The Championship is heading into its final stages, with just three games remaining of the season. Who will make it to the big stage automatically?
The Four-Horse Premier League Promotion Race
The Championship is heading into its final stages, with just three games remaining of the season. Who will make it to the big stage automatically?
Bournemouth
Just a single point separates Bournemouth from the hungry pack below. The Cherries have held onto the top spot for most of the season, but can they fend off Watford, Norwich and Middlesbrough in the final stretch?
Verdict: First Place – Championship Winners.
Why:
- Bournemouth’s remaining fixtures against Sheffield Wednesday, Bolton and Charlton shouldn’t cause any upsets in their promotion push. Unbeaten in 10, their current form and belief are a far cry from the close calls against these opponents earlier in the season.
- They hold a point advantage and have a far superior goal difference.
- This would be history in the making for Eddie Howe’s team, entering the Premier League for the first time. If that doesn’t motivate this team, not much else will.
Watford
Watford’s fine form has taken them from mid-table to promotion pushers. They’ll be out to prove a point after a dramatic and memorable Play-off performance against Leicester last year, taking them all the way to Wembley, where they narrowly lost out to Crystal Palace in the final.
Their 2-0 win against fellow title contenders Middlesbrough this season displaced Boro from the top and put the Hornets in joint-second, one point away from the leaders.
Verdict: Second Place – Championship Runners-up – Automatic Promotion
Why:
- Troy Deeney, Matěj Vydra and Odion Ighalo have scored a total of 54 goals this season. This deadly strike force has the ability to bypass Norwich on goal difference.
- The Hornets have suffered just one loss in their last ten games. They have the strength, pace and confidence to see out the season without dropping a point.
- Falling at the last hurdle in last season’s Play-off Final will be at the back of their minds; avoiding a repeat of that should be the extra motivation they need to see out the season in style.
Norwich
Norwich City have been driven towards the top by their young gaffer, Alex Neil. A team very familiar with Premier League football, they currently sit in second place on goal difference and will be looking to bounce back at the first time of asking. Unbeaten in six (W5), it remains to be seen if they can keep up their red-hot form. With the quality around them, it might be a step too far to go up automatically.
Verdict: Third Place – Norwich will achieve Wembley glory in the Play-Off Final.
Why:
- Norwich’s fixture against Middlesbrough will prove to be the toughest game of their season. A six-pointer if ever we’ve seen one.
- They’ll be confident of a Play-Off spot and bouncing back to the top flight but these last games will be a real test of this team’s resolve.
- The Norfolk side are capable of scoring goals, but they will come off second best against Watford.
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough cling on to hope with 81 points, ready to pounce on a late slip up from those above them. Their scrappy football has fought off a strong Wolves side in the midweek fixture to ensure their hopes stay alive.
Much like the Canaries, I fear it’s too late for Boro to grab an automatic spot, leaving them to fight for promotion in the Play-offs, but they’ve shown all season they can step up on the big occasions – see their giant-killing against Manchester City in the FA Cup – and we wouldn’t put it past them causing a shock in a Wembley showpiece.
Verdict: Fourth Place – Middlesbrough will still be in the Championship next season.
Why
- They have been playing catch up since a 2-0 loss to Watford a couple of weeks ago. Keeping the pressure on from below with their midweek win they look primed to make the most of any mistakes made by Watford or Norwich.
- A mouth-watering fixture against in-form Norwich could see Boro drop important points.
- With four losses in their last ten games and with two away games still to play, Middlesbrough’s rocky form on the road will be their demise.
A league where only nine points separate the top six teams. This battle for promotion has been captivating and shows no signs of slowing down. It will most likely come down to the final game, making for a belting end to an already fantastic season.
