What happens if Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth finish with same points, goal difference and goals scored

The fight for automatic promotion from the Championship could go down to the wire as Nottingham Forest battle Bournemouth for second spot.

Victory at Fulham on Tuesday night saw the Reds cut the gap to just three points, with the Cherries only managing a draw at Swansea City. Philip Zinckernagel’s goal at Craven Cottage may well end up being an important one for Steve Cooper’s side.

Forest and Bournemouth both have three games to go, with a mouth-watering meeting between the two to come at the Vitality Stadium next Tuesday. They are also level on goal difference - something which might come into play in determining the final standings.

In the event the two teams finish with the same number of points, goal difference would decide who finishes second. If that is also equal come the end of the campaign, English Football League rules state it will come down to goals scored. The Cherries are currently ahead on that front, having bagged 69 compared to the Reds’ 67.

In the unlikely scenario there is no separating the teams by that method either, the league record between them will come into effect. In order of precedence, that will take into account points gained, goal difference and goals scored.

The regulations go even further than that, though, just in case there is still nothing to choose between the sides. Number of wins, followed by goals scored in away games would then be used.

And if even that proves to be inconclusive, the EFL would tot up ‘penalty points’, with the club with the lowest total having the edge. Each cautionable or sending-off offence committed by players would rack up a certain number of points.

The number of penalty points incurred would be as follows: any cautionable offence - four penalty points;