amazing and bitterly-fought match which saw three red cards. Will Buckley gave the Seagulls the lead before Leeds’ Rodolph Austin was also sent off to make the situation look even better for the visitors - but Brighton’s Inigo Calderon was soon dismissed too, with El Hadji-Diouf scoring the resultant penalty to level the match on red cards and goals. Diouf was then sent off himself though, and the visitors took full advantage with Leo Ulloa heading in a late winner to seal his side’s promotion hopes.
Barnsley 2-0 Hull City
Hull City had the chance to secure promotion to the Premier League by securing second place against Barnsley, but suffered a disastrous defeat that, combined with Watford’s victory at Leicester, leaves them just a point ahead and on vastly inferior goal difference going into the final day. Goals from Jacob Mellis and Chris O’Grady condemned the Tigers, who must prevail over champions Cardiff City on the final day to secure their promotion. If their result is bettered by Watford, they will have to make do with a playoff place.
Cardiff City 1-1 Bolton Wanderers
Chris Eagles put Bolton ahead at already-promoted champions Cardiff City, but Craig Noone's second-half free-kick levelled the scores to leave Bolton in real danger of dropping out of the playoffs. Victory in the last game will guarantee their position as long as Nottingham Forest do not also win by a margin of three more goals, but defeat or a draw could leave their position open to either Forest or Leicester.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace continued their poor form of eight games without a win as they failed to get past Blackburn Rovers and left their playoff status in question. Stephen Dobbie had put the Eagles ahead before Jordan Rhodes equalised, a result which leaves Palace needing to win one of their last two games in order to get a playoff place. Which brings us to....
Millwall vs. Crystal Palace, 19:45 p.m. Tuesday 30th April
The South London derby. Crystal Palace need just three points from their last two games to guarantee their playoff place, but an away trip to Millwall is not exactly the best place to be getting them. It should be a pretty fierce encounter, and although the hosts have nothing to play for, they’d love nothing better than to dent their rivals hopes of going up. Victory for Palace would also be very bad news for the three teams below them, Bolton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester. This is going to be a big one.
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