Championship final day state of play as promotion race and relegation battle to be decided
Ipswich and Leeds are fighting for the last automatic promotion spot, while Blackburn, Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth, Birmingham and Huddersfield are still in the relegation battle
The final day of the Championship season is finally upon us - and there is still so much to play for at both ends of the table.
Leicester have been promoted to the Premier League as league winners after their routine 3-0 victory over Preston on Monday, meaning there is just one automatic spot remaining.
Second place will either be filled by Ipswich or Leeds . The Tractor Boys currently occupy the last automatic position and only require a point against relegation-threatened Huddersfield, who need a miracle in order to stay up, to earn promotion back to the top-flight for the first time in 22 years. The task is simple for Kieran McKenna's side.
As for Leeds, they face Southampton at Elland Road and need to win and hope Ipswich lose to sneak into the top two alongside Leicester. That is the only scenario which would see the Whites promoted automatically. With Saints in fourth and six points behind, third is the lowest Leeds can finish.
Now for the play-off race and there are three teams battling for just two positions, with Southampton secure in fourth. Fifth-place Norwich are all but there, however, and require a point against Birmingham to guarantee a top six position. Even a defeat is unlikely to see them drop out, unless Hull can overturn the seven-goal swing.
West Brom sit in the final play-off position and a victory over out-of-form Preston would secure a place in the top six. Due to their superior goal difference, a point would probably be enough. However, a defeat and then the nerves would no doubt be jangling - especially if Hull are winning.
For Hull , the objective is clear. The Tigers have to beat Plymouth to stand any chance of finishing in the play-offs. If they win and West Brom lose, they will definitely finish in the top six. Should Liam Rosenior's side win and either West Brom draw or Norwich lose, they have got to overturn a hefty goal swing.
Eleven teams are guaranteed to still be in the Championship next season, alongside promoted Portsmouth, Derby and Sheffield United. Middlesbrough, Coventry, Preston, Cardiff, Bristol City, Sunderland, Swansea, Watford, Millwall, QPR and Stoke cannot be either promoted or relegated this weekend.
Moving down to the relegation battle and Rotherham are already relegated, leaving the final two spots to be decided on the final day of the season. However, Huddersfield require a miracle to stay up. They travel to Ipswich needing to win to have any chance of survival, but they also need Birmingham to fail to win and Plymouth to lose, and a 16-goal swing between themselves and Argyle.
Third bottom Birmingham host Norwich knowing only a victory will give them any chance of staying up. If Blues win, they need one of three outcomes to go their way to survive. That is Plymouth failing to beat Hull, Sheffield Wednesday losing at Sunderland or Blackburn losing at Leicester.
Blackburn are almost there, but could be dragged in to the mix if they lose at the King Power Stadium. A point for John Eustace's side will be enough to earn their spot in the second tier next season. The same applies to Sheffield Wednesday, who need a just a point at Sunderland to stay up. Plymouth sit in 21st place, agonisingly above the dotted line and need a win to guarantee their safety.
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