The Championship Run-in - What Did We Learn This Weekend?

With this year's second division having some of the tightest battles we’ve ever seen at both ends of the table it really was riveting to watch over the weekend and with this year's regular season drawing to a close on the 3rd of May, here’s everything we learnt about the run in this weekend…

The Title Race

Leeds and Burnley are both currently on the same points (97) with a win for either team on Saturday securing that ever sought after 100 points. As it stands Leeds are in first place, the teams separated by goal difference, this means that if either team drops points on the final day the other will take home the league title. Leeds will be facing a Plymouth Argyle team fighting for survival and Burnley face a Millwall team fighting for a playoff spot

The Playoffs

With Leeds United and Burnley already promoted back to the Premier League, the run-in instead focuses on the teams fighting for those all valuable playoff spots. Both Sheffield United and Sunderland have confirmed their places with both sides sat comfortably in 3rd and 4th, however fighting for the remaining two places are the following teams -

• Bristol City
• Coventry City
• Millwall
• Blackburn Rovers
• Middlesbrough

Bristol City suffered a 4-0 loss to Leeds on Monday, preventing them from securing a definite place in the playoffs, potentially their first chance at promotion to the Premier League since 2008. They will play Preston on the final day, 3 points securing them a definite spot in the playoffs.

Coventry had a chance to cement their spot in the playoffs on Saturday in their fixture against Luton, ultimately losing to the Hatters who were at the time sat in the relegation places. They face Middlesbrough on the last day, needing all 3 points to confirm their spot in the playoffs for the 2nd time in 3 seasons.

Millwall currently sit level on points with Coventry, kept out of playoff places by just their goal difference. They face Burnley on the final day of the season who will be going all out in an attempt to secure 1st Place and knock Leeds United from the top of the table.

Blackburn put themselves in the running with their 2-1 victory over Watford putting them just a point away from the playoff places, the side are in some of the best form in the league, winning picking up 13 out of 15 points in their last 5 fixtures. However in order to secure a playoff place, they must secure all 3 points against playoff spot holders Sheffield United on the final day.

Middlesbrough drew 0-0 to 14th place Norwich on Saturday, putting them 2 points off playoff places, so whilst it is unlikely for them to secure a playoff spot, a win over Coventry on the last day of the season could give them a serious chance as long as other results go their way.

The Relegation Battle

With only one team definitively relegated from the division, the relegation battle will draw to its conclusion on the final day with 6 teams all fighting to keep their place. Cardiff's relegation to League One was confirmed at the weekend after victories for Luton, Plymouth and Derby pushing The Bluebirds down to rock bottom in the league, 5 points away from safety with just 3 available to them. The teams who can still be relegated from the division are -

• Plymouth Argyle
• Hull City
• Luton Town
• Preston North End
• Derby County
• Stoke City

All of these teams are either currently in the relegation zone or sit less than 3 points outside of it meaning that a string of results going against them on Saturday could see Stoke relegated despite achieving 50 points.

Plymouth Argyle beat Preston 2-1 on Saturday, moving them off of the bottom of the table and giving them a glimmer of hope regarding their hopes of staying up. They unfortunately face Leeds United on the final day, a win looking unlikely with Leeds being massive favourites according to the bookies.

Hull City Suffered a 1-0 defeat to relegation rivals Derby County, the win throwing Hull into the relegation zone and moving Derby up into 19th and one point clear of the relegation zone. Hull face a Portsmouth side with nothing to play for on the final day whilst Derby face Stoke, a win for either team guaranteeing safety in the division for another year.

Luton Town defeated Coventry City 1-0 in a rematch of the 2023 Playoff Final, the Hatters now moving a point out of the relegation zone hoping to secure safety with a victory over West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns on Saturday, they are currently safe by an extremely fine margin hoping not to suffer back to back relegations following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

Preston North End are currently joint worst for form in the division, picking up just one point in their last 5 games and losing their last 4 their loss to Plymouth on Saturday putting them well in the relegation scrap. They currently sit one point clear of the drop with a difficult fixture against Bristol City coming up on Saturday.

After seemingly looking safe at the end of Gameweek 44, Stoke had a weekend of bad luck, starting with a loss to Sheffield United on Friday Night and then things just kept getting worse with teams around them all picking up points meaning that a team that once looked safe now sit just 2 points above the drop meaning relegation is extremely unlikely but still technically possible.

What Does All This Mean Then?

So with just one game remaining in what's been an unforgettable Championship season, the stakes couldn't be higher across the table. Whether it's the gripping title race between Leeds and Burnley, the fierce battle for playoff positions, or the nerve-shredding fight to avoid relegation, everything will come down to the final day. If this weekend taught us anything, it's that nothing is certain in this division and that Saturday promises drama, heartbreak, and joy in equal measure. So buckle up.