The Championship has entered the final furlong and there is still everything to play for at both ends of the table. As many as seven teams are still in danger of dropping through the trap door.
With Rotherham United having already succumbed to relegation, two places need filling. Huddersfield Town are three points from safety and have been on a poor run, winning just once in their last ten matches. Above them sit Birmingham City who occupy the final relegation spot but are just one point behind Sheffield Wednesday.
Plymouth Argyle is a further point better off and Blackburn Rovers are three points off the drop. Queens Park Rangers and Stoke City make up the list of sides who are all still in trouble.
Three of those teams still battling it out for vital points have all been managed by one man. Tony Pulis. The Welshman had two spells with Stoke, the second lasting seven years, and also spent brief periods with Plymouth and Wednesday.
The Real EFL had the opportunity to ask Pulis for his thoughts on who will be successful in their quest for survival.
“I think Stoke are ok now, they won’t feel safe but I think they’re ok and 50 points will most probably keep them up.”
“Sheffield Wednesday has been on a really good run, a tremendous result yesterday (Wednesday’s away win at Blackburn) will give them confidence for the last three games.”
“Plymouth didn’t play well at Stoke, it’s about believing in what you’re doing. There will be a lot of negativity around teams that have lost, a lot of pressure put on them and it’s managing that situation.”
Pulis has managed over 1000 matches and believes the managers will need to call on their know-how and experience to help their clubs survive.
“It’s the managers managing that situation. Rotherham is down, Huddersfield have got it all to do and for the others, it will be about who handles it best.”
“It goes down to the manager now making sure he takes all the pressure off the players and manages himself in a very positive manner.”
Writer’s View
The Championship is one of the toughest leagues in the world and consistently provides drama, entertainment and twists and turns and with League One looking likely to be a strong division next season, those teams scrapping for survival will be desperate to avoid playing third-tier football.
It was interesting to get Pulis’ insight on how vital it is for the manager to set the tone and take the pressure off the players at this time of the season.
