Championship final day permutations: Five teams battle for play-offs

Coventry are hunting for a play-off spot
Coventry are hunting for a play-off spotMark Fletcher, MI News & Sport / Alamy / Profimedia
The final day of the Championship is upon us with all 24 teams set to play at the same time on Saturday, 3rd May to decide their fates, with both the play-offs and relegation still wide open as well as the race for the title.

Here, Flashscore will look at all the permutations heading into the final day and which teams can still get something out of their respective campaigns.

First, though, a quick reminder of what has already been decided.

Leeds and Burnley are guaranteed promotion to the Premier League but can both still win the title, while Sheffield United cannot move out of third position - likewise, Sunderland will finish in fourth spot.

At the bottom of the table, Cardiff's relegation to League One has been confirmed and Plymouth are all but down because of their shocking goal difference.

Championship table
Championship tableFlashscore

Who will win the title?

As mentioned, only two teams can still secure the Championship title and either Leeds or Burnley will be champions come Saturday afternoon.

Leeds (1st, 97 points, +64 GD, vs Plymouth)

Leeds will win the title no matter what, as long as they defeat 23rd-placed Plymouth Argyle.

Daniel Farke's side have a vastly superior goal difference to Burnley and will seal first place if they win - or just better the Clarets' result.

Burnley (2nd, 97 points, +51 GD, vs Millwall)

Burnley must defeat play-off chasers Millwall and hope that Leeds drop points if they are to win the league.

However, if Leeds take an unlikely loss against Plymouth, Burnley can afford to draw their game.

Five clubs battle for two play-off spots

Sheffield United (third) and Sunderland (fourth) secured their spots in the play-offs several weeks ago and have thus had the chance to rest key players over the last month, but the final two spots in the top six still need to be filled.

Bristol City (5th, 67 points, +4 GD, vs Preston)

A surprise package this season, Bristol City have a play-off finish in their hands as long as they beat relegation-threatened Preston.

The Robins will keep their promotion hopes alive with a win, no matter what happens elsewhere. A draw would also be enough as long as Millwall and Blackburn fail to win.

Coventry (6th, 66 points, +4 GD, vs Middlesbrough)

Coventry have endured a huge turnaround under Frank Lampard and could cap it off with a top-six finish.

Lampard's men face ninth-placed Middlesbrough on the final day in what could essentially be a straight shootout for a spot in the play-offs.

If they win, their spot in the top six will be secured regardless of results elsewhere - and if they win and Bristol City drop points, Coventry will move into fifth place.

A draw would be enough for the Sky Blues if Millwall and Blackburn fail to win.

Millwall (7th, 66 points, +0 GD, v Burnley)

Millwall face a tricky test against title challengers Burnley and must win while hoping one of Bristol City or Coventry drops points to seal a play-off finish.

A draw would be no good for the Lions because of their inferior goal difference (the lowest of any top-six contenders); they wouldn't be able to overtake Bristol City unless the Robins lost by five goals, and at least one of Coventry or Middlesbrough are guaranteed points - meaning just a point for Millwall would not be enough to leapfrog any teams above them by the end of play.

Like every other team involved, Millwall could finish fifth if they win, Bristol City lose and the other three sides all drop points.

Blackburn (8th, 65 points, +5 GD, v Sheffield United)

Despite a rough patch of form in 2025, Blackburn are still in contention for a play-off finish.

Rovers face Sheffield United on Saturday and must win while hoping that one of Bristol City or Coventry as well as Millwall drop points.

A draw wouldn't be enough for the Lancashire side because of Coventry's game against Middlesbrough - one of the two clubs will finish with at least 67 points.

A win for Rovers alongside Bristol City dropping points (as well as a draw between Coventry and Middlesbrough and Millwall failing to win) would see them finish fifth.

Middlesbrough (9th, 64 points, +10 GD, vs Coventry)

Middlesbrough have the distinct advantage of a far better goal difference than the other sides around them, but need a couple of results to go their way on the final day.

Michael Carrick's team needs a victory against Coventry while hoping that Millwall and Blackburn fail to win their respective fixtures - they could even finish as high as fifth if they win and Bristol City lose.

A draw won't be enough for Boro regardless of results elsewhere.

Five sides fighting for survival

At the bottom of the table, five teams are at risk of relegation.

Cardiff are already down and Plymouth will join them because of their -36 goal difference, which leaves one more spot in the bottom three.

Hull (22nd, 48 points, -10 GD, vs Portsmouth)

Hull currently occupy the third and final relegation spot and must win at the weekend while hoping that one of the four sides above them drop points.

A draw would also secure survival as long as Luton or Preston lose.

Defeat for the Tigers would see them relegated and the remaining four teams safe regardless of other results.

Championship bottom four
Championship bottom fourFlashscore

Luton (21st, 49 points, -22 GD, vs West Brom)

A win against West Brom would confirm another season in the Championship for Luton, regardless of Hull's result.

In fact, the Hatters only have to better Hull's result and could even afford to lose if the Tigers are also defeated.

Preston (20th, 49 points, -11 GD, vs Bristol City)

Preston will survive no matter what with a win, but could also afford to draw as long as Hull drop points.

If Hull win and Preston lose, they must hope Luton are also beaten by West Brom.

Derby (19th, 49 points, -8 GD, vs Stoke)

Although very unlikely, Derby will be relegated if they fail to win and all three sides below them are victorious.

A draw should be enough for the Rams, though, and a win will put survival beyond all doubt.

Stoke (18th, 50 points, -7 GD, vs Derby)

It's almost impossible, but Stoke can mathematically still go down if they lose and all four clubs below them win (one of those being Saturday's opposition, Derby).

Any points at all should be enough for the Potters because of their better goal difference.

League One and League Two

It's important to touch on League One and Two, both of which will likely have plenty of drama on show across the weekend.

In League One, Birmingham are confirmed champions, Wrexham have been promoted in second, while Shrewsbury, Cambridge, Bristol Rovers and Crawley have been relegated.

Stockport, Wycombe and Charlton have confirmed play-off finishes meaning sixth place goes to either Leyton Orient or Reading, who are both on 75 points.

Orient have a much better goal difference, so they just have to equal or better Reading's result to confirm sixth spot.

League One table
League One tableFlashscore

In League Two, the title will go to either Doncaster or Port Vale, who have both had promotion confirmed in recent weeks.

If Doncaster can better or equal Port Vale's result, they will be champions.

Relegation has also been decided, with Morecambe and Carlisle dropping into the National League.

The third and final automatic promotion slot will go to either Bradford, Walsall or Notts County.

Bradford just need to better the result of the two clubs below them to confirm their place in League One next season, while Walsall and Notts County need wins while hoping the other two sides lose (a draw could be enough for Walsall as long as Bradford lose because of their superior goal difference).

The race for a play-off spot is a little crazy, with five clubs battling it out for two spots.

League Two table
League Two tableFlashscore

Wimbledon, Salford, Grimsby, Chesterfield and Colchester are all in contention for a top-seven finish.

Bettering the results of those below them would be enough for Wimbledon and Salford, while Grimsby - who face Wimbledon - need to at least draw and hope Salford lose and the two clubs below both drop points.

Both Chesterfield and Colchester must win while hoping Salford drop points - preferably lose - and Wimbledon either win or draw.