Cardiff almost there - Bristol City almost gone

Cardiff are preparing for Premier League football

Cardiff have almost perfected the art of missing out in recent seasons. They've lost play off games at both semi-final and final stage and in 2009, as we went up, they even missed out on a top six place as their season collapsed.

It would take one massive collapse now for them to miss out. They have four games left and need just one point to ensure Premier League football for the first time and to become the 46th club to play in that league since it took over from the old First Division in 1992.

Who goes with them? It's looking like Hull for the second automatic place. Their win, coupled with Watford's shock defeat at Peterborough, has seen them go six points clear in second place. Their goal difference is inferior to that of Watford, so that means they need seven points to be absolutely certain.

They are guaranteed a play off place even if they don't finish second, and Watford are all but there too. The other three places look now to be between Crystal Palace, Brighton, Bolton, Nottingham Forest and Leicester.

I won't be putting money on Leicester though given their recent run. Their Friday night draw against Birmingham has left them with just four points from their last nine games. An average run of results in those games would have seen them comfortably in the top six.

Now down at the bottom and I'd say virtually every club I haven't named as a promotion or play off candidate is probably looking very much over their shoulders, except probably Charlton who have moved into ninth place with 57 points.

Middlesbrough and Leeds are next with 55 and that's now only six points clear of Barnsley who occupy the highest of the three relegation positions.

They reckon the Championship is tight but I've never seen anything quite like this. A week ago I felt more than confident but we are looking closely again with only a five point gap.

Bristol City are all but doomed. If they won their last four games they might have a chance; lose one of them and the game is all but up for them after six years at this level.

I'm not even going to hazard a guess who will go with them only to suggest it will be two from Wolves, Barnsley, Peterborough, Blackburn, Huddersfield, Millwall, Ipswich, Sheff Wed, Birmingham, Burnley, Derby, Blackpool, Leeds or Middlesbrough.

We've a full fixture list tomorrow - some of those teams will be playing against each other and I'm sure some will be feeling that bit safer if they can get wins. It does look as though the record high for a relegated club, currently standing at 52 points, could be beaten this season.

The results and stats are below along with tomorrow's fixtures.