The business end of the 2024/25 Championship season has arrived and there’s still so much to fight for, especially in the race for play-off football.
Top two sides Leeds United and Burnley look in a very strong position to clinch automatic promotion as they have now stretched a five-point gap to nearest chasers Sheffield United, who have lost their last three matches.
Sunderland, effectively guaranteed to finish in fourth, will use the final fixtures to prepare for the play-offs, but it’s unclear who will join them in the three other qualification spots.
West Bromwich Albion had been in fifth and sixth for months but have now dropped down to seventh following a disappointing run. A narrow 2-1 win over Watford at the weekend has restored faith, though, with fifth-placed Bristol City and sixth-placed Coventry City now looking nervously over their shoulders.
Then there are Middlesbrough and Millwall, level on points with West Brom but behind on goal difference. All five teams will be confident they can secure the final play-off positions, but there’s only space for two. The fight could go down right to the wire.
Down the other end of the table, the relegated sides are yet to be decided. Plymouth Argyle remain at the foot of the standings but are now just three points adrift from safety following a huge 2-1 win over Sheffield United. Just like Plymouth, Luton Town are on 40 points. Cardiff City are in 22nd on 42 points, while Derby County (43), Hull City (44) and Portsmouth (46) are narrowly above the drop zone.
How could the final standings look, then? Well, with four games to go for most, there’s still time for some significant changes. The data experts at Opta Analyst have been crunching the numbers, offering their predictions for all 24 positions.
1. SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND - APRIL 05: A general view of Sky Bet EFL branding on a Puma match ball prior to the Sky Bet Championship match between Sheffield Wednesday FC and Hull City AFC at Hillsborough on April 05, 2025 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
The final predicted Championship table for the 2024/25 season, as per data from Opta. | Getty Images
2. 24th: Plymouth Argyle
Doomed with their -38 goal difference and mountain to climb, it would take a miracle for Argyle to stay up. Never say never, but it’s looking unlikely. Expected points: 43.66, chance of relegation: 94.6%. | Getty Images
3. 23rd: Luton Town
It’s rare that a team is relegated from the Premier League and suffers this much but Luton are dropping like flies and are very close to a second successive elimination. Expected points: 44.39, chance of relegation: 89.28%. | Getty Images
4. 22nd: Cardiff City
A disastrous campaign leaves the Bluebirds on the verge of a relegation to the third tier for the first time in over two decades. It’s not over yet, but it doesn’t look good. Expected points: 46.37, chance of relegation: 69.08%. | Getty Images