The English Football League (EFL) season reaches its climax this Saturday, with crucial outcomes still hanging in the balance across the Championship, League One, and League Two. While the promotion playoffs await in May, these final matches will determine automatic promotion places, playoff contenders, and teams facing relegation. Only League One winners Birmingham City have secured their top spot.
Playoff berths are still open in all divisions. For instance, while Wrexham are set for the Championship alongside Birmingham, Reading hopes to join them but must first finish in the top six. In the Championship, five notable clubs are battling to avoid dropping into League One, a group that includes last season`s Premier League hopefuls Luton Town, plus established sides like Stoke City and Derby County.
Let`s look at the key battles across the leagues:
Aiming for Triple Digits
Reaching 100 points in a season is a rare achievement in English football. Before this season, only 16 clubs had achieved it (mostly in the 46-game EFL). This year, the possibility of three teams hitting the 100-point mark across the top four divisions remains open heading into the final day.
League One champions Birmingham City have already surpassed this, setting a new record with 111 points potentially attainable with a final-day win. Their remarkable season, aiming for 111 points, sets a high bar that manager Chris Davies believes may `never be beaten`, though 100+ point tallies have become more frequent recently.
In the Championship, neither Leeds United nor Burnley can reach Birmingham`s record, but both still have a chance to finish on 100 points. If either were to do so without winning the league title, they would be the first `centurions` not to lift the trophy. Leeds hold a significant goal difference advantage, reflecting their strong season performance.
Leeds right-back Jayden Bogle emphasized the team`s focus on silverware despite already securing promotion. To achieve this, Leeds need to beat Plymouth. Burnley face a tougher task against an in-form Millwall side who have their own crucial objectives.
Championship Playoff Chaos
The final day of the Championship season is famous for its congested playoff race. Sheffield United and Sunderland are confirmed in third and fourth. Below them, five teams are competing for the final two spots. Bristol City (fifth) and Coventry City (sixth) currently hold the advantage, with their destiny in their own hands.
Playoff picture
| Team | W | D | L | For | Against | GD | Pts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sheffield United | 28 | 7 | 10 | 62 | 35 | 27 | 89 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 21 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 43 | 15 | 76 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 17 | 16 | 12 | 57 | 53 | 4 | 67 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 19 | 9 | 17 | 62 | 58 | 4 | 66 |
| 7 | Millwall | 18 | 12 | 15 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 66 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 19 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 47 | 5 | 65 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 18 | 10 | 17 | 64 | 54 | 10 | 64 |
Remaining fixtures
- Bristol City vs. Preston North End
- Burnley vs. Millwall
- Coventry City vs. Middlesbrough
- Sheffield United vs. Blackburn Rovers
Bristol face a challenging match at home against a Preston side needing a win to guarantee safety. The game between Coventry City and Middlesbrough in the Midlands is effectively a knockout tie for Middlesbrough. Coventry also need a result, as dropping points could see them overtaken by Millwall or Blackburn.
Blackburn hope their match against Sheffield United is a preview of a playoff semi-final. Millwall face the toughest task, needing a win at Burnley and relying on other specific results to secure a top-six finish. As Alex Neil put it, “The first goal in this game is going to be really important.”
The Scramble to Avoid Relegation
Falling from the Championship to League One can be financially and strategically devastating for clubs. Five teams head into the final day under threat of relegation, with Hull City precariously positioned just outside the drop zone. Their situation is complicated by the fact that Derby County host Stoke City, guaranteeing points will be exchanged between two teams also in danger.
Relegation picture
| Team | W | D | L | For | Against | GD | Pts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Oxford United | 13 | 13 | 19 | 46 | 62 | -16 | 52 |
| 18 | Stoke City | 12 | 14 | 19 | 45 | 62 | -17 | 50 |
| 19 | Derby County | 13 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 49 |
| 20 | Preston North End | 10 | 19 | 16 | 46 | 57 | -11 | 49 |
| 21 | Luton Town | 13 | 10 | 22 | 42 | 63 | -22 | 49 |
| 22 | Hull City | 12 | 12 | 21 | 43 | 53 | -10 | 48 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 11 | 13 | 21 | 50 | 86 | -36 | 46 |
| 24 | Cardiff City | 9 | 17 | 19 | 46 | 69 | -23 | 44 |
Remaining fixtures
- Bristol City vs. Preston North End
- Derby County vs. Stoke City
- Portsmouth vs. Hull City
- West Bromwich Albion vs. Luton Town
Hull could potentially survive with just a point at Portsmouth, thanks to a superior goal difference among the struggling sides, but their fate is not fully within their control. Luton Town have significantly improved their prospects with three consecutive wins, giving them hope for a `great escape` at West Brom.
The match between Derby and Stoke at Pride Park could be pivotal. A point would secure safety for Stoke and significantly boost Derby`s chances, though Derby could still be relegated if Luton, Preston, and Hull all win. Final day relegation battles often produce remarkable performances from teams fighting for survival.
Reading`s Playoff Push Amidst Crisis
While much in League One is settled – Birmingham and Wrexham promoted, relegated teams confirmed – the final playoff spot remains open and intertwined with a significant off-field drama. Leyton Orient currently occupy sixth place and can likely secure it with a win. However, failure to win would create an opportunity for Reading.
Reading are on an impressive eight-game winning streak and host Barnsley on the final day. Despite strong performances on the pitch, the club`s recent history has been dominated by an ownership crisis under Dai Yongge, whose tenure since 2017 has seen points deductions and relegation from the Championship.
Following legal rulings, Yongge was ordered to sell the club by April 4th and disqualified by the EFL, with expulsion remaining a threat. Negotiations with potential buyers like Rob Couhig have been contentious, even reaching court. Another possible buyer, Robert Platek, presents potential conflict of interest issues.
The next crucial deadline for Yongge to sell is May 5th, just two days before the playoff semi-finals begin. This period could dramatically change Reading`s future, for better or worse.
Walsall`s Dramatic Fall and Last Chance
League Two still has its own drama, with the title and the final playoff places yet to be secured. For Walsall, the final day offers a desperate opportunity to salvage a season that started with immense promise. Mat Sadler`s side had a remarkable run ending in January, including a nine-game winning streak, building a significant points lead and boasting top-tier stats for points, goals, and expected goal difference (xGD). Promotion seemed certain.
However, their form has plummeted since then. Following the departure of their top scorer and an exposed tactical weakness, they have won only two of their last 20 games, accumulating just 16 points – among the worst records in the EFL. Despite analytical data (xGD) suggesting they haven`t been that bad, luck appears to have abandoned them entirely.
The substantial lead they built has vanished. On the final day, they are a point behind Bradford, who currently occupy a crucial promotion spot. Walsall require Fleetwood Town to do them a favor (likely meaning Bradford failing to win) before they can even capitalize on their own result. Coincidentally, their final opponents, Crewe Alexandra, have also experienced a significant drop in form, falling from promotion contention to 12th. Perhaps this encounter against a similarly slumping side offers Walsall their best chance for a change in fortune.
