There are still a few scenarios to play out in the final round of Championship fixtures this weekend, with the full promotion picture still yet to be determined.
Oxford United’s relegation was confirmed last Saturday, leaving all eyes on Ipswich, Millwall and Middlesbrough, who are vying for a second-place finish and automatic promotion, as well as Wrexham, Hull and Derby battling for the fourth and final play-off spot.
Continue reading to see our predictions for the weekend’s winners and losers across England’s second tier.
Championship Fixtures
Championship Table
Championship Gameweek 46 Tips
Despite neither having anything to play for on Saturday, Blackburn vs Leicester looks a good selection for both teams to score. The visitors had back-to-back relegations confirmed last weekend despite a valiant 2-2 draw with promotion-chasing Hull, and subsequently held Millwall, who are eyeing automatic promotion themselves, to a similar 1-1 draw.
BTTS has landed in three of the last four for Rovers, while four of the last six have seen both teams on the scoresheet in matches involving the Foxes.
Barring an unprecedented seven-goal swing on the final day, Swansea’s Zan Vipotnik looks set to finish as the Championship’s top scorer for the 2025/26 season. He was featured in last week’s “Potential Winners” column and lived up to the billing by converting a penalty in his side’s 1-1 draw with Norwich.
With 23 goals to his name, Vipotnik is in a strong position as Swansea host Charlton on the final matchday. Scoring six times in his last five appearances, and with Athletic having gone seven matches without a clean sheet, Vipotnik will be looking to seal his place atop the scoring charts with another goal.
Three potential winners in the Championship this weekend
Ipswich
Ipswich Town will inarguably be this weekend’s true winners should they execute a win against QPR at 12:30pm. The Tractor Boys have been in imperious form at Portman Road, going unbeaten across their last 16 and losing there only once all season, while QPR have struggled for consistency and are still locked in mid-table mediocrity. With so much on the line and momentum firmly on their side, Ipswich look well positioned to take all three points and book a return spot to the Premier League for next season.
Southampton
Southampton still have plenty to play for after a midweek draw with Ipswich ended their hopes of automatic promotion. They travel to Deepdale to face a Preston side that has won just two of their last six games. Under Tonda Eckert, the Saints have gone unbeaten in the league since 17th January and, depending on results elsewhere, could finish as high as third, setting up a two-legged play-off with one of Wrexham, Hull, or Derby.
Derby
Of the three teams battling for sixth, Derby County look the most poised to join this year’s cast of play-off teams. Their Saturday opponents, Sheffield United, are already on the proverbial beach, arriving having lost consecutive matches. County have both the momentum and form to keep their play-off aspirations alive.
Three potential losers in the Championship this weekend
Wrexham
Wrexham face a crucial test at home this weekend against Middlesbrough, with the two sides neck-and-neck in the annual table – Boro sitting seventh and Wrexham eighth, goal difference heavily favouring the visitors. Despite Wrexham’s meteoric rise under Reynolds and McElhenney, their recent inconsistency, with just one win in five, leaves them vulnerable. Middlesbrough, battle-hardened at this level and familiar with the pressures of a late-season promotion chase, look well placed to edge this encounter, making it a bridge too far for the Red Dragons.
Hull
Hull City’s push for automatic promotion has faltered recently, with several missed opportunities and form taking a nosedive over their last six matches. Norwich will provide a stern test, having lost just once in their last seven games – the defeat coming to East Anglian rivals Ipswich. Meanwhile, Hull look least equipped to finish inside the top six, having dropped points to relegated Leicester and most recently falling to a struggling Charlton side.
Watford
Watford look set for a tough afternoon as they host champions Coventry. The Hornets have struggled badly in recent weeks, and with Ed Still set to part company after the final game, this feels like it could be a back-door exit through another disappointing performance. Coventry, still in scintillating form after a 3-1 win over Wrexham last week, look well placed to extend Watford’s woes and leave Vicarage Road with maximum points.
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