The race for the Premier League promotion is heating up with just five rounds of the Sky Bet Championship season remaining. Leicester, Ipswich, and Leeds are separated by only two points as we head into the final run-in. Here’s a look at the current standings, how the table has changed, upcoming fixtures, and more.
Current Standings
Leicester City is currently in the top spot with 88 points, followed closely by Ipswich Town with 87 points and Leeds United with 86 points. The top two teams will secure automatic promotion, while teams placed between third and sixth will complete in a playoff.
How the Table Has Changed
Leicester City has regained control of the title race after two straight wins, the second of which came at home to struggling Birmingham on Saturday. In recent weeks, it looked as though there was a real chance Leicester could have lost all momentum and missed out on a top two spot altogether, but they have pulled it back and now lead the way again. Ipswich Town had three straight wins, including two back-to-back over Easter weekend, which took them to the top of the Championship. However, the East Anglian derby defeat to Norwich at Carrow Road put them at risk of dropping out of the automatic promotion places altogether. Leeds United’s unbeaten run had to end at some point, but it came on Saturday against Coventry when they had the chance to move back to the top of the Championship.
Upcoming Fixtures
On Tuesday, Leicester City will travel to Millwall, while Leeds United will host Sunderland. On Wednesday, Swansea will face Stoke. All nine of the remaining Championship fixtures on Tuesday and Wednesday, including Sheffield Wednesday vs Norwich, Southampton vs Coventry and Ipswich vs Watford, will be available on the Red Button.
1st – Leicester, 88 points
Leicester City is in control of the title race again, given the fact they have another game in hand still to play later this month. They have the best goal difference in the league, having scored 74 goals and conceded only 22.
2nd – Ipswich, 87 points
Ipswich Town’s chances of finishing in the top two remain in their hands with five games left. They have scored 68 goals and conceded 31, with a goal difference of +37.
3rd – Leeds, 86 points
Leeds United will hope to get back on track and ensure that defeat against Coventry is an anomaly. They have scored 64 goals and conceded 40, with a goal difference of +24.
Who Has the Toughest Run-In?
Leeds United face the toughest schedule with their average opponent currently ranking 11.6 in the table, followed by Ipswich Town (11.8) and Leicester City (12.3).
Who Else Is in the Mix?
The race for the Premier League promotion is primarily between Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Leeds United. However, other teams such as Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich, and Coventry are still in the mix for a playoff spot.
Predicted Final Table
According to Datawrapper, Leicester City is predicted to finish in the top spot, followed by Ipswich Town and Leeds United in second and third, respectively. Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich are predicted to finish fourth and fifth, while Coventry is predicted to secure the final playoff spot in sixth place.
Overall, it is still anyone’s game with just five rounds of the Sky Bet Championship season remaining. The next few weeks promise to be exciting for football fans as the race for the Premier League promotion heats up.