Championship - Championship final day permutations

Eurosport - Sun, 03 May 16:14:00 2009

What are the permutations for promotion and relegation as the Championship enters its final round of fixtures?

FOOTBALL Championship - Birmingham City fans - 0

At the top one of three teams could imminently join Wolverhampton Wanderers in achieving promotion to the Premier League for next season.

Birmingham City are in the driving seat, but travel to fourth-placed Reading knowing that defeat would see them finish in a play-off place.

Three points for the Royals would put them alongside Alex McLeish's Blues on 80 points and, with a vastly-superior goal difference, leave Steve Coppell's brave boys perhaps celebrating at the Madejski Stadium.

Perhaps being the operative word: Sheffield United are the outfit who may put a spanner in the works. Positioned third, a point behind City, they face former manager Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

Should they win then Birmingham have to take three points to go up, while a draw is no good to Kevin Blackwell's side: if spoils were then shared in Berkshire Blues would go up, while victory for Reading would see them promoted.

The only club outside the top six with a chance of the play-offs is Preston. North End have to win at home to Queens Park Rangers and hope that either 1) Burnley fail to take three points at home to Bristol City, in which case the Clarets would fall out; or 2) Cardiff City lose at Sheffield Wednesday.

But it is more complicated than that: if Preston win by a goal and Cardiff lose by a goal, then Preston have to score more goals to finish highest; and if their scorelines are mirrored (e.g. Preston win 1-0 and Cardiff lose 1-0), PNE go up on the head-to-head rule.

Why? Because they hammered the Bluebirds 6-0 a fortnight ago at Deepdale; now wouldn't that be galling for the Cardiff fans.

However if this were to come to fruition there could still be a lifeline: unless Burnley won, they would be the team to drop out.

At the bottom it is far more simple in the race to avoid relegation to League One alongside Charlton and Southampton.

Norwich must win at The Valley against the Addicks and hope that Barnsley slip up at now-safe Plymouth and fail to take a victory.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 2 - 21 of 21

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  1. Charlton v Norwich
    4-2 did i witness

    Can't wait­ for next season now

    From gettingold, on Sun 3 May 7:23PM

  2. Well done you BlueBoys back where you belong!!BCFC on­ the right road again!BeauBrunmmie

    From mary, on Sun 3 May 3:17PM

  3. COMON WOLVES.....WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE SAY WE ARE­ TOP OF THE LEAGUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From davicinkerry, on Sun 3 May 12:15PM

  4. Why is it when times become desperate for clubs at the­ bottom that the fans start looking to others to get­ their team out of the trapdoor? Instead of praying­ other teams help yours out start encouraging your own­ team to save themselves by their own endeavours and not­ off the bscks of others
    NZ fan

    From satisfiernow, on Sun 3 May 12:08PM

  5. anothersmith learn to keep your gob shut you small­ minded little p.rick

    From Scott, on Sun 3 May 12:03PM

  6. Reading 2 Birmingham 0
    Sheffield United 0 Crystal­ Palace 0
    ROYALS FOR THE PREMIERSHIP!!!!!!!!!!!

    From diane.fishlock, on Sun 3 May 12:02PM

  7. Argyle will beat Barnsley for all of those Norwich­ fans.

    From plymouth till i die, on Sun 3 May 11:58AM

  8. Come on Sheffield trounce Cardiff and knock them out of­ a playoff spot.

    JACK ARMY

    From Aguamoose, on Sun 3 May 11:58AM

  9. draw at Reading n Birmingham THEN THE BLADES WIN­ CONVINCINGLY AT PALACE AND SHOW WHAT WARNOCK MISSED OUT­ ON WHEN HE LEFT

    From abbietutty, on Sun 3 May 11:53AM

  10. David N, learn to spell canaries you grubby coal­ scuttler.

    From Roy, on Sun 3 May 11:49AM

  11. In Barnsley we use to use cannaries to check for gas­ leaks down the pit, so if they dropped off their perch­ you knew it was time to get out! Looks like you'll­ be saving our lives again today!
    norwich are going to­ drop like a hot @#$% after a vinadloo! Come on the­ tykes!!!

    From David N, on Sun 3 May 11:41AM

  12. come on norwich you can do it, stay up for all true­ football fans not just idiots.
    kh

    From kandcmatt, on Sun 3 May 11:39AM

  13. City will survive to really annoy the sc*mmers

    From neil, on Sun 3 May 11:29AM

  14. Come on the Nobbers

    From robert, on Sun 3 May 10:59AM
  15. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    HOPE NORWICH GO DOWN TODAY THAT WILL BE JUST SO­ GOOOOOOOOOOD COME ON CHARLTON STUFF THAT DELIA DOWN .

    From chrisbetts, on Sun 3 May 10:55AM

  16. Mr. Southgate..a quote from tricky Dicky Nixon­ ..."Nice guys always come second"..in your­ case 19th..sorry

    From lenphillips, on Sun 3 May 10:36AM

  17. robpmarsh
    Charlton will give you a run for your money­ today.
    It has been one of those seasons as i am sure­ you are only too well aware.

    Neither team should­ really be where they are.

    Charlton owe it to their­ fans to play their butts off.
    Hope for yourself and all­ Norwich fans we do not see you next season, but only­ the next 5 hours will tell.

    And as far as Barnsley are­ concerned, you can be assured Charlton will play fair­ and square.

    From gettingold, on Sun 3 May 10:19AM

  18. anyone will do it doesent matter to me anyway im a boro­ fan so we will be swapping places with one of these­ teams

    From smiley123, on Sun 3 May 10:12AM

  19. Come on Norwich city, dish it up for Delia

    From malcolm, on Sun 3 May 10:10AM

  20. Come on Cardiff City! Were gonna beat Sheff Wednesday!

    From Philippa, on Sun 3 May 9:42AM
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