Wednesday 22 April 2015 13:30, UK
Each of the Championship top eight can still earn promotion to the Premier League, with just two games of the season remaining. But who will make it and who will miss out?
We look at the remaining fixtures for the top eight and their results against that opposition earlier in the season to try to judge how the Championship table will look come the final whistle of the final day. Here's how it would stand, should those outcomes be repeated...
BOURNEMOUTH
After a disappointing first two months of the season, an 8-0 win away at Birmingham in October saw Eddie Howe’s side enter the top six… and they haven’t looked back since. They have spent the majority of the season in the hunt for a top two spot, and promotion to the Premier League would be a remarkable achievement for the Cherries, who were just one game away from losing their place in the Football League six years ago.
Form: WWWDWDWWWD
To play: Bolton (H), Charlton (A)
Reverse fixtures: Callum Wilson could hold the key for Eddie Howe’s men. He scored three goals in two games to secure a 2-1 away win at Bolton and a 1-0 victory over Charlton earlier in the season, and the same outcome would see them confirm their place in next season’s Premier League.
Live on Sky: Bournemouth v Bolton, 7.45pm, Monday, April 27, Sky Sports 1 HD
Sky Bet odds: To win the Championship – 11/8. To be promoted – 1/5
Current standing: 2nd - 84 points (+47 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 1st - 90 points (+49 goal difference)
* Predicted finish based on if the team picks up the same amount of points as in the reverse fixtures
MIDDLESBROUGH
Middlesbrough have Premier League previous, and Premier League pedigree in Patrick Bamford, who was voted Football League Player of the Year this week. Aitor Karanka’s men have lost two games since mid-March, against the only two sides currently above them in the league, but they go into their final two fixtures off the back of three straight wins.
Form: WLWWLWLWWW
To play: Fulham (A), Brighton (H)
Reverse fixtures: Middlesbrough’s fate relies on them winning their matches and hoping that one of Watford or Bournemouth falter. If the reverse fixtures are anything to go by, Karanka’s side will keep their side of the bargain. In October, they won 2-0 at home to Fulham before making the long journey to Brighton, where they ran out 2-1 victors.
Sky Bet odds: To win the Championship – 9/2. To be promoted – 8/11
Current standing: 3rd - 84 points (+32 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 2nd - 90 points (+35 goal difference)
WATFORD
When he was appointed in October, Slavisa Jokanovic became Watford’s fourth permanent manager of the season. Now, after a period of stability, they find themselves at the top of the Championship table. The Hornets have been in impressive form, losing just once in their last 12 matches.
Form: WDWWLDWWWW
To play: Brighton (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H)
Reverse fixtures: Watford’s run-in sees them face two mid-table Championship teams in their final two fixtures. They faced both in October, taking four points from the two games. A 1-1 draw at home to Brighton was followed by an impressive 3-0 win away at Sheffield Wednesday.
Live on Sky: Brighton and Hove Albion v Watford, Sky Sports 1 HD, Saturday April 25th 12:15
Sky Bet odds: To win the Championship – 5/4, and to be promoted – 1/5
Current standing: 1st - 85 points (+39 goal difference)
Predicted finish*: 3rd - 89 points (+42 goal difference)
NORWICH
It is notoriously difficult to achieve promotion back to the Premier League just one season after being relegated, but Norwich are certainly still in the hunt to do so. They lost their place in the top flight last season along with Fulham and Cardiff, currently 13th and 18th respectively, but have enjoyed much success this term. The Canaries were in the top two prior to their last fixture, but a defeat by Middlesbrough saw them leapfrogged, and they are now two points away from the automatic places.
Form: LWDDWWWWWL
To play: Rotherham (A), Fulham (H)
Reverse fixtures: If the reverse fixtures are anything to go by, Norwich’s hopes of automatic promotion are in jeopardy. In their defence, they now have a new manager and the team are rejuvenated under Alex Neil, but this season they have picked up just one point against the teams they face in their final two games. In October, they drew 1-1 at home to Rotherham, before falling to a 1-0 defeat by Fulham in west London.
Sky Bet odds: To win the Championship – 28/1, and to be promoted – 6/5
Current standing: 4th - 82 points (+38 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 4th - 83 points (+37 goal difference)
DERBY
Steve McClaren would like nothing more than to manage in the Premier League again, but his Derby side still have work to do if they are to achieve the dream. A thrilling 4-4 draw with Huddersfield last time out saw them miss out on the chance to secure their play-off spot, but one more win in their last two games will do it. They led the Championship for much of the season, but near-relegation form in the last two months has seen them drop away.
Form: LDDLLDWDWD
To play: Millwall (A), Reading (H)
Reverse fixtures: After these two fixtures earlier in the season, Derby were in the automatic promotion places. Now, they need a win to secure a play-off spot. If the return matches are anything to go by, they’ll do it. At home to Millwall they drew 0-0, before a trip to the Madejski ended in an emphatic 3-0 win against Reading.
Sky Bet odds: To be promoted – 11/4
Current standing: 5th - 76 points (+32 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 5th - 80 points (+35 goal difference)
IPSWICH
Ipswich boast the Championship’s top scorer in Daryl Murphy, but their recent stuttering form leaves them hovering precariously, just inside the playoff places. They hold a three-point gap above seventh-placed Brentford, and are in better form than the two sides below them. Manager Mick McCarthy is another former top flight boss who would love another shot in the big time, but they still have plenty to do.
Form: LDLWWDLWWD
To play: Nottingham Forest (H), Blackburn (A)
Reverse fixtures: When Ipswich faced Nottingham Forest and Blackburn earlier in the season, they were in exactly the same position as they are now (6th). They also went into the fixtures off the back of two wins and a draw – the same record as they hold going into the games this time around – but they will certainly be hoping for a different outcome. They could only manage two points from the fixtures, drawing 2-2 with Forest and 1-1 at home to Blackburn.
Sky Bet odds: To be promoted – 9/2
Current standing: 6th - 75 points (+18 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 6th - 77 points (+18 goal difference)
BRENTFORD
Perhaps the most unlikely of the play-off hopefuls this season are Brentford, who were only promoted to the Championship last season. They were rocked by the news that manager Mark Warburton will leave his job at the end of the season regardless of results, but have still managed to stay in touch with the top six. The Bees are without a win in four games, but with a gap of just three points to make up, they can still reach the playoffs.
Form: WDLWDWDDLD
To play: Reading (A), Wigan (H)
Reverse fixtures: The final match of Brentford’s season, against Wigan, could have huge permutations at the top and bottom of the league. Depending on both sides’ penultimate game, there could be promotion and relegation riding on the match at Griffin Park. In the reverse fixtures earlier in the season, Brentford beat Reading 3-1, before a goalless draw at Wigan. You’d suspect Mark Warburton’s men will need more than that to secure their place in the Championship play-offs.
Sky Bet odds: To be promoted – 33/1
Current standing: 7th - 72 points (+14 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 7th - 76 points (+16 goal difference)
WOLVES
After four straight wins at the end of March, into April, it looked likely that Wolves would secure a spot in the Championship play-offs. Two losses and a draw followed, and now they are three points below sixth-placed Ipswich. They will need to stop the rot in their final two games if they are to leapfrop their nearest rivals… Kenny Jackett’s men play 22nd and 23rd in the league.
Form: LDDWWWWLLD
To play: Wigan (A), Millwall (H)
Reverse fixtures: The games were full of goals, but Wolves will need to improve on the results if they are to achieve their aim. The reverse fixtures produced a magnificent 10 goals, but Wolves picked up just two points. A 2-2 draw at home to Wigan was followed by a classic at The New Den, finishing 3-3 after Wolves had led 3-0 with 25 minutes to play.
Sky Bet odds: To be promoted – 28/1
Current standing: 8th - 72 points (+11 goal difference)
Predicted finish: 8th – 74 points (+11 goal difference)
Who'll make it to the Premier League? Use the Sky Bet Championship predictor or visit www.skybet.com/predict if you're reading on the Sky Sports iPhone/Android apps.
