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The Championship is set for a thrilling final day with promotion and play-off spots up for grabs.
Newly crowned champions Coventry Citywill be returning to the Premier League after a 25-year absence, but who will join them?
Ipswich Town are in control of the second automatic spot, as they seek an immediate return, but Millwall and Middlesbrough still have hope.
Wrexham, Hull and Derby, meanwhile, will battle for the final play-off spot, with FA Cup semi-finalists Southampton securing their place.
Here’s everything you need to know
Championship final-day fixtures
all 12:30pm
- Blackburn v Leicester
- Bristol City v Stoke
- Derby v Sheff Utd
- Hull v Norwich
- Ipswich v QPR
- Millwall v Oxford Utd
- Portsmouth v Birmingham
- Preston North End v Southampton
- Sheff Wed v West Brom
- Swansea v Charlton
- Watford v Coventry
- Wrexham v Middlesbrough
Promotion
- 1st: Coventry City (C,P) | Pts: 92, GD: +48
- 2nd: Ipswich Town | Pts: 81, GD: +30
- 3rd: Millwall | Pts: 80, GD: +13
- 4th: Middlesbrough | Pts: 79, GD: +25
It’s simple for Ipswich and Kieran McKenna’s side: beat QPR at Portman Road and an immediate return to the Premier League will be sealed, regardless of results elsewhere.
A draw makes it more complicated, though, and would give Millwall the chance to earn promotion with a victory at home to Oxford United.
If both Ipswich and Millwall fail to win, Middlesbrough would have the chance to go up, but only if they thrash play-off hopefuls Wrexham by six goals away from home.
Millwall cannot earn promotion with a draw, due to goal difference, while Middlesbrough also have to win. Middlesbrough would then need Ipswich to lose and Millwall to slip up.
Play-offs
- 5th: Southampton (PO) | Pts: 77, GD: +24
- 6th: Wrexham | Pts: 70, GD: +4, GF: 67
- 7th: Hull City | Pts: 70, GD: +3, GF: 68
- 8th: Derby | Pts: 69, GD: +9, GF: 66
There is a good chance this comes down to goal difference, one way or another. A win for Wrexham over promotion-chasing Middlesbrough may not even be enough, as Hull could overtake them if they better their margin of victory by one against Norwich. For example, if Wrexham win 2-1 but Hull win 3-1, the teams would be level on goal difference but Hull would clinch a play-off spot on number of goals scored.
But because it’s so tight, Wrexham could still go up by a one-goal victory if they are involved in a high-scoring game win against Middlesbrough. A 4-3 win for Wrexham, combined with a 2-0 win for Hull, would flip the above scenario and Wrexham would go earn a spot in the play-offs on number of goals scored, even though the teams are still level on goal difference.
A draw would only be good enough for Wrexham if both Hull and Derby fail to win. Likewise, that result would only be good enough for Hull if both Wrexham and Derby fail to take three points.
Derby would go jump into the top-six if they better the result of both Wrexham and Hull. They could do this by beating Sheffield United and both Wrexham and Hull fail to win, or if they draw and Wrexham and Hull lose.
Play-off seeding is also still to be decided. Southampton could potentially earn the third-seed in the play-offs, but would need Millwall to lose and Middlesbrough to draw. If Millwall pick up a point, the Saints would take the fourth-seed, and a home second leg in the semi-finals, if they beat Preston away from home and Middlesbrough fail to win at Wrexham.
