Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Fulham will battle it to book their place in the Premier League this season, but who will win?
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic
The EFL Championship season is nearing its conclusion and what a season it has been for England’s second tier.
Rafa Benitez guided Newcastle back to the Premier League at the first time of asking as well as pipping rivals Brighton & Hove Albion to the title on the final day, who themselves secured a return to the top-flight following a 34-year absence.
Leeds United endured a late-season slump to slip out of the play-off places, leaving Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Huddersfield Town and Fulham to fight for that third and final promotion spot.
The stakes are high and each team will believe they can win it, but who will?
Reading
Jaap Stam will be looking to return Reading to the Premier League after a four year absence but faces a tough task to make it.
The Royals have the second worst goal-difference of their play-off rivals, having conceded 64 goals compared to their 68 scored this season.
Reading’s Yann Kermorgant celebrates scoring their first goal
They suffered a humiliating 7-1 defeat to Norwich City in early April and have also suffered a 5-0 defeat to fellow promotion hopefuls Fulham.
However, Stam’s side have won four of their six fixtures against promotion opposition, and their five wins in seven April games puts them in good form going into the crucial fixtures.
Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday’s Adam Reach applauds fans after the match
Sheffield Wednesday were one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992 and will be looking to take their place back in the top-flight they have been absent from since 2000.
Carlos Carvalhal was named manager of the month for April as he, following a draw at the start of the month, won six games in a row to cement their place in the top six and put them good form for the coming play-off fixtures.
Wednesday have the best defensive record of their play-off rivals, having only conceded 43 goals this season.
However, they have an indifferent record against their play-off opponents with two wins, three losses and a draw.
Huddersfield Town
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Huddersfield Town – Sky Bet Championship
Huddersfield Town will look to end their 45-year absence from the top-flight this season, having last played in the old First Division in 1972.
David Wagner’s side had been impressive all season as they were in contention for an automatic-promotion place but have recently hit a patchy spell of form.
The Terriers won only three of eight games in April, which included a 4-1 home defeat to promotion rivals Fulham.
Their record against play-off opposition is grim reading, as they have lost five of their six games against their rivals, including a 5-0 defeat in the reverse fixture to Fulham.
Fulham
Fulham’s Sone Aluko in action with Brentford’s Yoann Barbet
Fulham enjoyed a 14 year spell in the Premier League before being relegated in 2014 under then-manager Felix Magath.
Slaviša Jokanović guided the Cottagers into the final play-off spot at the expensive of Leeds United, playing some entertaining football along the way.
They are the highest scoring side of their play-off rivals by a large margin, scoring 85 goals this season.
Fulham won four of their seven April fixtures to secure sixth place and have won four of their six games against play-off rivals.
So who will win?
Jokanović’s Fulham side will be in good heart after clinching a top-six finish at the expense of Leeds so late into the season.
The high-scoring Cottagers will have too much attacking quality for their opponents and, although a strong defensive Sheffield Wednesday will be strong contenders for that final place, they will seal their return to the Premier League.
Fulham manager Slavisa Jokanovic
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
