Automatic promotion race: Coventry City have already secured the title and first promotion spot. Ipswich Town are currently second on points with 81 points, followed by Millwall (80) and Middlesbrough (79). One of these teams will secure the final automatic promotion spot to the Premier League, while the remaining two will be knocked into the play-offs.
Ipswich Town Road: Ipswich are in the strongest position. A win against QPR will secure second place. If Millwall don’t win and Middlesbrough don’t win by more than five points, there’s a chance they could advance with a draw. If they lose, both Millwall and Middlesbrough will need to be unable to win the match.
Millwall and Middlesbrough’s hopes: Millwall need to beat relegated Oxford United and hope Ipswich don’t. Middlesbrough have the toughest task. They have to beat Wrexham and hope Ipswich lose and Millwall don’t win. Boro could win by six goals or more, Ipswich draw and Millwall could finish second if they don’t win.
Battle for 6th place: Wrexham (6th, 70 points), Hull City (7th, 70 points) and Derby County (8th, 69 points) battle for the final play-off spot. Southampton are already guaranteed a place in the play-offs alongside two of the top four teams. Wrexham currently lead Hull by one goal on goal difference (+1).
Play-off permutations: Unless Hull win by a big margin, Wrexham qualify with a win against Middlesbrough. Hull could leapfrog them if they beat Wrexham’s result or win by a big margin. If they both win and finish with the same record, Hull will be sixth as they have beaten Wrexham twice this season (direct tie-breaker).
Derby County’s outsider chances: Derby must hope to beat Sheffield United and both Wrexham and Hull drop points. However, if both Wrexham and Hull lose their respective games, the Rams could still get a draw, enough to finish in the top six, as Derby’s goal difference is better than their rivals.
Relegation has already been decided: Unlike the battle at the top, the drama at the bottom is over. The article confirms that three relegation spots have already been decided ahead of the final day, with Oxford United named as one of the teams already confirmed to be relegated to League One.
