The race for automatic promotion from the Championship has entered the final week, with Ipswich Town holding a precarious advantage over Leeds United despite trailing them in the table.
In the battle to join Leicester City in the Premier League next season, Ipswich are currently behind second-placed Leeds on goal difference but have a game in hand over their rivals, which is at Coventry City on Tuesday night.
After that the picture will become much clearer. Ipswich cannot secure automatic promotion on Tuesday, but they can ensure it remains in their hands heading into the final day on Saturday, while Leeds can still be hopeful their goal-difference advantage comes into play – currently +39 to Ipswich’s +32.
Simply put though, Ipswich – pursuing back-to-back promotions under Kieran McKenna – must win or draw at ninth-placed Coventry to move ahead of Leeds in the table and seize the initiative.
Then it will come down to their respective matches this weekend. Ipswich host Huddersfield Town – who are essentially relegated based on their goal difference – while Leeds host Southampton, both of whom are targeting immediate returns to the Premier League.
“It’s probably worked out better, rather than sealing the deal at Coventry,” Ipswich midfielder Jack Taylor told BBC Radio Suffolk.
“We can do it at home in front of our supporters, who’ve been with us all season. Sometimes you can’t believe it – whether you turn up at Plymouth or Middlesbrough, it’s sold out wherever you go.
“Hopefully we repay them [against Coventry] – and especially on Saturday. It will be special but we’ve got to stay level-headed and know we’ve got a very important game tomorrow night.”
The drama goes on and on!
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Southampton will finish fourth in the table regardless of Saturday’s outcome, and are therefore likely to face Norwich City in the play-off semi-finals.
Norwich are currently fifth ahead of West Brom, meaning the Baggies likely await Leeds or Ipswich, depending on who finishes an unwanted third.
Hull City could yet trouble West Brom in the fight for a play-off spot, with only two points separating those two sides.
At the other end of the table, Rotherham United are already down – rock-bottom on just 24 points – and then beyond Huddersfield’s expected demotion there is a four-way battle to avoid the final relegation spot.
Currently Birmingham City occupy that place, 22nd in the table, and the Blues host Norwich knowing they must beat the Canaries and hope 21st-placed Plymouth lose at home to Hull.
Meanwhile, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday are not yet mathematically safe, with both clubs three points ahead of Birmingham.
Blackburn have the same goal difference as Birmingham (-16), with Wednesday’s (-26) significantly worse.
Wins for Birmingham and Plymouth would therefore put Blackburn and Wednesday under threat of relegation, a scenario not out of the question given Blackburn travel to Leicester and Wednesday head to Sunderland.
The only scenario where Birmingham and Plymouth end up on the same amount of points is a draw for the former and loss for the latter.
Providing Plymouth do not lose heavily to Hull City, given they are on -12 goal difference themselves, then they will stay up in that scenario.
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