Saturday 7 May 2016

The Season 2015/16: Leicester City - from 5000/1 to number one


Premier League


Full table as it standsWDLFAGDPts
CLeicester City221136434+3077
2Tottenham Hotspur191346728+3970
3Arsenal191075934+2567
4Manchester City197106838+3064
5Manchester United17994331+1260
6West Ham United151466043+1759
7Southampton169115339+1457

LEICESTER CITY will celebrate their remarkable Premier League title triumph when they take on Everton at the King Power Stadium tonight.

The Foxes are seven points clear of Tottenham Hotspur so cannot be caught after Spurs dropped points in both of their last two games.

Leading 2-0 against Chelsea with just over half an hour to play, it looked as if the North London club would test Leicester's mettle by extending the title chase for another week.

But the Blues were always bound to raise their game for Spurs - and Gary Cahill pulled one back before Eden Hazard equalised with just seven minutes left on the clock.

Cue pandemonium in Leicester - the first English first-time champions since their East Midlands neighbours Nottingham Forest in 1978.

Tipped for relegation in some places at the start of the season, having survived late on last year, Claudio Ranieri's men defied odds of 5000/1 to achieve this fairytale title win.

But, in hindsight, those odds were terribly unfair on a team which the goal-scoring threat of Jamie Vardy, the creativity of Riyad Mahrez, and the steel of N'Golo Kante and Danny Drinkwater in midfield.

Early on in the season, Leicester struggled for clean sheets - but, as the campaign has worn on, the Foxes have tightened up.

Since Christmas, they have conceded just 10 league goals and a series of 1-0 wins in March and April ensured they have always kept their title rivals at arm's length.

As mentioned, Spurs have come closest to matching Leicester. Indeed, Mauricio Pochettino's men have scored more and conceded fewer goals than any other team in the division this season.

Harry Kane has another good year with 28 goals in all competitions and, though they have failed to land a first championship since 1961, Spurs could finish above Arsenal for the first time since 1995.

The Gunners were top on New Year's Day but their bid for a first title since 2004 suffered in a habitual springtime collapse in defeats away to Manchester United and at home to Swansea City.

Without the FA Cup to fall back on this season, Arsene Wenger's position at the Emirates has never looked more shaky.

Of course, Manuel Pellegrini's fate at Manchester City has already been determined with Pep Guardiola having been signed up to replace him.

The mid-season announcement of this end-of-season change has definitely affected Man City's form - and a limp defeat in the Champions League semi finals to Real Madrid leaves them only with a top-four finish to play for.

City rivals Man United are at the front of the chasing group, four points behind in fifth but with a game in hand next week having qualified for an FA Cup Final against Crystal Palace.

That game in hand is against West Ham United and it will be the last ever match at the Boleyn Ground before the Hammers take over the Olympic Stadium.

West Ham have seen off their old ground in some style, losing their opening two home games in August but not since.

Slaven Bilic's men currently sit in sixth, just a point behind Man United, and looking good for a European place.

Southampton, a further three points behind in seventh, have had another steady season under Ronald Koeman and cannot be discounted when considering the European spots either following successive 4-2 wins over Aston Villa and Man City.

Villa, of course, have endured a nightmare season with indiscipline occurring on and off the pitch from a squad of players not fit for purpose.

Currently on a sequence of 11 successive Premier League defeats - a run which began with a 6-0 home defeat to Europa League finalists Liverpool - the season's end cannot come quick enough for the second city's fallen giants.

Otherwise, the relegation battle looks set to go to the wire. Norwich City are now second bottom, two points adrift of 17th-placed Newcastle United, after a damaging run of three consecutive defeats.

Sunderland are third bottom and need to pull off another of their notorious late-season escapes. Currently sitting a point behind rivals Newcastle, the Black Cats still have a game-in-hand to play against Everton next week.

Newcastle only have two games left - away to Aston Villa and at home to Tottenham - but have gone unbeaten in four Premier League games for the first time since 2014.

Rafa Benitez certainly looks to have worked some magic with what previously looked like a demoralised squad under Steve McClaren.

But the fear remains on Tyneside that owner Mike Ashley may have ultimately left it too late.

16Crystal Palace109173646-1039
17Newcastle United89193964-2533
18Sunderland711174058-1832
19Norwich City87203561-2631
RAston Villa37262772-4516

Championship


Full table as it standsWDLFAGDPts
PBurnley251556935+3490
2Middlesbrough261096230+3288
3Brighton & Hove Alb 241657141+3088
4Hull City2311116434+3080
5Derby County211596642+2478
6Sheffield Wednesday191796543+2274
7Cardiff City1716125550+567

BURNLEY bounced back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as Sam Vokes' strike was enough to beat Queens Park Rangers at Turf Moor on Bank Holiday Monday.

The 1-0 win extended the Clarets' unbeaten run to 22 games - Sean Dyche's men last lost on Boxing Day - and, after a relatively slow start, they have shown the benefits of retaining a settled squad.

Middlesbrough and Brighton are just two points behind so either of them could feasibly still pip Burnley to the Championship.

Only one can go up, though - for, in a quirky twist of fate determined by the fixtures computer last year, they play each other on the final day in what has been billed as a £170m clash.

Boro hold the nominal advantage of playing at home and they also have a better goal difference so a fourth-successive league draw for the Teessiders would be enough.

Indeed, Aitor Karanka's men could perhaps have been promoted by now - but, despite still being unbeaten in nine, have lost their way somewhat. Will that pressure tell?

Certainly, Boro will not want to take on the playoffs again. Although last season's travails resulted in a first trip to the new Wembley, the final ended in a limp 2-0 defeat to Norwich City.

Brighton, by contrast, just about did enough to stay in the division last season, finishing down in 20th.

But, under the tutelage of former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton, the Seagulls have soared this season - they are unbeaten in their last 13 matches, and have won their last four away.

The atmosphere at the Riverside Stadium promises to be tense - but, for the losers, the season will not be over.

Instead, they will have to lick their wounds and prepare for a playoff match against a buoyant Sheffield Wednesday.

The Owls have reached the Championship top six for the first time since relegation from the top flight in 2000, and confirmed their place with a dominant 3-0 win over nearest rivals Cardiff City last weekend.

The other playoff places are also already determined with Hull City and Derby County assured of taking each other on.

Both the Tigers and the Rams have led the division at one point in the campaign so, like the runner-up in the Middlesbrough-Brighton match, will be disappointed at having dropped into the playoffs.

But, at least for Hull and Derby, the playoffs have looked inevitable for some time after both suffered poor runs of form in the early part of the second half of the season.

Also already confirmed in the Championship are the relegation places.

Bolton Wanderers, who have failed to pay their staff on time at various points of the season, and Charlton Athletic - who have suffered under their uncaring Belgian owner - have both been relegated as a result of off-field issues.

For Milton Keynes Dons, it was a simply a step up too far. This was the Dons' first season in the second flight since they stole their way into the Football League in 2004 - and it showed.

Incidentally, Karl Robinson's men could end up playing AFC Wimbledon - the phoenix club which developed from the club MK replaced - if the latter are successful in the League Two playoffs.

21Fulham1115196579-1448
RCharlton Athletic913234077-3740
RMilton Keynes Dons912243867-2939
RBolton Wanderers515254180-3930

League One


Full table as it standsWDLFAGDPts
PWigan Athletic241568141+4087
2Burton Albion259115737+2084
3Walsall2312106649+1781
4Millwall239137148+2378
5Bradford City2211125340+1377
6Barnsley218166653+1371
7Scunthorpe United2011145847+1171
8Gillingham1912147054+1669

WIGAN ATHLETIC reversed a couple of seasons of decline with promotion back to the Championship after a 4-0 win at Blackpool.

The Latics, who won the FA Cup in 2013 but were relegated from the Premier League in the same year, suffered a second demotion from the Championship last year.

But, after a slow start to this campaign, Gary Caldwell's men have lost just once since mid-December and they are almost assured of the divisional title given their goal difference advantage over Burton Albion.

For Burton, just being in promotion contention is a remarkable achievement in itself.

Back in 2002, the Brewers won the Northern Premier League title at level six of the English football league pyramid, beginning a journey which could take them to Villa Park next season.

Indeed, just avoiding defeat against Doncaster Rovers will be enough to finish ahead of Walsall who would compete in the playoffs along side Millwall, Bradford City and another team.

The identity of that final team will also be decided on the last day with Barnsley currently in sixth but facing an away game at Wigan.

Scunthorpe United, level on points with the Tykes and only with a slightly inferior goal difference, will look to take advantage of any slip-up in their match away at Sheffield United.

Meanwhile, Gillingham - in poor form at the worst time - could still feasibly make it into the top six but they would need a win at home to Millwall and hope the two other results go their way.

At the bottom, Crewe Alexandra and Colchester United are already down having both looked a long way short this season - while Doncaster are effectively down as they need an unlikely goal difference swing in their favour.

The last relegation place will be taken by Fleetwood Town or, shamefully, their bigger Fylde coast neighbours Blackpool.

The Tangerines were in the Premier League as recently as 2011 and only went down after a last-day defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

But, since then, the Tangerine dream has turned into a nightmare. Chairman Karl Oyston has bled the club dry of funds - and only victory against Peterborough United will give Blackpool any hope of staying up.

Even then, a draw for Fleetwood - at home to relegated Crewe - would surely be enough, considering their goal difference advantage.

20Fleetwood Town1115195056-648
21Blackpool1210233958-1946
22Doncaster Rovers1112224864-1645
RColchester United913235697-4140
RCrewe Alexandra713254681-3534

League Two


Full table as it standsWDLFAGDPts
CNorthampton Town281258045+3596
2Accrington Stanley241297448+2684
3Oxford United231488141+4083
4Bristol Rovers257137545+3082
5Portsmouth211597442+3278
6Plymouth Argyle239136746+2178
7AFC Wimbledon2012136350+1372
8Cambridge United1813146655+1167

NORTHAMPTON TOWN were the first English team in professional football to secure promotion, doing so all the way back on 9 April after a 2-2 draw against Bristol Rovers.

A week later, a goalless draw at Exeter City secured the League Two title - and, since then, the Cobblers have extended their impressive unbeaten run to 23 matches. In fact, they have lost just once since October.

Nevertheless, the rest of the promotion race is still very much alive. Three teams - Accrington Stanley, Oxford United and Bristol Rovers - are bidding for the two remaining automatic places.

Stanley currently sit second going into their final game at home to Stevenage - and victory there would ensure a first promotion for the Lancastrians since they regained their place back in the Football League in 2006.

Otherwise, it is Oxford who also start the day in a promotion place, one point behind Accrington but one point ahead of Rovers. The Us, the top scorers in League Two, host Wycombe Wanderers on the final day.

Rovers are also at home and will be expected to take advantage of any slip-ups from the others against relegated Dagenham & Redbridge.

The team that does not make it will at least have a playoff place to fall back upon - with Portsmouth, Plymouth Argyle and AFC Wimbledon already assured of their top-seven slots.

The bottom of the table has also been decided in advance of the final day. The aforementioned Dagenham depart the Football League after nine seasons, one of which was spent in League One.

Finally, York City were relegated a fortnight ago and lose their Football League status for the second time in 12 years.

The Daggers and the Minstermen must look to Cheltenham Town for inspiration next season. The Robins secured a rare immediate return from the National League after beating Halifax 2-0 on 16 April.

That win pushed them clear of local rivals Forest Green Rovers with whom they engaged in a promotion tussle lasting most of the season.

Forest Green still have a chance of winning a place in the Football League for the first time through the playoffs, and they hold a 1-0 lead over Dover Athletic heading into the home leg.

Braintree Town - another team looking to gain Football League status for the first time - lead Grimsby Town by the same score in the other semi final.

22Newport County 1013224363-2043
RDagenham & Redbridge810274579-3434
RYork City712265086-3633

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