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We’re into what is often referred to as the “business end of the season” in the football calendar and the race for promotion to the Premier League is close to its conclusion.

Teams competing at the top of the EFL Championship are now potentially just days away from securing promotion to England’s top division.

This season sees the Premier League’s three relegated sides from 2022/23 in the top four of the table: Leeds United, Leicester City and Southampton. 

Former Manchester United assistant coach Kieran McKenna has his Ipswich Town also competing. The Tractor Boys are aiming to play in the Premier League for the first time since 2002.

The Sporting News takes a look at the playoff picture, and how promotion works.

MORE: Premier League table 2023/24 updated standings

EFL Championship 2023/24 table and promotion picture

The top two will secure automatic promotion, whereas teams placed between third and sixth will compete in a playoff. More on that below.

Updated on Wednesday, April 24, 2024

Pos Team Points Matches
Played
Goals
Scored
Goal
Difference
1. Leicester City 94 44 86 +47
2. Leeds United 90 44 80 +43
—— ——————— ——— ———— ——— ————
3. Ipswich Town 89 43 85 +32
4. Southampton 84 44 85 +24
5. West Brom 72 44 67 +23
6. Norwich 72 44 77 +16
—— ——————— ——— ———— ——— ————
7.  Hull City 69 44 65 +9
8. Coventry City 63 42 66 +14

How does promotion to the Premier League work?

Promotion from the Championship to the Premier League is a highly competitive process where three of the best teams can gain English top-flight status.

At the end of each season, the top two teams in the Championship table automatically secure promotion to England’s top division.

The third promotion spot is determined through a playoff system involving the teams finishing third to sixth.

The top two of those teams are seeded, therefore third place plays sixth and fourth place faces off against fifth over two legs. The third and fourth teams will have the advantage of playing the second leg at home.

The winners then meet in the playoff final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, May 26.

Extra-time and penalties will be used in the semifinal second legs and final if they teams cannot be separated.

The team that wins the playoff final claims the final promotion spot, earning the opportunity to compete against the top clubs in the country in the Premier League in 2024/25

Promotion not only brings financial rewards but also elevates a club’s status and opens doors to greater exposure on a national and international level, while making teams an attractive transfer destination for players at home and abroad.

Remaining fixtures for Leeds, Leicester and Ipswich

With the table being incredibly tight at the top, here’s a look at the remaining fixtures for those fighting for the automatic promotion places:

Leeds Result Leicester Result Ipswich Result
Watford (A) D 2-2 Bristol City (A) L 1-0 Blackburn (A) W 0-1
Hull City (H) W 3-1 Norwich (H) W 3-1 Southampton (H) W 3-2
Coventry (A) L 2-1 Birmingham City (H) W 2-1 Norwich (A) L 1-0
Sunderland (H) D 0-0 Millwall (A) L 1-0 Watford (H) D 0-0
Blackburn (H) L 1-0 Plymouth (A) L 1-0 Middlesbrough (H) D 1-1
Middlesbrough (A) W 4-3 West Brom (H) W 2-1 Hull City (A)
QPR (A) Southampton (H) W 5-0 Coventry (A)
  Preston (A)  
     
Southampton (H) Blackburn (H) Huddersfield (H)

Source

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