Promotion to the Premier League, play-off places or relegation to League One… what’s up for grabs on a dramatic night in the Championship?
- West Brom, Brentford and Fulham are chasing the final promotion place
- Nottingham Forest, Cardiff and Swansea seeking to book a play-off spot
- Five clubs battling to avoid the drop to League One on Wednesday night
Ten of the 12 Championship games have something riding on them, whether to do with promotion to the Premier League, play-off places or relegation to League One. Here, Sportsmail studies the permutations and potential outcomes ahead of a dramatic night in the second tier.
WHO CAN GO UP AUTOMATICALLY?
Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are already on their way to the Premier League as champions. But the second automatic promotion place is still very much up for grabs.
West Brom, Brentford and Fulham have the chance to secure the final promotion place
One of West Brom (82 points), Brentford (81) or Fulham (80) will claim that. Slaven Bilic’s Baggies host QPR knowing a win would guarantee them promotion. Failure to win would see Brentford steal second place if they can beat Barnsley in what could be their final game at Griffin Park. Fulham, away at Wigan, must hope West Brom lose and Brentford fail to win for them to sneak in to the automatic spot.
That sounds unlikely, but both of these promotion-chasing clubs lost at the weekend, while Fulham won.
WHO HAS IT EASIEST OF THE THREE?
West Brom, and not only because they simply need to win at the Hawthorns to secure promotion. They’re playing a mid-table QPR side who are only playing for pride. Brentford host Barnsley, who must secure an away win to stand a chance of survival.
WHAT ABOUT THE PLAY-OFFS?
Only one of West Brom, Brentford and Fulham will be celebrating, while the others will fill half of the play-off places in third and fourth.
Nottingham Forest have chance to secure play-off place, while Barnsley will try to beat drop
As for fifth and sixth, Nottingham Forest and Cardiff currently occupy those positions (both on 70 points). Swansea (67) would have to defeat Reading away and hope Forest or Cardiff lose.
Forest, who have a superior goal difference to Swansea, host safe Stoke. Cardiff host bottom of the table Hull, who are already well on their way to League One.
AND WHO FACES RELEGATION?
No club is confirmed as down, but Hull (45 points) are as good as gone due to a poor goal difference. Barnsley (46) and Luton (48) are in the other two relegation places, followed by Charlton (48), Birmingham (50) and Middlesbrough (50).
Gerhard Struber’s Barnsley need to win at Brentford and rely on results going their way elsewhere to survive. Luton are only in the drop zone on goal difference but know, with Charlton facing champions Leeds away, a win or even a draw against Blackburn at home could save them.
Birmingham and Middlesbrough, who face Derby at home and Sheffield Wednesday away respectively, aren’t safe either. Wins for Charlton and Luton could drag them under.
WHAT ABOUT WIGAN?
Wigan are 13th and have 58 points. But take the EFL’s impending 12-point penalty into account and they would be third-bottom. However, Sportsmail reported yesterday that any points deductions are only set to be applied next season.
The same goes for Sheffield Wednesday, who could lose 21 points after being accused of an aggravated breach of EFL profit and sustainability rules.