Bad news for Huddersfield is that they have Chelsea -- who is still in the thick of a top 4 battle.

Good news (maybe) is that they finish with Arsenal at home who is mathematically stuck in the Europa League. Maybe they'll come out looking for a win in Wenger's last match but I think apathy carries the day on the players' part and that is where Huddersfield gets their needed point.

Another big relegation match today as Huddersfield will face Chelsea in what has become a meaningful game for both clubs. One relegation spot remains, and really only two teams are vying to avoid that spot as Southampton all but assured their safety with their win yesterday, as Swansea would have to overcome a huge 9 goal differential on the last day for Southampton to face relegation.

Current Table:
16 Southampton 37 GP, 36 points -18 GD
17 Huddersfield Town 36 GP, 36 points -29 GD
18 Swansea City 37 GP, 33 points -27 GD
19 West Bromwich Albion 37 GP, 31 points -23 GD (relegated)
20 Stoke City 37 GP, 30 points (relegated)

Today's Game:

Chelsea v. Huddersfield Town (1:45pm, Stamford Bridge, NBCSN). One point, Huddersfield needs just one more point to assure themselves safety from relegation. They have two more matches to claim the point, and both will be difficult (final match is at home to Arsenal). This match seemed like it would be an afterthought for Chelsea just a week or so ago, but after a 4W-0L-1T stretch from Chelsea, while Tottenham have gone 2W-2L-1T over the same period, the Blues are suddenly back in the race for a Champions League spot for next season.Obviously the Terriers would have preferred to face an uninterested squad today, but it will not be the case now.

Huddersfield Town won their first Premier League match against a side from London this season, winning 3-0 at Crystal Palace on the opening day since then, they've lost all seven matches against London teams by an aggregate score of 22-2. Town have not scored in 20 of their 36 Premier League matches, a feat only two sides have exceeded: Derby County, with 22 matches in 2007/08, and Leeds United, with 21 in 1996/97. The Terriers' failure to score in 13 Premier League away matches is a joint record, with Norwich City, in 1994/95, Southampton, in 1998/99, and Middlesbrough, in 2002/03. Chelsea claimed a 3-1 win at John Smith's Stadium when the two clubs met in December.

What results mean for the Relegation Battle:

Huddersfield win/draw:with a point Huddersfield will be assured of a spot in the EPL for next season. Swansea will be all but officially relegated, as the Swans only hope would be to win their last match (v. Stoke) and for Southampton to lose their last match (v. Man City), which are both reasonable, but Swansea would also need to overcome a 9 goal differential in the process, which isn't so doable.

Huddersfield loss: with a loss, Huddersfield would go into the final match day with a three point lead on Swansea, but with at least a -3 goal differential to Swansea. So a Swansea win on the last day and a Terrier loss would see Huddersfield Town relegated on the final day, due to goal differential.

Should be a fascinating day!

0-0 HT, Huddersfield is 45 minutes away!

1-0 Hudds!

Back to 1-1.

Huddersfield Town have done it! What a game! 1-1 draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge!

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The finances are remarkable. It is estimated that Huddersfield will earn 170m out of their season in the sun, now rising to 290m with Premier League football confirmed next year too. In 2015, this club's entire revenue was 10.4m. In the season Wagner was appointed, they had the fourth lowest wage bill in the Championship.

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http://www.football365.com/news/the-huddersfield-town-message-dont-stop-believing

Cool article Dre. Thanks for posting!

I was listening to the game on SiriusXM and the UK radio guys were going nuts. It sounded awesome.

I'm glad Huddersfield is staying up.

OregonAggie said:

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Cool article Dre. Thanks for posting!

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That author and website are consistently fantastic.

Glad for Huddersfield and David Wagner,

With Huddersfield Town's dramatic draw at Chelsea and Southampton's win at Swansea, the relegation battle is essentially done and dusted for 2018. There is still technically a chance that Swansea could top Southampton, although extremely unlikely, so we will continue the charade for Swansea for the weekend.

Current Relegation Table:
17 Southampton 37 GP, 36 points -18 GD
18 Swansea City 37 GP, 33 points -27 GD
19 West Bromwich Albion 37 GP, 31 points -23 GD (relegated)
20 Stoke City 37 GP, 30 points (relegated)

Sunday's games:

Swansea City v. Stoke City (10am, Liberty Stadium, CNBC)- It was all set up for Swansea, two home matches to end the season against two fellow bottom dwellers, the opportunity was there. But a home 1-0 defeat to Southampton has taken the wind out of their sails, and now they come into the final match needing a win, a Southampton loss, and to overcome a nine goal differential. So Swansea must come out looking for a 5 or 6 goal win and hope that Man City pours it on Southampton. The home team have won nine of the last 13 Premier League meetings between these clubs (D3 L1). Stoke City's 1-0 triumph at the Liberty Stadium in October 2015 is the only away win in that period.Swansea have not been relegated from any division since 2000/01, when they finished 23rd in the third tier. This is the first final-day PL meeting between two teams starting the day in the bottom three since Derby County faced Reading in 2007/08. Reading won 4-0 but were relegated.

Southampton v. Manchester City (10am, St. Mary's Stadium, NBC Gold)- Southampton will be looking to keep the score close and Manchester City will be looking for EPL history on Sunday at St. Mary's Stadium. The Saints need to just hold on to a nine goal differential over Swansea to guarantee themselves a spot in next year's EPL. Southampton have been on a roll of late, and have won eight points from their last four Premier League matches (W2 D2), as many as they picked up in the previous 12 combined (W1 D5 L6). Man City have won two of their last three PL visits to St Mary's Stadium, triumphing 3-0 on both occasions. If Manchester City win they will set records for the most away wins in a Premier League season, with 16, and the most points on the road, with 50. A Man City win would also make them the first team to reach 100 points in an English top-flight campaign.

Enjoy the last weekend of PL matches for the season!

ja86 said:

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Glad for Huddersfield and David Wagner,

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Don't forget Danny Williams. Unfortunately, he fractured his fibia in March but will still play in the Premier League next season.

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Southampton v. Manchester City

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I didn't realize City was involved.

The Swans still need a miracle, but City is always capable of dropping 5 or 6 on someone. It does make things slightly more interesting.

Yeah all Southampton has to do is to keep it at a 8 goal differential, that's assuming Swans squeak out a win.

Derby holds a 1-0 lead over Fulham after leg 1 of championship playoffs

In Bundesliga relegation news, Hamburg, with Bobby Wood, have gone down for the first time in history. They were the only founding Bundesliga team that had been first division forever. Much of their culture was centered on that, including songs, shirts, and a giant clock in the stadium.

Bryan98 said:

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In Bundesliga relegation news, Hamburg, with Bobby Wood, have gone down for the first time in history. They were the only founding Bundesliga team that had been first division forever. Much of their culture was centered on that, including songs, shirts, and a giant clock in the stadium.

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Guess they should have invested more in the team.

In promotion playoff for EPL:

First leg:

Derby County 1-0 Fulham
Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa

Villa's 1-0 win at the Riverside is huge. Middlesbrough will have to go into Villa Park looking for a win.

Fulham head back to Craven Cottage needing a win at home, but by just losing 1-0 on the road they are in pretty good position.

Remember that there are no "away goals" in the promotion playoffs, so if tied on aggregate after 90 minutes the teams go to extra time, regardless of who scored more away goals.

Aston94 said:

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Bryan98 said:

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In Bundesliga relegation news, Hamburg, with Bobby Wood, have gone down for the first time in history. They were the only founding Bundesliga team that had been first division forever. Much of their culture was centered on that, including songs, shirts, and a giant clock in the stadium.

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Guess they should have invested more in the team.

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I think that is part of the problem, no doubt.

Looks like they are taking it well.

So the final weekend of matches didn't have any effect on the teams relegated, as Swansea somehow managed to lose at home to Stoke when they needed to win by many goals. So your final relegation standings are as follows:

Final Relegation Table:
16 Huddersfield Town 37 points
17 Southampton 36 points
18 Swansea City 33 points
19 Stoke City 33 points
20 West Bromwich Albion 31 points

Some interesting facts regarding relegation this year:
-All three clubs that were promoted for this season (Brighton, Huddersfield and Newcastle) all secured a spot in next year's EPL.

-Swansea City had been in the EPL for 7 straight seasons since promotion in 2011 when they became the first club from Wales to play in the EPL.

-Stoke City had been in the EPL 10 consecutive seasons since the 2007-08 season, which was the club's first ever promotion to the EPL.

-Like Swansea, West Bromwich Albion had been in the EPL for 8 straight seasons, dating back to the 2010-11 season.

So this season saw us lose 3 clubs who had all been a part of the EPL for at least the last seven seasons, truly a remarkable year for the relegation battle.

I recall hearing somewhere an interesting fact regarding the pro/rel this year. WBA are going down and their arch rivals the Wolves are coming up. Swansea is going down and their arch rivals Cardiff City are coming up.

Promotion Update:

Promotion Playoffs to EPL:
Friday- Derby County 1-0 Fulham
Saturday- Middlesbrough 0-1 Aston Villa

Today- Fulham v. Derby County
Tomorrow- Aston Villa v. Middlesbrough

Promotion Playoffs to Championship:
Thursday: Charlton Athletic 0-1 Shrewsbury Town
Saturday: Scun-thorpe United 2-2 Rotherham United
Sunday: Shrewsbury Town 1-0 Charlton Athletic; Shrewsbury Town advance to promotion playoff final at Wembley

Wednesday, May 16: Rotherham United v. Scun-thorpe United


Promotion Playoffs to League One:
Saturday: Lincoln City 0-0 Exeter City
Saturday: Coventry City 1-1 Notts County

Thursday May 17: Exeter City v. Lincoln City
Friday May 18: Notts County v. Coventry City

And Tranmere is promoted back to League Two!

Fulham beat Derby County 2-0 today and won their semifinal 2-1 on aggregate!

The EPL is a better place when Craven Cottage is a destination. Of course Fulham is my favorite club, so I am a bit biased.

It'd be a shame to have Fulham back just when the league is finally rid of similar interlopers like Stoke, Swansea, and West Brom.

Aston Villa, please or Middlesbrough if its gotta be someone else.

Fulham vs, Villa on May 26th.