The race for promotion to the Premier League for the 2021-22 season is nearing its conclusion, and the fight to get out of England’s second division remains insane.
Fulham has earned automatic promotion and appears to be a shoe-in to win the league, while Bournemouth is also on the verge of securing automatic promotion to the Premier League.
Huddersfield Town has ensured their place in the playoffs, and they still have a chance to earn automatic promotion, but they will need to win out and have a lot of help.
Below the top two-three, a mad chase for one of the three remaining playoff positions has begun.
Remember that in a home and away semifinal series, the third-place team plays the sixth-place team, and the fourth-place team plays the fifth-place team before the winners face off in a final at Wembley to determine who earns the third and final promotion spot to the Premier League.
Each club’s promotion to the Premier League is expected to be worth over $200 million.
As the Championship campaign nears its conclusion, we take a look at the most recent scenarios.
Fulham has been promoted to the Premier League for the season 2022-23.
Their 3-0 win over Preston earned them promotion to the Premier League at the first attempt, and Marco Silva’s team has had it relatively simple this season. The Fulhamerica vibes are strong, with Aleksandar Mitrovic scoring an astonishing 41 goals this season and USMNT defenders Tim Ream and Antonee Robinson enjoying a great season at left-back=5.
They’ve dropped a few games in recent weeks as they pushed for promotion, but they’ve been much too good for the Championship this season, and their goal now is to secure their Premier League status after being a yo-yo team.
Those hoping for an automatic promotion
Bournemouth, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town, and Huddersfield Town are among the clubs in the Premier League.
Bournemouth should simply cross the finish line, but Forest are pushing them all the way. Bournemouth still has a game against Forest on May 3, which might determine who goes up automatically. Luton Town and Huddersfield Town are still in with a chance of automatic promotion, but they must win their remaining three games and hope Bournemouth and Forest falter. Only Fulham and Bournemouth have a chance to win the Premier League.
Those in the playoffs right now
Sheffield United, Huddersfield Town, Nottingham Forest, Luton Town
The playoff picture seemed to be shifting all the time, but relative newcomers Huddersfield and Luton have had outstanding seasons and find themselves in the playoffs with two games remaining. Before the season, both Carlos Corberan’s Terriers and Nathan Jones’ Hatters were relegation prospects, but both Huddersfield and Luton have punched well above their weight.
Huddersfield has won a playoff berth and might still be promoted by default. Forest has games in hand, therefore they’ll likely go up to third place in the standings, if not higher. Then there’s Sheffield United, who are now in sixth place (the final playoff slot) with a goal differential lead over the teams behind them. However, the Blades still have Fulham and QPR to face.
On the verge of making the playoffs
Millwall, Middlesbrough, Blackburn Rovers, QPR, Coventry City, and Swansea City are all in the Premier League.
This is anarchy. Sheffield United in sixth and Coventry in 11th are separated by just six points, although Middlesbrough appears to have the upper hand in the pursuing pack, as they have a stronger goal difference and a game in hand.
Chris Wilder has done an excellent job of pushing Boro up the table, and they have three pretty easy games left to play between now and the conclusion of the season (is there such a thing in the Championship?!).
Keep an eye out for Millwall, who are still in the game. Swansea, QPR, and Coventry are mathematically still in with a shot, but it isn’t going to happen.
Table of the most recent Championship – April 23, 2022
1. Fulham – 87 points (43 games played) +61 – PROMOTED
2. Bournemouth – 78 points (42 games) +30 – CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT
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3. Huddersfield Town – 76 points (44 games) +13 – CLINCHED PLAYOFF SPOT
4. Nottingham Forest – 73 points (42 games) +29
5. Luton Town – 72 points (44 games) +14
6. Sheffield United – 69 points (44 games) +12
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7. Millwall – 66 points (44 games) +6
8. Middlesbrough – 64 points (43 games) +8
9. Blackburn Rovers – 63 points (43 games) +8
10. QPR – 63 points (44 games) +2
11. Coventry City – 63 points (44 games) +2
12. Stoke City – 61 points (44 games) +7 – CANNOT MAKE PLAYOFFS
13. West Brom – 61 points (44 games) +2 – CANNOT MAKE PLAYOFFS
14. Swansea City – 60 points (43 games) -5
