EFL’s final day: Promotion and relegation battles; Leeds, Burnley battle for first; Birmingham City set record

However, Millwall, Blackburn Rovers, and Middlesbrough are all within striking distance and will be hoping for slip-ups from the teams above them. Blackburn Rovers have the toughest fixture on paper, facing Sheffield United away from home. A win for the Blades could see them leapfrog Sunderland into third place, while Blackburn will be looking to secure their place in the playoffs with a positive result.

Millwall, on the other hand, face Burnley in what promises to be a tense and exciting encounter. A win for Millwall could see them sneak into the playoffs at the expense of Bristol City or Coventry City if either of those teams fail to win their respective matches.

Middlesbrough face a tough trip to Coventry City, who will be looking to secure their playoff spot with a win. Middlesbrough’s fate is not entirely in their hands, but a win could see them leapfrog both Bristol City and Coventry City into the top six.

With so much at stake on the final day of the Championship season, fans can expect drama, tension, and excitement as the battle for the playoffs reaches its climax.

3. Relegation dogfight

At the other end of the Championship table, the relegation battle is just as intense. Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle have already been consigned to League One, but there are still five teams fighting to avoid the final relegation spot.

Derby County, Stoke City, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest, and Huddersfield Town are all embroiled in a desperate fight for survival. Only one of these teams will join Cardiff and Plymouth in the drop to League One, and with just one point separating them, the tension is palpable.

Derby County currently occupy the final relegation spot, but they are level on points with Stoke City and Luton Town. Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town are just one point clear of the drop zone, meaning that any slip-up on the final day could prove costly.

Derby County face a tough trip to Swansea City, while Stoke City host Reading and Luton Town travel to Queens Park Rangers. Nottingham Forest and Huddersfield Town face off in a relegation six-pointer, with the loser facing the prospect of relegation to League One.

With so much on the line, the final day of the Championship season promises to be a nerve-wracking affair for fans of these five teams as they battle to avoid the drop.

4. League One and League Two

While much of the attention will be on the Championship on the final day of the EFL season, there is still plenty to play for in League One and League Two.

In League One, Wrexham have already secured promotion to the Championship as champions, but the battle for the playoff spots is still wide open. Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wednesday, and Oxford United are all vying for a place in the playoffs, with just three points separating them.

In League Two, the title race is still alive, with Bradford City and Exeter City battling it out for top spot. Bradford City currently lead the way, but Exeter City are hot on their heels and will be hoping for a slip-up on the final day.

With promotion, playoffs, and relegation all still to be decided, the final day of the EFL season promises to be a thrilling and dramatic affair across all three tiers of English football.

Still for Bristol, it’s a tricky game to round out the season, at home to a Preston side who have to win to be sure their 10-season stay in the Championship doesn’t come to an end. If that promises to be dramatic, it is nothing compared to events in the Midlands, where it is win or bust for Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough. It’s not much less than that for Frank Lampard’s Coventry either, who would have to assume that they will get leapfrogged by at least one of Millwall and Blackburn if they only pick up a point.

Blackburn may be hoping their final game is an early warmup for a three vs. six playoff clash with Sheffield United while Millwall have a lot of work to do despite how close they are to the top six. A point at Burnley would be tough enough, but even then they’d be reliant on Middlesbrough beating Coventry, Blackburn losing at Bramall Lane, and Bristol City losing by a five-goal margin against Preston. Alex Neil’s side have to win.

“I think the first goal in this game is going to be really important for both teams,” said Neil. “Make sure that in the game, we’ve got an opportunity to win it. It’s not changed for us for the last ten matches. So our approach will be the exact same in terms of our mindset.”

It may not be framed in quite the apocalyptic terms that top-flight relegation for an established Premier League team is, but dropping out of the Championship and into League One can constitute an almighty blow for many clubs. Five of them go into the final day fearing the worst, with Hull City starting the day hovering over the dreaded trap door. They do at least know that at least one of the teams within reach will drop points as Derby County host Stoke City.

Relegation Picture

Remaining Fixtures

• Bristol City vs. Preston North End
• Derby County vs. Stoke City
• Portsmouth vs. Hull City
• West Bromwich Albion vs. Luton Town

A point at Fratton Park might offer hope for Hull, given their superior goal difference, but whatever their result, their fate is not in their hands. That is because Luton Town have really turned it around in their final three games, winning all of them to mean that they can go to managerless West Brom believing in the great escape.

Relegation might be decided at Pride Park, where Stoke would be safe with a point and would also offer a handy cushion to Derby, who could then only go down if all three of Luton, Preston, and Hull win. On the final day of the Championship, those fighting for their lives tend to pull off quite special performances.

4. Crisis-Stricken Reading Need On-Field Hope

Precious little is to be decided in League One, where Wrexham and Birmingham are up, the quartet of relegated teams are confirmed, and there is only jostling for positioning to be done between teams three and five. The identity of the team in the last playoff spot could, however, be a dramatic one that might be decided on and off the pitch.

Leyton Orient currently hold sixth and would likely keep it with a win at Huddersfield. Fail to do so, however, and they would open a gap for Reading, on an eight-game winning run and at home to Barnsley. Noel Clarke’s side has performed exceptionally on the pitch, but almost every story about the Berkshire side in recent years has revolved around their ownership crisis.

Chinese businessman Dai Yongge bought the club in 2017 when they were in the mix for a Premier League return. Since then, his stewardship has inflicted relentless misery on Royals’ fans, a string of points deductions sending them careening into League One in 2023.

Following a court ruling in China, Yongge was disqualified from club ownership in March under the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test and instructed to sell the club by April 4. That deadline came and went, but Reading was afforded more time, all with the threat of expulsion from the EFL hanging over them.

Rob Couhig is the likely buyer, but his negotiations with Yongge have been tempestuous, to put it mildly, with the two sides facing off against each other in London’s Commercial Court last month over the sale. An alternative buyer might be Robert Platek, but his BDT & MSD Partners have lent money to several EFL clubs, creating a potential conflict of interest.

The latest deadline for Yongge to divest himself of the club is on May 5.

Reading, who finished the League One season in sixth place, faced the first leg of their playoff semifinal two days later. This crucial match could potentially alter the trajectory of their season, propelling them towards promotion or causing them to slip further into the mire.

Meanwhile, in League Two, Walsall finds themselves in a tailspin after a promising start to the season. The team had built a significant lead at the top of the table, only to see it evaporate in the final stretch. Despite their early success, Walsall has struggled to maintain momentum, with key players departing and a lack of confidence evident on the field.

With only one game left in the season, Walsall sits one point behind Bradford for the final promotion spot. They will need a favor from Fleetwood Town and a strong performance in their own match to secure a spot in the playoffs. Despite their recent struggles, Walsall has a chance to turn their season around and salvage what looked like a certain promotion just a few months ago.

The team’s upcoming match against Crewe Alexandra, who have also experienced a significant drop in form, presents an opportunity for Walsall to regain some much-needed luck. If they can secure a victory and other results go their way, Walsall may just find themselves back in contention for promotion.

As the season nears its conclusion, Walsall faces a make-or-break moment. Can they pull out of their tailspin and secure a place in the playoffs, or will their season end in disappointment? Only time will tell as the drama unfolds in the final days of the League Two campaign. Title: The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health

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