While Coventry move closer to their Premier League dreams, the race for both the second automatic promotion spot and the play-offs are still wide open, with less than a month until the start of football
The Championship always provides late-season drama (Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The race for promotion to the Premier League has become even more interesting with the Easter football extravaganza. The most high-profile result involving a Championship team was the FA Cup quarter-final, where Southampton dramatically defeated Arsenal 2-1, but there was much going on in the Second Division itself.
Coventry moved closer to automatic promotion despite a 0-0 draw with Hull, which gave them a point which will help them qualify for the play-offs. The big winners over the Easter period were Ipswich, who moved up to second place and took advantage of Middlesbrough’s fifth game winless run.
But it was frustrating for Millwall. They lost 2-1 at home to Norwich on Monday, missing out on automatic qualification. The win gave Norwich a chance to progress into the top six, but they were still five points behind Derby County in eighth place.
And more action is expected on Tuesday. Wrexham, who occupy the final play-off spot, will host Southampton at the Racecourse Ground, but if Saints win they will be ahead of the hosts.
Let’s take a look at the remaining matches in the top eight.
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1st place: Coventry (84 points from 41 games)
Frank Lampard’s side need a home win against Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday to secure promotion, with both Middlesbrough and Millwall dropping points in their respective games. Champagne on ice?
Sheffield Wednesday (H) Saturday 11th April Blackburn (A) Friday 17th April Portsmouth (H) Tuesday 21st April Wrexham (H) Sunday 26th April Watford (A) Saturday 2nd May
Which three teams will be promoted? Let us know your predictions in the comments section.
Frank Lampard looks to lead Coventry to the title (Image: Kevin Hodgson/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
2nd place: Ipswich (72 points from 39 games)
The Tractor Boys continued their strong run in 2026, dropping points only five times. Even though they only played once during the Easter period, they have played two games against the team directly below them, so they could easily lose in second place.
Norwich (A) Saturday 11 April Portsmouth (A) Tuesday 14 April Middlesbrough (H) Sunday 19 April Charlton (A) Wednesday 22 April West Brom (A) Saturday 25 April Southampton (A) Tuesday 28 April QPR (H) Saturday 2 May
3rd place: Middlesbrough (72 points from 41 games)
Boro need to desperately rediscover their form if they are to secure automatic promotion, or at least go into the play-offs with any forward momentum. The trip to Ipswich on April 19th looks to be an important match.
Portsmouth (H) Saturday 11th April Ipswich (A) Sunday 19th April Sheffield Wednesday (H) Wednesday 22nd April Watford (H) Saturday 25th April Wrexham (A) Saturday 2nd May
Ipswich soared through automatic ranks (Image: MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
4th place: Millwall (72 points in 41 games)
After an important win away to Middlesbrough, Millwall’s good run was quickly undone at The Den by Norwich. Perhaps fortunately, Alex Neil’s side will be back in the game on Friday and will have the opportunity to put the pressure back on the other teams.
West Brom (A) Friday 10th April QPR (H) Saturday 18th April Stoke (A) Tuesday 21st April Leicester (A) Friday 24th April Oxford (H) Saturday 2nd May
5th place: Hull (68 points in 41 games)
The Tigers can still dream of automatic promotion, but they will need some favors. Hull have also won just one of their last four games and will be targeting three points when they visit Sheffield United on Saturday.
Sheffield United (A) Saturday 11th April Birmingham City (H) Saturday 18th April Leicester (A) Tuesday 21st April Charlton (A) Saturday 25th April Norwich (H) Saturday 2nd May
Millwall would have finished second if they had avoided defeat (Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
6th place: Wrexham (64 points from 40 games)
Was it four consecutive promotions? It will soon become clear that Phil Parkinson’s FA Cup giant-killers hosts Southampton will be looking to avenge their heartbreaking opening day defeat.
Southampton (H) Tuesday 7th April Birmingham City (A) Sunday 12th April Stoke (H) Saturday 18th April Oxford (A) Tuesday 21st April Coventry (A) Sunday 26th April Middlesbrough (H) Saturday 2nd May
7th place: Southampton (63 points from 39 games)
The phrase “after the Lord Mayor’s Show” may be said several times on Tuesday if Southampton fail to follow up on their stunning victory over Arsenal. However, the Saints haven’t lost since mid-January, so doubt them at your peril.
Wrexham (A) Tuesday 7th April Derby (H) Saturday 11th April Blackburn (H) Tuesday 14th April Swansea (A) Saturday 18th April Bristol City (H) Tuesday 21st April Ipswich (H) Tuesday 28th April Preston (A) Saturday 2nd May
Southampton also reached the FA Cup semi-finals (Image: Matt Watson/Southampton FC via Getty Images)
8th place: Derby (63 points from 41 games)
At this rate they are just one point away from the play-offs, but Derby’s task will become even more difficult if Southampton beat Wrexham. It will be good to play against the Saints on Saturday.
Southampton (A) Saturday 11th April Oxford (H) Saturday 18th April Norwich (A) Tuesday 21st April QPR (A) Saturday 25th April Sheffield United (H) Saturday 2nd May
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