3PM BLACKOUT LIVE BLOG
Welcome to the Star Sports 3pm Blackout Live Blog – your go-to hub for live football updates, match reactions, and breaking stories during the UK’s Saturday broadcast blackout.
Here, we bring you real-time coverage of all the key moments, scores, and talking points from across the football world that you won’t see on TV.
Stay with us for live updates, analysis, and all the latest football news throughout the blackout window.
In today’s action, Leeds United will be hoping to take another step closer to Premier League survival, whilst there are plenty of permutations at both ends of the table in both League One and League Two.
LATEST STORIES AT THE TOP
THEY ARE GOING UP!!!
Congratulations to Cardiff City and Bromley, who have both secured promotion this afternoon.
Cardiff City, under manager Brian Barry-Murphy, have made an instant return to the Championship and Bromley are in the third-tier of the English football pyramid for the first time in their history…
#CityAsLeagueOne no more! ⬆️⬆️⬆️#CityAsOne | @DragonBetWales pic.twitter.com/RnWLNjXD4X
— Cardiff City FC (@CardiffCityFC) April 18, 2026
WE ARE GOING UP 🔥
Following today’s results, the Ravens have been promoted to Sky Bet League One for the first time ever 🎉 pic.twitter.com/HiPJAiTrPS
— Bromley FC (@bromleyfc) April 18, 2026
OH MY GOSH!!!
What a moment! Exeter have equalised in the last second against Stockport – and it’s their GOALKEEPER Jack Bycroft who has got the goal!
Huge for Exeter’s bid for survival, and huge for Cardiff who are heading up as a result…
Goal – Exeter equalise again.
🔴 3-3 🎩 [90+7’]#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) April 18, 2026
HOWE OUT?
Newcastle United are behind again, with Bournemouth retaking the lead in the Premier League through Adrien Truffert…
Many unhappy Geordies – could this be the beginning of the end for Eddie Howe?
LEICESTER ALL BUT DOWN, AND OXFORD IN TROUBLE…
West Bromwich Albion have doubled their lead at Preston North End, which is bad news for both Leicester City and Oxford United at the bottom-end of the Championship, who both look destined for League One football next season…
DARYL! DARYL! DARYL! DARYL! DARYL! DARYL! DARYL! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/SgTGJDviHx
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) April 18, 2026
BROMLEY ON THE BRINK OF HISTORY…
In League Two, Notts County are now trailing 2-1 against Barnet, which means Bromley are now on the cusp of promotion to the third-tier for the first time in their history…
69 – Goal. Tshimanga.
⚫️ Notts 1-2 Barnet 🟠
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) April 18, 2026
BIG NEWS FOR CARDIFF!
In League One, with Cardiff leading 2-0 at Reading and cruising to another victory, they need Stockport County to drop points against Exeter for promotion to be sealed today – and their two-goal lead has just been wiped out! The Bluebirds now 20 minutes away from an instant return to the Championship…
Goal – Tutierov equalises for Exeter.
🔴 2-2 🎩 [70’]#StockportCounty
— Stockport County (@StockportCounty) April 18, 2026
SO CLOSE FOR BROMLEY…
With Notts County level with Barnet at half-time, Andy Woodman’s Bromley are 45 minutes away from promotion to the third-tier for the first time in their history…
Level at the break. pic.twitter.com/Qed4hraEnc
— Notts County FC (@Official_NCFC) April 18, 2026
HALF-TIME SCORES
Premier League:

Championship:

League One:

League Two:

CARDIFF LEAD!
Cardiff City could be promoted today and they have taken the lead agains Reading, but need Stockport County to drop points today to secure their return to the Championship…
HORROR FOR HOWE…
Newcastle United are losing again in the Premier League, this time at home to manager Eddie Howe’s former club Bournemouth…
Should Howe be under more pressure…?
Bournemouth take the lead.
[0-1] 32′
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) April 18, 2026
LOOKING GOOD AT LEEDS…
Leeds are 2-0 up against Wolves, which is huge news for their survival bid. It would put them nine points clear of the bottom-three as things stand…
Less good news for Spurs…
OKAAAAFOORRRRRRR!!! GGOOOOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLL!!!! pic.twitter.com/g0M05fumUu
— Leeds United (@LUFC) April 18, 2026
LEE CLARK’S MAD DASH
Look at this for dedication from Rotherham United manager Lee Clark, following the tragic passing of his mother-in-law…
The Millers are already relegated in League One, but the boss still rushed to make sure he was there on the touchline for today’s game at Leyton Orient – that game is currently 0-0…
🚨DEDICATION ALERT
🚕Lee Clark is currently in a cross-country taxi in an attempt to make Rotherham’s match at Orient
🙏Relegated Millers’ boss returned to north east last night from London following the passing of his mother-in-law
🚆Train this morning back to the capital hit by…— Mike Keegan (@MikeKeegan_DM) April 18, 2026
BAD NEWS FOR LEICESTER AND OXFORD…
West Bromwich Albion have taken the lead at Preston North End in the Championship, which is bad news for Leicester City and Oxford United in their fight against the drop, after they both lost in the lunchtime kick-offs…
As it stands, Leicester are eight points adrift of safety – what a fall from grace after winning the FA Cup in 2021 and the Premier League title roughly a decade ago!
JOSH MAJAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! 🥶 pic.twitter.com/1BUkLYWIpW
— West Bromwich Albion (@WBA) April 18, 2026
STOCKPORT LEAD IN LEAGUE ONE!
In League One, not a great start for the Cardiff promotion party, as Stockport lead at Exeter!
That means that Cardiff will have to beat Reading to secure promotion today, where it’s currently 0-0!
EFL PERMUTATIONS
League One:
Cardiff City will be promoted if they beat Reading and Stockport County drop points against Exeter City.
Cardiff can also go up with a draw if Stockport lose.
Lincoln City will become champions if they win at Stevenage or if Cardiff drop points at Reading.

League Two:
Bromley will be promoted if Notts County fail to beat Barnet.
PREMIER LEAGUE TEAM NEWS
Leeds v Wolves:
Leeds United: Darlow; Justin, Bijol, Struijk; Bogle, Ampadu, Tanaka, Gudmundsson; Aaronson, Okafor; Calvert-Lewin
Wolves: Bentley; Santi Bueno, Krejci, Toti; Tchatchoua, João Gomes, Andre, Angel Gomes, Hugo Bueno; Bellegarde; Armstrong.

Newcastle v Bournemouth:
Newcastle: Ramsdale; Livramento, Thiaw, Botman, Hall; Miley, Tonali, Ramsey; Barnes, Osula, Elanga
Bournemouth: Petrovic; Alejandro Jiménez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Christie, Scott; Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson.
STAR PROMOTIONS



