Chris Wilder drops honest promotion claim involving Coventry City, Middlesbrough & Ipswich Town | OneFootball

Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder has had his say on the race for automatic promotion from the Championship, including Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough

Chris Wilder and Sheffield United were in an automatic promotion race last season, but Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough are now fighting it out with Coventry City for the top two spots in the Championship.

Hull City are not far behind, either. However, the top three has been as it is now for the majority of the last few months.

The Blades can also challenge for promotion via the play-offs, with Wilder and co eight points off the play-offs with a third of the games still to play.

Had Sheffield United not started so poorly under Ruben Selles, they could be in contention for much more this season. That comes after the disappointment of losing the play-off final at Wembley to Sunderland after narrowly missing out on automatic promotion to Burnley and Leeds United.

That fate is what Ipswich Town and Middlesbrough are hoping to avoid, with both still able to finish above Coventry City as well. A play-off campaign would still be a successful season, but nerves and tension are difficult factors to overcome in such a high pressure situation.

The question is over who can hold their nerve the best prior to that, in an automatic promotion battle that looks likely to go down to the wire.

Chris Wilder's Middlesbrough verdict amid Kieran McKenna and Ipswich Town praise

On Monday night, Middlesbrough face a trip to Sheffield United to play their former manager. Wilder took charge of Boro for 11 months, having been appointed in November 2021, but was relieved of his duties in October 2022 following the Teessiders' poor start to the 2022-23 campaign.

He is synonymous with Sheffield United, however, while also being synonymous with fighting for promotion as well. He wasn't able to deliver that on Teesside but he has gained two promotions in South Yorkshire, with other near-misses on top of that.

He knows exactly what it takes to compete at the top of the Championship, which is why he has had his say on Boro's promotion hopes ahead of Monday - as well as the chances of both Coventry and Ipswich too.

Speaking via SUTV, as quoted on X by The Bladesmen, Wilder said: "I believe it will be two from three. Coventry, Ipswich and Middlesbrough are the three outstanding teams in the division, I believe.

"I think it's a close one to call but Coventry will come again — (they) made some good signings and got a brilliant manager.

"Middlesbrough have been there or thereabouts. And Ipswich, even though we turned them over a few weeks ago, for me, are the strongest group with one of the best managers in the country leading it — and (they) have that experience."

Bramall Lane could shape the Championship promotion race

In the reverse fixtures of recent games to Middlesbrough and Ipswich, Sheffield United actually lost back-to-back 1-0 and 5-0 in games in August and September. However, this is a new-look side.

Wilder has already beaten McKenna's Ipswich in recent weeks, with a comfortable 3-1 win just over a week ago. They now have the opportunity to take more from Middlesbrough, but Bramall Lane looks likely to be vital in the promotion race.

Coventry will make the trip to South Yorkshire at the end of February. Hull are currently in the mix and they face a trip to Sheffield United in mid-April as well. Clashes with one another will also be key, but no one is expecting an easy game against the Blades anymore.

Especially since Wilder was reappointed, Sheffield United have been improving rapidly. If you then factor in the strong end to the transfer window, it's fair to say that they should be re-evaluated in terms of their strength in this league — and 15th is not reflective of that.