Championship, last day of the regular season in the English cadet series: several teams are playing for a playoff spot.
The very long regular season of Championship, the English equivalent of our Serie B, ends today. Everything is already decided as far as direct promotion is concerned: Burnley has literally dominated this championship, not even leaving crumbs to its opponents. Suffice it to say that the Clarets celebrated immediate promotion to the Premier League-they were relegated just a year ago-exactly one month ago.
A sensational ride (28 wins, 14 draws and only 3 defeats), the main merits of which go to former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany, now coach of the rather interesting ideas and who has already attracted the interest of several big names. After relaxing following the goal achievement, Burnley has won its last two games and now aims to close on a high note against Cardiff: a possible success would allow it to cross the 100-point mark (it currently has 98 points). A few weeks ago Sheffield United also celebrated direct promotion, thus making a return to the Premier League after two years of purgatory. The verdicts regarding the three relegations were also issued: Reading, Blackpool and Wigan ended up in League One. In short, only the playoff grid remains to be decided, with several teams still hoping to enter the postseason and secure the last remaining pass to the top flight.
Championship: Coventry just needs a point to make the playoffs
The situation is as follows: Luton and Middlesbrough, the league’s third and fourth forces respectively, are already certain to play in the playoffs. Luton, having secured third place, does not want to lose momentum heading into the playoffs and is favored against a goalless Hull City.
Sunderland’s Pritchard exults after a goal
Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough instead hosts Coventry, who need only one point to qualify for the postseason. The former Manchester United midfielder, now coach of Boro, is likely to rest the best players, which is why the guests should have no problem snatching at least a draw, in a one-goal match on each side. In contrast, the last place, the sixth, is being contested by four teams. Ahead of them all at the moment is Milwall: but the Londoners, unlike Sunderland and West Bromwich, will have to contend with Blackburn, which still has faint hopes of finishing in the top six. The three defeats Milwall has suffered in its last five games are a wake-up call that should not be underestimated; Blackburn is likely to avoid defeat in the English capital. And at that point the Lions would be bypassed by Sunderland, heavily favored at home to Preston.
