The Championship reaches its conclusion this lunchtime and there’s still so much to be decided on the final day. Three teams are still in the mix for automatic promotion, while there’s a fierce battle to make the play-offs too.
Who needs what in promotion and play-off race on Championship final day?
Automatic promotion
Coventry City will return to the Premier League next season after a 25-year absence, with Frank Lampard having led the Sky Blues back into the big time. The title was also secured, and Coventry can enjoy the final day pressure free.
Three teams remain in the hunt to join them automatically; Ipswich Town, Millwall, and Middlesbrough.
Ipswich are frontrunners, a point ahead of third-placed Millwall with a massive advantage in goal difference. Victory over QPR will seal the Tractor Boys’ promotion, an instant return to the Premier League, and third promotion party in four seasons.
However, should Ipswich fail to win, Millwall will be promoted with victory over relegated Oxford United. Millwall have never played in the Premier League and were last a top-flight team in 1989/90.
Middlesbrough remain an outside chance for automatic promotion. Boro face the toughest final-day task with a trip to Wrexham, who also need to win.
Ipswich are a length clear going into the final furlong, a point ahead of Millwall and with a huge goal-difference advantage, which is as good as another point. Kim Hellberg’s men need to win and hope Ipswich lose, and Millwall fail to win. An unlikely scenario could see Boro promoted if Ipswich draw and Millwall fail to win, though it would require a six-goal win at The Racecourse Ground.
The Play-offs
Southampton are guaranteed to be in the play-offs, while two of Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough will join them. There’s a small chance that the Saints could end the season in third, though it would require both Millwall and Middlesbrough to drop points.
Wrexham currently hold sixth, the final play-off spot, ahead of a huge showdown with Middlesbrough in Wales. Even a win is not enough to guarantee a play-off place, given Wrexham are ahead of Hull City by virtue of a goal difference of +1. Hull, who have scored more goals, will climb above Wrexham if they secure a win by a bigger scoreline. Hull host Norwich on the final weekend.
Derby County, in eighth, are not out of the picture. Derby will finish in the top six if they win and both Wrexham and Hull fail to do so. A point would be enough for the Rams, if Wrexham and Hull both lose, given their superior goal difference. Derby face Sheffield United at Pride Park.
Championship final-day fixtures – All fixtures kick-off at 12:30pm BST
- Blackburn Rovers versus Leicester City
- Bristol City versus Stoke City
- Derby County versus Sheffield United
- Hull City versus Norwich City
- Ipswich Town versus Queens Park Rangers
- Millwall versus Oxford United
- Portsmouth versus Birmingham City
- Preston North End versus Southampton
- Sheffield Wednesday versus West Bromwich Albion
- Swansea City versus Charlton Athletic
- Watford versus Coventry City
- Wrexham versus Middlesbrough
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