Championship final-day permutations as promotion to be decided

Q: Which teams are competing for automatic promotion in the Championship?

Three teams are still in contention for automatic promotion on the final day of the Championship.

Q: What are the scenarios for playoff qualification in the Championship?

There is a fierce battle for playoff spots, with specific match outcomes needed for teams to qualify.

Q: When is the final day of the Championship season?

The final day of the Championship season is scheduled for this lunchtime.

Q: How does the final day affect promotion and playoff standings in the Championship?

The outcomes of the matches on the final day will directly impact which teams achieve automatic promotion and which qualify for the playoffs.

Championship final-day permutations as promotion to be decided

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.