A few weeks ago a lot of people thought this would be a fixture that decided which of these sides would be playing in League One next season. As it turns out though, both have their futures now resolved, with Nottingham Forest securing their survival earlier in the week while Southampton were relegated last Saturday having been hit with a ten point penalty.

Nottingham Forest had a truly miserable start to the season and with that, their fans should be ecstatic that they’ve managed to stay in the division. Under Colin Calderwood they were bottom of the league for many of the opening months, but Billy Davies has revived fortunes at the City Ground and following Norwich’s defeat on Monday, it’s now impossible for the club to be relegated. Davies said when he took over that it would be a remarkable achievement to stay up considering the lack of experience at his disposal and now, the former Derby boss can concentrate on building a much more competitive side for the next season. It’s been recent form that’s been the key in keeping them up though, with Davies’ side unbeaten in five having won two and drawn three in the last few weeks.

Southampton’s fans must be feeling pretty gutted at the moment although in the end, at least it wasn’t the ten point penalty that sent them into League One. However, their failure to escape the bottom three means that they will now start next season on minus ten points and with the club in financial disarray, that’s a terrifying prospect for supporters. The club tried to revamp their structure during the summer and brought in Jan Poortvliet as head coach, but these moves simply haven’t worked and Saints’ future really is in jeopardy. There are rumours that they have even applied to the Conference just in case no new buyer is found and they are unable to start next season.

With their future now secure, Billy Davies is not expected to take any risks in this one and that means the likes of Nathan Tyson and Iain Turner will both sit out through injuries. Southampton are in a similar boat although Mark Wotte may give a few youngsters a chance, with Wayne Thomas, Olly Lancashire and Lee Molyneux all now fit and looking for a start. However, Paul Wotton and Lee Holmes will not feature as the duo recover from a fractured jaw and ankle injury respectively.

Both of these sides have nothing to play for and with Forest now secure, there will be something of a party atmosphere at the City Ground. We think this will encourage the home side and they will just about nick this one with a 1-0 victory.

There’s now just one relegation place up for grabs and just two sides who can possibly fall into it. One of those is Barnsley, although with the Tykes currently three points clear of safety, their future is definitely in their own hands and they just need a point to guarantee survival. Plymouth meanwhile found out their fate on Monday, with Reading’s victory over Norwich meaning that the Pilgrims are now mathematically safe from the drop and can approach this one with no fear.

At the start of the season, Plymouth were tipped by many as one team that could struggle after Paul Sturrock lost some of his better players and didn’t spend extravagantly in the transfer market to replace them. However, the start they made was impressive and after a first few months, they found themselves up in the play offs and a long way away from the bottom three. The final few months of the season have been truly awful though and a side that was safely in the top half has now plummeted dangerously close to the relegation zone. They now sit in 19th position, five points away from 22nd Norwich although after such dismal form throughout 2009, supporters will be hoping for a much more successful 09/10 campaign.

As for Barnsley, there’s still plenty of pressure on Simon Davey’s men to beat the drop. There’s absolutely no doubt that they hold the upper hand over Norwich, but their inferior goal difference to the Canaries means that should they lose this one and their rivals win, they will be the team playing League One football next season. They’ve thrown countless points away in the final stages of games in past weeks and having failed to win in their last eight, there could be a few concerned supporters. Even if the club do successfully avoid the drop a lot of the Oakwell faithful will still be unhappy with Simon Davey, who has failed to deliver on his promise of “season upon season” of improvement.

In regards to team news, there’s not too much to report for Plymouth who will once again be without Craig Cathcart who is still struggling with a knee injury. Other than that Paul Sturrock is at full strength although with Cameroon striker Rudi Douala still without a start for the club, he may be handed a chance. It’s a different story for Barnsley who are sweating on the fitness of three players. Stephen Foster is struggling with a virus, while Adam Hammill and Dennis Souza have ankle and groin injuries respectively and are both doubts.

Barnsley need a point for survival, while Plymouth aren’t playing for anything. With that, we think that the Tykes could just nick this one and confirm their Championship status for the next campaign with a 1-0 victory.

This game features two sides who could both be playing League One football next season. Charlton were relegated weeks ago, while Norwich still have a glimmer of hope and know if they win this fixture, there’s still a chance they can remain in the division.

Charlton are the latest “big” club to have been sent tumbling and it’s amazing to think that just a couple of years ago, the Addicks were competing in the Premiership. Supporters at the Valley are now bracing themselves for an uncertain future, with the club entering League One in a poor financial state and the knowledge that they’re probably set to lose a lot of their better players. The future of manager Phil Parkinson is still uncertain, although the former Colchester boss will know that recent results haven’t been too bad even though they’ve been relegated. They’ve only lost once in their last seven games and while six of those results have been draws, it’s still not terrible form as they prepare for next season in League One.

Norwich’s story is very similar – although thankfully for them, their relegation isn’t yet confirmed. However, the matter is now completely out of their hands and they will only stay in the division if they win this game and Barnsley lose their fixture against Plymouth. It looks a tall order and the most shocking element is that not so long ago, they also graced the Premiership. This season has been one of utter turbulence though and after Glenn Roeder plagued the squad with loan signings during the summer; it’s meant that they don’t actually own that many players. Bryan Gunn also knows that his job as manager is far from secure even if the Canaries do avoid the drop and supporters will be hoping for major changes in all departments whatever happens on Sunday.

Charlton have plenty of problems coming into this one with Phil Parkinson set to be without Matt Holland, Darren Ambrose and Grant Basey. With the Addicks already having a few long term absentees as well, it looks as though Parkinson could be down to the bare bones. Norwich also have problems and Bryan Gunn is sweating on the fitness of Jason Shackell and Lee Croft. However, with both being so influential, you’d bet that the Canaries will take a risk with both for this must-win fixture.

People may look at this game and suggest that Charlton will roll over as they have nothing to play for. However, the Addicks have had a truly miserable season and the last thing they will want is to bow out with a poor display in front of their own supporters. Phil Parkinson’s men have grinded out a lot of draws in recent games and we think it could be a similar story here – 1-1.

Both of these sides are not yet mathematically safe from the drop, although it would take some absolutely absurd results for Blackpool to be playing League One football next season. Nottingham Forest on the other hand are still well and truly in the dogfight, but with three points separating them from the drop zone with just two games remaining, Billy Davies knows their future is in completely their own hands.

Considering Blackpool have one of the smallest budgets in the division, once again it’s been a fantastic season for the Seasiders. It’s also been turbulent, with Simon Grayson leaving early on in the campaign to manage Leeds, leaving the club in somewhat disarray. However, Tony Parkes has continued the fine job that Grayson began and while he hasn’t yet been given the job permanently, the fact that Championship survival looks all but secure should help his case no end. As it stands, the Bloomfield Road outfit are sat in 17th position, six points away from 21st place and with their goal difference relatively good, they should have already started planning for next season in this division.

You could then look at Nottingham Forest and say it’s been a disappointing season for them. The City Ground side spent millions of pounds in transfer fees during the summer yet despite this, there’s still a chance they could go down. Just like Blackpool, their season has also been turbulent, with the club sacking Colin Calderwood in December before then bringing in Billy Davies. Davies has gone on record to say that considering the squad at his disposal, survival would be a remarkable achievement. If the club can continue recent form it looks as though they will get to that goal though, with two wins and two draws coming in their last three games.

It’s mixed news for Blackpool on the team news front with Tony Parkes set to welcome back Rob Edwards, but lose two other players. Strikers Stephen McPhee and Gary Taylor-Fletcher are struggling with knee problems and both look certain to miss the clash. Forest meanwhile have received some good news after it was confirmed that Rob Earnshaw’s injury wasn’t as severe as first though and he is now fit enough to play on Saturday. Fellow striker Nathan Tyson has also recovered from injury, while Joel Lynch returns from a two game ban. However, Kelvin Wilson is still serving his suspension while goalkeeper Iain Turner is injured.

Some people may suggest that Blackpool are almost certainly safe, but Tony Parkes will want to put all doubts aside and finish the season strongly. The Seasiders have been pretty impressive at Bloomfield Road this season and we expect this to be the case again – 2-1, home win.