The Championship season has once again been one filled with drama. The once seemingly predictable promotion race at the turn of the calendar year has turned into an unpredictable head-scratcher that has everyone not knowing what will happen, let alone the two teams that will emerge from the messy end of the season to play in the Premier League next term.
Leicester City were nailed on certainties to make an immediate return to the top flight, as they raced into a lead at the top that suggested it was a case of when, and not if they would get promoted. Some were saying they could have achieved that by Easter. with other teams tripping up as they stormed away.
Eventually, they started to drop points, and Ipswich Town were the ones to benefit as they started to reel them in. The Foxes could not shake off their nearest challengers, and the team that is pursuing back-to-back titles and therefore promotions were now level at the top. Leeds United started a run of their own that had them as new favourites for the top spot, and on their coattails were Southampton. The latter two clubs also looking for an instant return to the top table in English football.
Now though with all teams suffering very indifferent form, and where once the goals flowed they are now in short supply. The race for promotion is anything but predictable as just when you think one team has their house in order, they slip up.
With the nerves kicking in, and the pressure tightening the teams up, as they are afraid to lose what is so tantalisingly close. It is shaping up to be a hugely fascinating last few weeks of the season. That is unless you’re a supporter of the four teams still vying for the promised land, in which case your nerves are likely to be shredded.
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Ipswich Town – Pld 43 Pts 89
The Championship surprise package has stayed the course and find themselves as the most in form side out of the quartet chasing glory. They are in fact only second in the overall form table (6 games) and that would’ve been better had they not lost to local rivals Norwich City so recently. They have two games on the road against playoff chasing teams, before finishing at home on the final day to a team that is currently fighting a relegation battle. So none of the games will be easy.
v Hull City – away
v Coventry City – away
v Huddersfield Town – home
Leicester City – Pld 42 Pts 88
The team that will be forever remembered as the one that threw it all away. That is unless they can recapture the form that had then flying high in the first half of the season. They were simply unplayable at that time, but now it seems that no one fears them. Or perhaps, they are their own worst enemy and the fear of losing out has now gripped and paralysed their play. It is though very much in their hands. A game in hand at this point could be crucial, but at this stage points in the bag is far better than games to be played. They play three of their last four at home, another advantage, so they should have enough to see them over the line.
v WBA – home
v Southampton – home
v Preston North End – away
v Blackburn Rovers – home
Leeds United – Pld 43 Pts 87
The Yorkshire club has arguably the easiest run-in. Nothing at this stage though is won on paper, and the 8 points from the last half-dozen games are proof of that. Especially as they had put themselves in a position of favourites, not just to go up, but to do so as champions. After a slow start, they dropped only four points from the start of January to the end of March. After going out of the FA Cup in a highly anticipated match at Chelsea, they are now suffering the football equivalent of a golfer yips and will need to rescue the form of a month ago to fulfil their dream.
v Middlesbrough – away
v QPR – away
v Southampton – home
Southampton – Pld 41 Pts 81
The Saints are in the best position of the four as they have the least amount of pressure on them. Add in the fact that they are off the pace and have two extra games to play at this time. The first of those is Tuesday night and could put them back in contention, albeit with a lot to do. It is out of their hands to a degree, but with two of the handful of games they have to play against those above them it could turn the tables if they were to win both of those. To run the table now and win out, will take something extra special. Should they, they will pick up on any further mishaps from their rivals.
v Preston North End – home
v Cardiff City – away
v Leicester City – home
v Stoke City – home
v Leeds United – away
Summary
Leicester City have enough in the tank to see them over the line, although it will go down to the last game of the season to confirm their title-winning promotion. Their home advantage in their remaining games will be capped off with a win against Blackburn. Ipswich Town will go up as runners-up. Their last-day win at home is seen as one of the Championship’s greatest success stories in recent memory.
Ultimately Leeds United and Southampton will have to settle for the playoffs as on the last day they could not be separated and their high-scoring draw is seen as a preview to a potential Wembley playoff final thriller.
