With just one game remaining, the Championship’s four play-off spots are still to be decided. Third-placed Luton and Middlesbrough in fourth have already secured their places, with fifth and sixth up for grabs. A close race to the top six has played out as the season has reached its crescendo, with five teams in the mix. Coventry City, Millwall, Sunderland, West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers are all still in contention for the play-offs.
Coventry City are in the most comfortable position, sitting in fifth with 69 points and a game against Middlesbrough, who have already secured their play-off place. A draw would be enough for Mark Robins’ team to secure their spot, and a win would mean they meet Boro again. Should they finish on 72 points, it will be the lowest number of points a fifth-placed team has recorded since Crystal Palace in 2012-13.
Millwall are a game away from their first Championship play-off appearance since 2001-02 and have done so courtesy of Gary Rowett’s astute management. They have a two-point cushion over seventh-placed Sunderland and will need to target victory against Blackburn rather than settling for a draw.
Sunderland have strung together an eight-game unbeaten run to come into the end of the season in contention for a spot in the play-offs and a return to the Premier League after six years away. Tony Mowbray has transformed them since taking over from Alex Neil earlier this season, but they have been without centre-backs Aji Alese and Dan Ballard as well as forward Ross Stewart, winger Jewison Bennette, and midfielders Corry Evans and Elliot Embleton due to injury.
West Brom’s win against Norwich at the weekend ended the Canaries’ slim chances of reaching the top six but kept themselves in the hat going into the final day of the season. They travel to Swansea, who are in fine form despite falling short of play-off contention, and should they reach the top six, Albion do not have much second tier play-off pedigree, having been involved in them three times but yet to win promotion.
Finally, Blackburn Rovers travel to the capital to face Millwall knowing only a win will do. They were fifth after their last win – 2-1 against relegated Reading – but have since slipped to ninth and now have only an outside chance of reaching the play-offs. They have gone eight games without a win and midfielder Sam Szmodics said: “We’re relying on other people now. We know we need to do our job. We could be completely out of it but we’ve got to take our chance.”