The Championship’s final day is here as England’s second tier reaches the last weekend of the season.
It’s been another unforgettable campaign of action in one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in world football, and there’s still plenty that needs to be solved on the final day.
Here is everything you need to know.
Promotion: Can Ipswich join Leicester in the Premier League?
Leicester are confirmed as Championship title winners with the Foxes having held off the challenge of Ipswich and Leeds to win the second tier.
After a shock relegation last season, Leicester have bounced back into the Premier League at the first attempt under head coach Enzo Maresca.
Ipswich are in pole position to join them ahead of a final day clash at home to all-but-relegated Huddersfield Town. The Terriers are three points from safety, but have a hugely inferior goal difference to Plymouth (-15) to turn around to survive.
The scenes at Portman Road before the biggest game of Ipswich Town’s recent history…
pic.twitter.com/1Q91QFhUzs— Second Tier podcast (@secondtierpod) May 4, 2024
A point at Portman Road will be enough for Ipswich to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001/02. Promotion would mark back-to-back promotions for Ipswich under Kieran McKenna, whose achievements have not gone unnoticed in the top flight.
Defeat, however, would allow Leeds to overhaul them if Daniel Farke’s side beat Southampton at Elland Road. Leeds must win to have any chance of automatic promotion.
- Ipswich will be promoted if they avoid defeat or Leeds fail to win.
- Leeds will be promoted if they win & Ipswich lose.
Play-offs – Norwich and West Brom close
One of Ipswich or Leeds, and Southampton are guaranteed entrants into the play-offs. Norwich, who travel to relegation-threatened Birmingham City, are almost safe, unless the Canaries lose and Hull beat Plymouth with a eight-goal swing in goal difference.
West Brom will be assured of a place in the play-offs with a win against Preston, while a draw will be enough unless Hull beat Plymouth by 12-goal margin.
Hull must win and hope for defeat for West Brom.
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- Norwich will be in the play-offs if they avoid defeat.
- West Brom will be in the play-offs if they avoid defeat or Hull fail to win.
- Hull will be in the play-offs if they win and West Brom lose, or if Norwich lose with an eight-goal swing.
Relegation – All to play for
Rotherham have been relegated and Huddersfield are as good as down, needing to win and a Birmingham defeat with a 16-goal swing. Birmingham are currently 18th, a point behind Plymouth and three adrift of Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn.
Sheffield Wednesday are guaranteed survival if the Owls avoid defeat at Sunderland, though will be relegated if they lose at the Stadium of Light and both Plymouth and Birmingham win, due to an inferior goal difference.
Plymouth will go down if they fail to win and Birmingham win. A five-goal defeat and a draw for Birmingham would also relegate Plymouth.
Birmingham will be relegated if they lose to Norwich at St Andrews. The Blues can survive if they win and either Blackburn lose, Sheffield Wednesday lose, or Plymouth fail to win. The aforementioned draw will also be enough if Plymouth lose by five goals.
The atmosphere is building. ????#KRO #BCFC pic.twitter.com/EADdLrM1Py
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) May 4, 2024
Blackburn are an outside chance to go down and can confirm safety if they avoid defeat to champions Leicester. However, defeat will send Blackburn down if Plymouth and Birmingham win, and Sheffield Wednesday avoid defeat.
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