Championship final day permutations as THIRTEEN clubs set to learn fate

The automatic promotion spots and two of the bottom three may already be settled but the fate of 13 Championship clubs is yet to be decided entering Saturday lunchtime’s final round of fixtures.

And with five teams still looking to avoid the remaining relegation spot, finger nails will chewed to the wick up and down the country.

Among the tasty fixtures are Bristol City’s game against Preston North End at Ashton Gate, which could impact both the play-offs and demotion, and Coventry versus Middlesbrough as both maintain hopes of a top-six spot.

There's also still the small matter of who will become champions of the second tier with and Burnley both harbouring ambitions to lift the main prize come Saturday afternoon.

Here are all the permutations and teams in the mix ahead of a drama-packed afternoon.

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Top spot

and booked their place in next season’s several weeks ago but they can both be crowned champions.

Leeds are in the driving seat having stuffed Bristol City 4-0 on Monday night to reclaim top spot.

It means Daniel Farke’s side will lift the trophy with a win over 23rd-placed Plymouth, but they only really need to match ’s result thanks to their far superior goal difference. The Clarets host Millwall at Turf Moor and will be eyeing the 100-point mark regardless.

The play-offs

Third-placed Sheffield United and fourth-placed are already assured of their finishing spot and a place in the play-offs but there is an almighty battle for the other two places. Bristol City are fifth and will secure their place with a win over Preston, who could yet end up in League One.

Coventry are currently in sixth place but have stumbled recently, losing their last two matches to all-but relegated Plymouth and drop candidates Luton Town. Frank Lampard's side host Middlesbrough and know a win will put them in the play-offs, barring an extremely unlikely swing in goal difference.

A draw could be enough for the home side, although they would be left dependent on both Millwall and Blackburn failing to win.

Millwall are level on 66 points but are four goals worse off than the Sky Blues and face an extremely tough final game away to Burnley. Blackburn are a point further back, on 65, but have lots of momentum, having picked up four straight wins. They are away to Sheffield United, who do not have anything to play for beyond tweaking things ahead of the play-offs.

Boro have failed to make the most of Coventry’s successive losses, having been defeated by Sheffield Wednesday and drawn 0-0 with Norwich last time out. They are ninth but could still sneak into the play-offs and do have the best goal difference of all the contenders.

It's out of their hands though, they would need to beat Coventry and hope that the other teams directly above them drop points.

Nothing to play for

The teams in 10th to 17th will already have one eye on next season and (already in the play-offs) against (whose manager is on leave), Swansea v Oxford United, v Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich’s game against already-bottom City are unlikely to attract the attention of any neutrals.

Relegation

Only one of the three relegated sides have been confirmed so far, with dropping into League One but Plymouth will be joining the Bluebirds in going down because their goal difference of -36 is so much worse than the rest.

The final relegation place is a shoot-out between , who currently occupy it on 48 points, Luton Town, Preston, Derby (all 49 points) and (51 points).

Hull have a long trip down to the south coast to play mid-table Portsmouth, while Luton are away at West Bromwich Albion. If the Tigers draw and either Luton or Preston lose, they would leapfrog them and move above the dotted line. Meanwhile, Luton would complete their great escape with a win over Albion, while a draw would be enough, unless Hull win, and both Derby and Preston get points.

Derby host Stoke, adding further spice to the mix after Nat Phillips’ late goal earned the Rams a 1-0 win over Hull last weekend. If the home side are beaten, they will be down if Hull win and both Preston and Luton avoid defeats,

A win for the Rams could make Stoke fans sweat, but would still need both of Hull and Luton to win, and for Preston to not lose for the doomsday scenario to play out.

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