{"id":1439764,"date":"2026-03-20T09:07:05","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T09:07:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?post_type=features&#038;p=1439764"},"modified":"2026-03-20T12:38:51","modified_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:38:51","slug":"championship-automatic-promotion-25-26","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/","title":{"rendered":"Championship automatic promotion run-in: Who will make it to the Premier League?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/championship-outright-odds\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Championship<\/a>\u2019s automatic promotion race has ebbed and flowed in typically pulsating style this season. But there are still as many questions as answers heading into the final section.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With only eight gameweeks of the season remaining, EFL expert Gab Sutton takes a look at the story so far and how each of the leading contenders are shaping up ahead of the decisive run-in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><h2>Quick Links<\/h2><ul><li><a href=\"#h-coventry-vs-middlesbrough-momentum-swings-at-the-top\" data-level=\"2\">Coventry vs Middlesbrough: Momentum swings at the top<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-ipswich-consistency-without-spark\" data-level=\"2\">Ipswich: Consistency without spark<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-millwall-the-dark-horses\" data-level=\"2\">Millwall: The dark horses<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-run-in-challenges-and-key-fixtures\" data-level=\"2\">Run-in challenges and key fixtures<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-gab-sutton-s-prediction\" data-level=\"2\">Gab Sutton&#8217;s prediction<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-championship-automatic-promotion-odds\" data-level=\"2\">Championship automatic promotion odds<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-coventry-vs-middlesbrough-momentum-swings-at-the-top\">Coventry vs Middlesbrough: Momentum swings at the top<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Just five weeks ago, Middlesbrough beat Sheffield United 2-1 in one of the best away performances at Bramall Lane this season. It saw them overtake Coventry City at the top of the table.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank Lampard&#8217;s side had led the way from October, having gone unbeaten in their opening 12 matches. That gave way to 10 autumnul wins in 11. But a winter slump of four wins in 13 saw Boro capitalise under the excellent management of Kim Hellberg.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inheriting a squad familiar with Michael Carrick\u2019s now-famed artificial transitions, and Rob Edwards\u2019 organisational nous, Hellberg has established a team on Teesside that offers the best of both worlds \u2013 and the division\u2019s stand-out midfielder in Hayden Hackney &#8211; since the latter\u2019s controversial exit in October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a result, six consecutive wins for Middlesbrough in winter had Coventry fretting their matchup in February. But the Sky Blues put in an excellent pressing performance to secure a symbolically significant 3-1 win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Midlanders leapfrogged their opponents back to top spot on a night that seemed to rid them of their psychological fear of their promotion rivals, almost like dealing with a spider. And it liberated the group to enjoy a six-match winning streak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Frank Onyeka coming into the side seemed to make all the difference. The Brentford loanee\u2019s defensive qualities took some unwanted defensive transitional responsibilities off playmaker Matt Grimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since Onyeka arrived, Grimes has been freed up to run games in his sleep, thus improving the service for the direct Ephron Mason-Clark, the graceful Jack Rudoni and the potent Haji Wright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Since then, Middlesbrough haven\u2019t been able to hit the same heights, especially at the Riverside. Boro are now winless in four at home, having taken three points against bottom-half opposition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Back-to-back away star showings at Birmingham and Queen&#8217;s Park Rangers offered a reminded of what Hellberg\u2019s charges are capable of. But their repeated failure to dispose with stubborn strugglers on their own turf threatens to undermine their promotion pursuits.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr \/>\r\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/go\/sky-bet?q=gb-all-soa-bs4-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Sky Bet Offer<\/a>: Get \u00a340 in free bets when you place any bet<\/h2>\r\n<p>Looking for some free bets to boost your betting fund? Sky Bet are offering customers the chance to get \u00a340 in free bets when they sign up and place any qualifying bet.<\/p>\r\n<p><a href=\"\/en\/go\/sky-bet?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1422496\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-1024x290.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-1024x290.png 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-300x85.png 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-768x218.png 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-1536x435.png 1536w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-400x113.png 400w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-600x170.png 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-212x60.png 212w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-150x43.png 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143-40x11.png 40w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2023\/11\/06113653\/image-143.png 2036w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li><a href=\"\/en\/go\/sky-bet?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Sign up at Sky Bet<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0using this link<\/li>\r\n<li>Place a qualifying bet of at least 5p on a single or each way bet at odds of 1\/1 or greater, as your first bet<\/li>\r\n<li>Claim your \u00a340 free bet bonus<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<h5 class=\"bookmaker-row exclusive\" style=\"text-align: center;\" data-filter=\"  all-bookmakers free-bets in-play new-bookmaker world-cup-offers\">18+ NEW CUSTOMERS ONLY. FIRST SINGLE &amp; E\/W BET ONLY ODDS OF 1\/1 OR GREATER. 4 X \u00a310 BET TOKENS. FREE BET STAKES NOT INCLUDED IN RETURNS. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS ARE NON WITHDRAWABLE. FREE BETS EXPIRE AFTER 30 DAYS. ELIGIBILITY RESTRICTIONS AND FURTHER T&amp;CS APPLY.<\/h5>\r\n<hr \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ipswich-consistency-without-spark\">Ipswich: Consistency without spark<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We then come to Ipswich Town: two points off second-placed Middlesbrough, with a game in hand. Kieran McKenna\u2019s side haven\u2019t been as streaky as the top two, but they are more consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coventry and Middlesbrough have tended to group their wins together. But the Tractor Boys have only strung a run of more than two successive wins twice: a streak of three wins, and four wins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely, while both Coventry and Middlesbrough have had regular patches in which they&#8217;ve dropped points, Ipswich have never gone more than two games with a victory &#8212; since their winless August.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ipswich were hotly-tipped in pre-season, and there&#8217;s been a strong feeling that they would put a strong run together to power into the top two. Instead, they&#8217;ve stayed on the fringes of the automatic spots since October.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>McKenna\u2019s side have been strong defensively, and they\u2019ve run midfields with Azor Matusiwa looking an inspired summer acquisition. But their attacking dynamics are yet to settle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ipswich have better players on paper than the group that won promotion from this level in 2023-24, and far more depth, but the forwards don\u2019t quite have the same synergy and telepathy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sindre Walle Egeli, for instance, is a far more talented prospect than Wes Burns, with a much higher long-term ceiling. But Burns possibly offered better balance to the team in terms of industry, character, width and defensive contribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Conversely, Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene, their candidates to operate on the left, are better than Nathan Broadhead. But he had a more selfless relationship to left-back Leif Davis, and an understanding with Conor Chaplin in the No.10.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, there\u2019s the likes of Chuba Akpom and Anis Mehmeti in the No.10. Both are much more gifted than Chaplin individually, but needed a bit more freedom. So the equilibrium has worked better when Marcelino Nunez has played there to offer more linkage to midfield, and perhaps redress the balance of the team with increased individuality in the wide areas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As such, there may be questions levelled at Ipswich\u2019s recruitment in the summer. Not because they haven\u2019t improved the squad in theory, by signing good players, but because in retrospect, they didn\u2019t profile them correctly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>That said, they\u2019re still very close. And if McKenna can establish some understandings in those attacking areas at a crucial stage, through his outstanding coaching, then Ipswich could take some stopping.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-millwall-the-dark-horses\">Millwall: The dark horses<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Then again, don\u2019t sleep on Millwall. The Lions have capitalised on dropped points elsewhere with six wins in their last eight, and 32 points amassed from their last 15 games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Alex Neil has built a young, energetic, tenacious side at the Den. Much like the one he had at Preston North End a few years ago. But he has a bit more individual talent in the mix.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Millwall boast top one-vs-one operators out wide, most notably in Femi Azeez, who will surely be playing Premier League football next season one way or another, with eight goals and seven assists to his name this season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Mihailo Ivanovic has also scored eight goals and will be hoping to come on strong at the business end, like he did last season, served by creators like Alfie Doughty, Camiel Neghli, and Azeez.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But don\u2019t ignore what they\u2019re doing at the other end. Millwall have kept 15 clean sheets in the Championship this season, the most in the division. Championship regular Jake Cooper has been expertly marshalling the defence, while Tristan Crama is boasting the best season of his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-run-in-challenges-and-key-fixtures\">Run-in challenges and key fixtures<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Millwall definitely have the least amount of pressure going into the final run-in. But their next two fixtures are key. The Lions go to Portman Road on Saturday, then to the Riverside on Good Friday, in a pair or away days that will make or break their season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If they get through those unscathed, it&#8217;s a gentle run on paper for the Lions. Norwich City, West Bromwich Albion, QPR, Stoke City, Leicester City and Oxford United all follow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ipswich must also face Norwich, but they travel to Carrow Road for an East Anglian derby. Their rejuvenated arch rivals will be desperate to lay a dent in Ipswich&#8217;s promotion bid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In fact, all of Ipswich&#8217;s games between now and the final day of hosting QPR are against sides with something on the line. That includes promotion rivals Middlesbrough, who visit Portman Road on 19th April.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ipswich do have a game in hand, but it also has unhelpful practical implications on their run-in. The Tractor Boys have no clear weeks after the international break and, after facing Middlesbrough, go straight into back-to-back away games.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then again, if Ipswich can get themselves in a position of having their fate in their own hands going into the final day, they should do the job against QPR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Millwall, meanwhile, welcome an Oxford side who may need the points to retain their Championship status. And Middlesbrough face play-off chasers Wrexham.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Boro have a mixed run-in, still having to play Sheffield Wednesday at home and mid-table Swansea City away. They play both of their immediate rivals, which gives them a chance to take points away from them. But it also gives the other a window to gain on Middlesbrough should they fail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Coventry are nine points clear of third, but they could yet be sucked into the conversation with more defeats like the one to Southampton. But their run-in does look kind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Enjoy the chaos\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-gab-sutton-s-prediction\">Gab Sutton&#8217;s prediction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Coventry and Ipswich&nbsp;to finish in the two automatic promotion spaces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-championship-automatic-promotion-odds\">Championship automatic promotion odds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Club<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">bet365 odds<\/th><th class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\">BOYLEsports odds<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Coventry City<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1\/80<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1\/100<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Ipswich Town<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1\/<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">1<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Middlesbrough<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">21\/20<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">1\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Millwall<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10\/<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">1<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">10\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Southampton<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150\/<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">1<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Hull<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150\/<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">1<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">150\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Wrexham<\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">350\/<\/a><a href=\"\/en\/go\/bet365?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\">1<\/a><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><a href=\"\/en\/go\/boylesports?q=gb-all-con-wof-s-spo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">350\/1<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><tfoot><tr><td><em>Odds correct as of 20\/03\/2026<\/em><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><\/td><td class=\"has-text-align-center\" data-align=\"center\"><\/td><\/tr><\/tfoot><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n<h3><strong>Read more:<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/championship\/\"><strong>Championship predictions &amp; tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/outright-markets\/premier-league-title-odds\/\"><strong>Championship outright odds <\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/\"><strong>Latest football news<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best betting sites<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/betting-sites\/best-free-bet-offers\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Best free bet offers<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/bet\/football-tips\/accumulator\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football accumulator tips<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\n\n\n    <div class=\"sq-articles-list\">\n                <div 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decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26051257\/3EW8EE7-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Turkey vs United States stats and analysis: Positives for Pochettino despite Group D defeat\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-turkey-vs-united-states-26-06-26\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Turkey vs United States stats and analysis: Positives for Pochettino despite Group D defeat                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n            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src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26051145\/3EW8E06-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/paraguay-vs-australia-stats-analysis-26-06-2026\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Paraguay vs Australia stats and analysis: Bos shines as Group D rivals play out bore draw                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/deansmith\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Dean Smith                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">12 hours ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-japan-vs-sweden-26-06-26\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/26015958\/AnthonyElanga260626_ID3EW7WYR-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-japan-vs-sweden-26-06-26\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Japan vs Sweden stats and analysis: Samurai Blues&#8217; fluid rotations and Elanga saves Sweden                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/connorholden\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Connor Holden                                <\/a>\n                       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  <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-tunisia-vs-netherlands-26-06-26\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Tunisia vs Netherlands stats and analysis: Brian Brobbey enhances Golden Boot claim amid Man Utd links                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/chris-smith\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Chris Jones                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">14 hours ago<\/time>\n           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href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/post-match-analysis-ecuador-vs-germany-25-06-26\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Ecuador vs Germany stats and analysis: Ecuador suffocate Nagelsmann&#8217;s central overloads to earn their spot in final 32                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/connorholden\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Connor Holden                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">17 hours ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                        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           <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    Curacao vs Ivory Coast stats and analysis:\u00a0Pepe&#8217;s decisive double fires Elephants into the knockout stages                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/jackkitson\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Jack Kitson                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">17 hours ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-group-d-stats-turkey-vs-united-states-paraguay-vs-australia\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/25101341\/SYMS_D-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-group-d-stats-turkey-vs-united-states-paraguay-vs-australia\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    World Cup 2026 Group D: Key stats for Turkey vs United States &amp; Paraguay vs Australia                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/jackkitson\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Jack Kitson                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 day ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-group-f-stats-tunisia-vs-netherlands-japan-vs-sweden\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/24221332\/SYMS_F-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-group-f-stats-tunisia-vs-netherlands-japan-vs-sweden\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    World Cup 2026 Group F: Key stats for Tunisia vs Netherlands &amp; Japan vs Sweden                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/jackkitson\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Jack Kitson                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 day ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                                            <article class=\"sq-card\">\n                                            <div class=\"sq-card__thumbnail\">\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-stats-group-e-ecuador-vs-germany-curacao-vs-ivory-coast\/\" class=\"sq-thumbnail\">\n                                <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/06\/25091708\/SYMS_E-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/>                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                                        <div class=\"sq-card__content\">\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__meta\">\n                            <span class=\"sq-card__label\">Features<\/span>\n                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/world-cup-2026-stats-group-e-ecuador-vs-germany-curacao-vs-ivory-coast\/\" class=\"sq-card__title\">\n                                <h2 class=\"sq-card__title-text\">\n                                    World Cup 2026 Group E: Key stats for Ecuador vs Germany &amp; Curacao vs Ivory Coast                                <\/h2>\n                            <\/a>\n                        <\/div>\n                        <div class=\"sq-card__excerpt\">\n                                                            <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/jackkitson\/\" class=\"sq-card__link\">\n                                    Jack Kitson                                <\/a>\n                                                        <time class=\"sq-card__label\">1 day ago<\/time>\n                        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/article>\n                    <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Championship\u2019s automatic promotion race has ebbed and flowed in typically pulsating style this season. But there are still as many questions as answers heading into the final section. With only eight gameweeks of the season remaining, EFL expert Gab Sutton takes a look at the story so far and how each of the leading&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3568,"featured_media":1439771,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Squawka analysis the 2025-26 Championship automatic promotion run-in, featuring Coventry, Middlesbrough, Ipswich & Millwall as key contenders","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1439764","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Championship automatic promotion run-in: Who will make it to the Premier League? | Squawka | EN<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Squawka analysis the 2025-26 Championship automatic promotion run-in, featuring Coventry, Middlesbrough, Ipswich &amp; Millwall as key contenders\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Championship automatic promotion run-in: Who will make it to the Premier League?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Squawka analysis the 2025-26 Championship automatic promotion run-in, featuring Coventry, Middlesbrough, Ipswich &amp; Millwall as key contenders\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Squawka | EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-03-20T12:38:51+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/03\/20090608\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26-scaled.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1440\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@squawka\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Gab Sutton\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/80b106ab54ea3f395c859a43aa8b4426\"},\"headline\":\"Championship automatic promotion run-in: Who will make it to the Premier League?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-03-20T09:07:05+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-03-20T12:38:51+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\"},\"wordCount\":1419,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/2026\/03\/20090608\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26-scaled.jpg\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"accessibilityFeature\":[\"tableOfContents\"]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/championship-automatic-promotion-25-26\/\",\"name\":\"Championship automatic promotion run-in: Who will make it to the Premier League? 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