All is to play for as we enter the closing stages of yet another entertaining and volatile EFL Championship season. Whilst the top four have seemingly separated themselves from the rest of the division, two play-off spots are still up to play for, with several teams in with a chance. Let’s take a look at the contenders and their toughest remaining games.
In the play-offs as it stands
As of the time of writing, West Bromwich Albion have slotted back up to fight position in the table, thanks to a hard-earned point at Turf Moor on Tuesday night. And thanks to Coventry slipping up at Derby, the Baggies go back above the Sky Blues on goal difference.
Under Tony Mowbray, Albion have lacked the consistency in results that was evident under his predecessor, Carlos Corberan. But fans seem to be enjoying a more free-flowing style of football, which has typically led to higher-scoring games under his reign. However, West Brom have now drawn 17 of their Championship games this season, around a 46% clip.
They have also drawn both their fixtures against all of the top three this campaign. Not losing to the league’s best teams can be conceived as a positive, but Albion’s inability to get over the line or find a winner in games has been prescient this season under both Corberan and Mowbray. Yet, they are still sitting pretty as the best of the rest, for now.
Any minor slip-ups could see them plummet out of the play-offs, with multiple teams waiting to pounce. But the statistics would suggest that the Baggies may just have enough to hold on. They still have to host fourth-placed Sunderland at the beginning of April and also travel to the CBS arena on Good Friday for a grudge match with Coventry, which could prove pivotal.
Coventry City’s remarkable ascent
Speaking of Coventry, as previously mentioned, they sit in sixth just below Albion on goal difference following a two-nil defeat to Derby midweek. It was just their second loss in their last 11 games, thanks to a magnificent winning run under Frank Lampard, who took over in late November with the team in 17th place.
Their stellar recent form has seen them rocket up the table, and now they have a valid argument to make the play-offs. However, the Derby loss came at an inopportune time as Coventry now faces three of the top four in their next three encounters. Although segregated by an international break in a week’s time, those next trio of games will surely determine Coventry’s play-off chances.
But it is also an opportunity for Lampard’s side to exhibit the progress they have made as a team since he took over, going toe-to-toe against the division’s superior outfits. If you want to make the play-offs, you have to demonstrate that you can compete with the best.
On the outside looking in
This is Bristol City’s tenth consecutive season in the second tier, but they have never finished higher than eighth or lower than 19th. Their incredible ability to end up in the middle of the pack year after year, without relegation fears but also without serious play-off aspirations.
The Robins were able to secure a point at Brammall Lane on Tuesday night, thanks to a 90th-minute equaliser from Mark Sykes. It improves their unbeaten run to six games, with three wins and three draws, seeing them just two points behind both Coventry and Albion.
Bristol City have only finished in the top half once in the last five seasons but have never posed a real threat to the play-off chase. But under Liam Manning, they now have a real chance to dethrone those above them.
A season of inconsistency for Carrick’s Boro
Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough have endured a conflicting campaign, summarised by losing some key figures in January. They brought in former Manchester City and Leicester striker Kelechi Iheanacho in an attempt to bolster their attacking prowess. Morgan Whittaker was also acquired from Plymouth, replacing the departure of Isaiah Jones.
Boro have undergone a dip in form so far in 2025, losing five in a row and seven of eight. However, they are still well in the mix with three victories in the last four, none of which were more than one goal, though.
They sit just three points behind Coventry and West Brom but still have matches against some other play-off hopefuls, as well as current leaders Leeds United.
Are Rovers past their peak?
The team on their way down the table are Blackburn Rovers, who have lost three of their last four games and have not won in nearly a month. This has seen them plummet from fifth to ninth, but they are still only four points off getting back in.
At the start of February, former manager John Eustace unexpectedly left Rovers for relegation contenders Derby County, which left fans angered and confused.
It appeared as if Eustace was frustrated at club officials regarding the future of the club, but to leave the club whilst they were in a play-off spot, to go to a team fighting to stay up seemed bewildering at the time.
The two sides met at Pride Park last Saturday, with Eustace having the last laugh in a 2-1 County win. The club appointed ex-Watford and West Brom coach Valerian Ismael as their new man in the dugout, but they have yet to find the same vein of form they were in under Eustace. Ismael does not have long left this season to get it figured out and get Rovers back in the play-offs.
Blackburn have not been in the Premier League since they finished 19th in the 2011/2012 season and have not even made the play-offs since then, despite threatening on a couple of occasions.
The rest of the contenders
Rounding off the rest of the top half are Watford, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich, who are on 52, 51 and 49 points, respectively. It is a really tight table with less than ten games to go now. A couple of games could be the deciding factor in determining who occupies those last two play-off spots. It seems as if it is likely to come down to the last two, with Sunderland 13 points ahead of West Brom in fourth.
Could it come down to the final day? Could we see some late drama? The Championship tends to deliver the goods in the realm of drama. Only time will tell!
