A WIN AGAINST Queens Park Rangers on Monday night secured Premier League football for Burnley for the 2016/17 season, but there are still two more promotion places up for grabs in the Sky Bet Championship.
Normally at this juncture, the promotion picture in England’s second tier can look quite complicated. However, it’s a pretty straightforward scenario going into this season’s final round of fixtures, all of which kick off at 12.30pm on Saturday.
In fact, the race for top-flight football next season all hinges on one game — Middlesbrough & Brighton & Hove Albion at the Riverside Stadium.
The league title
Although Burnley are guaranteed to be promoted, Sean Dyche’s side aren’t champions just yet. On 90 points, they’re two clear of Middlesbrough and Brighton at the top, so a win away to already-relegated Charlton Athletic will seal the Championship title for the Turf Moor club. They have a superior goal difference (+2 over Middlesbrough, +4 over Brighton) so a draw may also suffice. Should Burnley lose at The Valley, either Middlesbrough or Brighton will be crowned champions if there’s a winner in their fixture.
Automatic promotion
With Burnley already heading up, only one other automatic place is up for grabs. That will go to either Middlesbrough or Brighton, who are level on 88 points. A draw will be enough for Boro thanks to their superior goal difference, but the Seagulls need a win if they’re to return to the top tier for the first time in 33 years. Hull City are in fourth place but they’re too far back — on 80 points — to enter the reckoning.
The play-offs
The only question to be answered here is whether Middlesbrough or Brighton will join Hull, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday to battle it out for the final coveted place in the Premier League. The Championship play-offs will begin on 13 May, with Wednesday taking on Middlesbrough or Brighton in a two-legged semi-final. On the other side of the equation, Hull will play Derby. The final is set for Wembley in 28 May, when the winners will be rewarded with a lucrative place in the Premier League.
Cardiff City are just one place outside the play-offs but, following their 3-0 defeat to Wednesday last weekend, they’re now seven points adrift and therefore too far back. There’s nothing to play for at the other end of the table, where Charlton, MK Dons and Bolton Wanderers have already been condemned to League One for next season.
Sky Bet Championship, Saturday, 12.30pm
Blackburn Rovers vs. Reading
Cardiff City vs. Birmingham City
Charlton Athletic vs. Burnley
Derby County vs. Ipswich Town
Fulham vs. Bolton Wanderers
Wolverhampton Wanderers vs. Sheffield Wednesday
Hull City vs. Rotherham United
Milton Keynes Dons vs. Nottingham Forest
Middlesbrough vs. Brighton & Hove Albion
Preston North End vs. Leeds United
Queens Park Rangers vs. Bristol City
Huddersfield Town vs. Brentford
Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-finals
First leg: Sheffield Wednesday vs. Middlesbrough or Brighton — Friday, 13 May (7.45pm)
Second leg: Middlesbrough or Brighton vs. Sheffield Wednesday — Monday, 16 May (7.45pm)
First leg: Derby County vs. Hull City — Saturday, 14 May (12.30pm)
Second leg: Hull City vs. Derby County — Tuesday, 17 May (7.45pm)
(Home advantage for each leg of this tie still to be determined by final placings; Hull are currently fourth, two points ahead of Derby in fifth)
Sky Bet Championship play-off final
Middlesbrough or Brighton or Sheffield Wednesday vs. Hull City or Derby County — Saturday, 28 May (5.00pm)
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