The final few weeks of the English Championship have arrived, and one team have already sealed promotion from England’s second-tier.
Congratulations, Leicester City.
That being said, it’s time to keep one eye on the Championship’s other promotion hopefuls and which two teams could be joining the Foxes in the Premier League next season. In case you’re not familiar with how this works, the bottom three from the PL at the end of this season get relegated to the Championship, and the two teams who finish first and second in the Champions gain automatic promotion to the world’s most-watched league.
(MORE: Latest Championship standings)
Then, as if that wasn’t enough excitement, teams who finish third through sixth in the Championship battle it out in the playoffs, with the winner of the final at Wembley securing a place in the PL in what’s been dubbed as ‘soccer’s richest match’ with the cash windfall for promotion exceeding $150 million. Wowza.
Each week from now until the end of the season, will check in on the Championship to see the ecstasy and agony of those teams fighting to make it to the big-time after a grueling 46 game season.
Some massive teams are on the brink of promotion, can they get themselves over the line?
They’re up!
Current position: 1 – Leicester City – Games played 41, points 89
The Foxes have done it! Leiecester beat Sheffield Wednesday last Friday and needed QPR to lose and Derby to not win, and both duly obliged to send Nigel Pearson’s side back to the top-flight after a 10-year absence. Solid as a rock all season, they have an exciting mix of youngsters and wily veterans and now the aim is to win the Championship title. That took a bit of a hit, as they lost 4-1 to Brighton on Tuesday. They now face playoff contenders Reading away on Easter Monday.
Automatic aspirations
Current position: 2 – Burnley – Games played 41, points 83
Injury-ravaged Burnley are almost over the line, as they have a 11-point lead over third placed Derby. Sean Dyche’s men grabbed four points from away trips to Watford and Barnsley to keep their automatic promotion charge on track. The Clarets are just a few points away from making it back to the PL. If they win against Middlesbrough on Saturday, they could be up.
Top six certainties
Current position: 3 – Derby County – Games played 41, points 72
The Rams lost at Middlesbrough last weekend and with that went their chances of sealing automatic promotion. Probably. Steve McLaren’s side are hard to break down, and now it’s all about preparing themselves for the battle ahead in the playoffs. A great season for Derby, but will it get better? They beat Blackpool 3-1 away in midweek, can they follow that up by beating Huddersfield?
Current position: 4 – Queens Park Rangers – Games played 41, points 70
Harry Redknapp‘s men have lost two in a row to playoff chasing Bournemouth and Blackburn, as the West London club are resigned to the lottery of the playoffs. Inconsistency has plagued the R’s all season, and their recent slump has come at precisely the wrong time. If ‘Arry doesn’t seal promotion this season, it could be ‘ta, ta’ to QPR for the crafty cockney. On their day, they can give most PL teams a game with the squad they possess, but with teams below them hitting form and QPR limping over the line, it could be more heartache for the Loftus Road outfit.
Current position: 5 – Wigan Athletic – Games played 41, points 67
Wigan perhaps had one eye on their FA Cup semifinal against Arsenal this weekend, as they lost 1-0 to Millwall in midweek. Playoff qualification is all but secure, nut can Uwe Rosler’s men reach the FA Cup final for the second-straight season and defend their title? That would be a bonus, albeit a huge one, as Wigan are focused solely on winning the playoffs. They are bag in-form but not in league action this weekend.
Play Off pretenders
Current position: 6 – Reading – Games played 41, points 63
The Royals won 1-0 away at Charlton last Saturday, as U.S. midfielder Danny Williams got on the scoresheet. But they failed to build on that away at Bournemouth, as the Cherries made it five wins in a row by dispatching of Nigel Adkins’ Royals. They are now just two points ahead of the chasing pack outside the playoffs with five games to go. Squeaky bum time.
Current position: 7 -Brighton – Games played 41, points 61
Oscar Garcia’s side got a morale boosting win against Leicester City in midweek, as the Seagulls won for the first time in six. They face relegation haunted Charlton at home this weekend, and could enter the playoff spots with a win. A good end to the season could see the campaign extended at the Amex.
Current position: 8 – Ipswich – Games played 41, points 61
The Tractor Boys keep chugging along, as the Suffolk side beat Huddersfield 2-0 in midweek. Only one defeat in five for Mick McCarthy’s side and they host Doncaster at the weekend. They are right in this.
Current position: 9– Bournemouth – Games played 41, points 61
What is going on down in the seaside resort of Bournemouth? Five wins on the spin for Eddie Howe’s men has them flirting with the playoffs, as the Championship’s form team have beaten QPR and Reading in their last two games. Even if they don’t make the top six, incredible season from the newly promoted side.