Championship: Nottingham Forest, Huddersfield, Sheffield United among teams in play-off contention

February 17, 2022

With the automatic promotion places wrapped up, the battle to secure a place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs will continue until the final day of the season.

Runaway leaders Fulham secured promotion to the Premier League at the first time of asking after a 3-0 win over Preston on April 19 and then lifted the title after a crushing 7-0 win over play-off chasing Luton on May 2.

They were then joined by Bournemouth on May 3, after Scott Parker's side scored a late goal to sink Nottingham Forest and make their six-point cushion inside the top two unassailable with one game to spare.

With the relegation places having been settled for weeks now, too, that leaves just the remaining four places in the top six up for grabs. But with Huddersfield having secured one and Forest another, there are two berths remaining, with Sheffield United, Luton, Middlesbrough and Millwall left to contest them.

Just three points separate the fifth-placed Blades from the eighth-placed Lions.

Saturday's permutations

  • Sheffield United will book a play-off place if they beat Fulham at Bramall Lane. A point will be enough if Luton or Middlesbrough fail to win.
  • Luton will also secure a top six finish if they beat Reading. A point will be enough if Sheffield United lose or Middlesbrough fail to win.
  • Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will make the play-offs if they win at Preston and Sheffield United lose or Luton fail to win.
  • And Millwall will be in the play-offs if they beat Bournemouth, Luton lose and Middlesbrough fail to win. If they win and Sheffield United lose with a six-goal swing, they will also be in the play-offs if Luton lose or Middlesbrough fail to win.
  • There is, however, a scenario in which Sheffield United and Middlesbrough could finish level on points, goal difference & goals scored.
  • In that scenario, Sheffield United would finish ahead of Middlesbrough due to a better head-to-head record - Middlesbrough won 2-0 at the Riverside; Sheffield United won 4-1 at Bramall Lane).

Here, we take a look at the runners and riders, their form and their key remaining fixtures as they bid to break free of the Championship's clutches and reach the Premier League...

Nottingham Forest

Position: 3rd
Games played: 45
Points: 79
Form (most recent first): LWWWW
Sky Bet promotion odds: 7/4

Remaining fixtures: Hull (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Huddersfield

Position: 4th
Games played: 45
Points: 79
Form (most recent first): WWWDW
Sky Bet promotion odds: 4/1

Remaining fixtures: Bristol City (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Sheffield United

Position: 5th
Games played: 45
Points: 72
Form (most recent first): WDWLD
Sky Bet promotion odds: 5/2

Remaining fixtures: Fulham (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Luton

Position: 6th
Games played: 45
Points: 72
Form (most recent first): LDWWL
Sky Bet promotion odds: 5/1

Remaining fixtures: Reading (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Middlesbrough

Position: 7th
Games played: 45
Points: 70
Form (most recent first): WWDLD
Sky Bet promotion odds: 8/1

Remaining fixtures: Preston (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Millwall

Position: 8th
Games played: 45
Points: 69
Form (most recent first): WDWDW
Sky Bet promotion odds: 80/1

Remaining fixtures: Bournemouth (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Final day fixtures

All fixtures kick off at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Bournemouth vs Millwall
Birmingham vs Blackburn
Stoke vs Coventry
West Brom vs Barnsley
Huddersfield vs Bristol City
Hull City vs Nottingham Forest
Luton Town vs Reading
Preston vs Middlesbrough
Sheffield United vs Fulham
Swansea vs QPR
Peterborough vs Blackpool
Derby County vs Cardiff City

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