Premier League Promotion Race: Who will join Coventry City in top flight? | OneFootball

Coventry City have earned promotion back to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years. 

Frank Lampard’s Sky Blues surprised everyone this season by storming the Championship and sealing a top-two spot with three games left to go.

All that remains for the Midlands outfit is to seal the title, which they can do in front of their own fans tonight when they take Portsmouth.

There are still two promotion spots up for grabs, with four teams chasing the second automatic place and another three hoping to get up through the play-offs.

There are only three games left to do so in what promises to be another tightly contested and highly competitive run-in. Let’s take a look at the state of play ahead of the midweek matches.

Premier League Promotion Race:

2nd: Ipswich Town

Points: 76

A strong second half of the season has seen Ipswich emerge as the favourites to finish second and join Coventry in the Premier League next year.

The Tractor Boys suffered a defeat to Portsmouth last week to put a dent in their hopes and make the race a lot more interesting for the neutrals. But it’s the recent draws against Middlesbrough and Millwall that they will look back on with some regret. Had they won those, they would still be competing for first place, but face a nervy final few weeks instead.

They do, though, have a game in hand, which will prove vitally important as it comes against Southampton, who are hot on their heels in the standings.

Remaining fixtures: Charlton (A), West Brom (A), Southampton (A), QPR (H). 

3rd: Millwall

Points: 76

If Coventry were the surprise package of the season, then Millwall have been the shock revelation. Virtually nobody expected Alex Neil’s men to be competing this high up the table and fighting for the top two.

A 2-1 win over Middlesbrough at the beginning of this month gave them the belief that it was really possible, but their progress was stalled by gaining just one point from the following two games.

A 2-0 win over London rivals QPR at the weekend means they are still in contention, and all of their remaining fixtures are against clubs at the bottom end of the division, but their fate is out of their hands.

Remaining fixtures: Stoke City (A), Leicester City (A), Oxford United (H). 

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4th: Southampton

Points: 75

After a poor start to the campaign, Southampton have recovered excellently since replacing Will Still with Tonda Eckert in the dugout last November. Indeed, they have looked unstoppable of late, winning eight games on the trot in all competition.

Unbeaten since mid-January, Saints’ incredible form has lifted them into the top six in the table and reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup after beating Fulham and Arsenal along the way. Crucially, they are just one point off the automatic promotion places.

A deep cup run would usually be considered an unwanted distraction for a Championship side chasing promotion, but Saints are have so much momentum behind them that they don’t care. They are going to go all out for glory on both fronts.

Remaining fixtures: Bristol City (H), Ipswich Town (H), Preston North End (A).

5th: Middlesbrough

Points: 73

If Southampton are flying right now, then Middlesbrough have all the momentum of a sinking stone. They have failed to win any of their last eight games, drawing four and losing the other three.

It was only in February that they reeled in Coventry and overtook them in the table, but a 3-1 defeat at the CBS Arena completely derailed their season. Having spent the majority of the campaign in the top two, they are now left hanging onto their play-off place for dear life.

Considering the teams behind them have failed to put a consistent run of wins together, one more victory could be enough for Boro, but you wouldn’t bet your house on it. A final day trip to Wrexham could decide their fate.

Remaining fixtures: Sheffield Wednesday (H), Watford (H), Wrexham (A). 

6th: Hull City

Points: 69

Hull City have been grimly hanging on to their place in the play-offs amid an inconsistent run of form over the past three months.

The Tigers reached as high as third in January following a terrific run of eight wins in ten games, but they have only managed to win four of the following 14 to leave them with a mere two-point advantage over the chasing pack.

The two nearest challengers are in slightly better form, but Hull have the easier schedule to end the campaign.

Remaining fixtures: Leicester City (A), Charlton (A), Norwich City (H). 

7th: Wrexham AFC

Points: 67

The novelty of Wrexham’s Hollywood adventure has worn off for many, but it’s nonetheless remarkable that the Welsh club have a puncher’s chance of reaching the Premier League.

The Red Dragons have stumbled at just the wrong time of the season, starting April with a three-match winless streak, but they bounced back with victory over Stoke City at the weekend.

Tonight they travel to Oxford, who are still fighting for survival but have just one win from their last six. Then it’s off to Coventry on Sunday when they hope the champions-elect will be on the beach, before that all-important clash with Boro.

Remaining fixtures: Oxford United (A), Coventry City (A), Middlesbrough (H). 

8th: Derby County

Points: 66

With so many eye-catching stories at both ends of the table this term, Derby have flown somewhat under the radar. But it cannot be understated how incredible it would be for John Eustace’s side to win promotion to the Premier League.

The Rams were on death’s door not that long ago, on the verge of going out of business as they dropped down to League One after entering administration.

They are not only back in the Championship, but going pretty well too. It wouldn’t be a disaster to miss out on the play-offs, but it would be a disappointment after picking up six wins from their last nine outings.

Remaining fixtures: Norwich City (A), QPR (A), Sheffield United (H). 

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