The regular English Football League season wraps up on Saturday, with significant outcomes yet to be decided across its three divisions – the Championship, League One, and League Two. Looking ahead, May brings the highly anticipated playoffs, featuring two-legged semifinals and a grand final at Wembley Stadium. This provides a crucial second opportunity for promotion to teams who didn`t manage to secure it during the initial 46-game campaign.
However, before the playoffs commence, there`s still plenty on the line. Only one of the three divisions has celebrated its champion thus far – League One`s dominant Birmingham City. Meanwhile, every tier still has playoff positions to finalize and, in some cases, teams fighting tooth and nail to avoid relegation.
Wrexham appears set for a spot in the Championship alongside the already promoted Blues. Could troubled Reading join them? They first need to ensure they finish within the top six to even contest the playoffs.
The specter of relegation also hangs heavy in the Championship, where five prominent clubs are striving to avoid dropping into League One. Cardiff City and, barring an extraordinary turnaround, Plymouth Argyle are already destined for the third tier. Among the quintet battling for survival are Luton Town, who were realistically hoping for Premier League survival just a year ago, and established top-flight names like Stoke City and Derby County.
Our focus begins, as is fitting, at the summit of the EFL pyramid.
1. Chasing the Triple Century Mark
Achieving a points tally in triple figures is considered a true benchmark of excellence in English football. Before this season, only 16 clubs had reached the 100-point mark, with 15 doing so in the 42-game EFL format and only Manchester City achieving it in the 38-game Premier League in 2017-18. Never before have there been three clubs reaching 100 points across the top four divisions in a single season, but as the final day approaches, this remains a distinct possibility.
One team has already achieved this remarkable feat. League One champions Birmingham City have surpassed the previous record for the highest points total in an English league season. With 33 wins, nine draws, and three losses, they currently stand two points ahead of Reading`s former high of 106, set when winning the Championship in 2005-06. Should they defeat already-relegated Cambridge United on the final day, they will finish the season on an incredible 111 points.
Blues manager Chris Davies previously stated that the club`s record would `never be beaten` when they reached 105 points. However, triple-figure tallies have become more frequent in recent years, with seven instances in the last 11 seasons. Nevertheless, a `Nelson` (111) would certainly set a formidable and potentially long-standing benchmark in professional English football.
Neither Leeds United nor Burnley will reach that total, but both still have a chance to end the Championship season with 100 points. If either side were to achieve this milestone and not win the league, they would be the first centurions not to secure the title. This scenario is realistically only possible for Burnley, as Leeds possess a significantly better goal difference, currently holding a 13-goal advantage. It`s no surprise given Leeds` status as the Championship`s standout team in terms of non-penalty expected goal difference.
While both teams are guaranteed Premier League football next season, winning the league title remains important, as Leeds right-back Jayden Bogle emphasized last month. “Our goal from the start of the season was silverware. We`re not stopping now. Obviously, it`s great to be promoted early, but we still have a goal in mind, and we`re going to do our best to achieve that.”
For Leeds, securing the title means beating Plymouth, who are almost certainly relegated due to their inferior goal difference compared to the teams three points above them. The task is considerably harder for Burnley, who face Millwall, one of the Championship`s in-form teams. And the Lions have everything to play for…
2. The Championship Playoff Scramble
It wouldn`t be the final day of the Championship season without a multitude of teams vying for the remaining promotion playoff spots. Sheffield United and Sunderland have long since secured their places in third and fourth. Below them, it`s a case of five teams competing for just two spots, with one of those places likely being decided at the CBS Arena.
Playoff Picture
| Team | W | D | L | For | Against | GD | Pts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Sheffield United | 28 | 7 | 10 | 62 | 35 | 27 | 89 |
| 4 | Sunderland | 21 | 13 | 11 | 58 | 43 | 15 | 76 |
| 5 | Bristol City | 17 | 16 | 12 | 57 | 53 | 4 | 67 |
| 6 | Coventry City | 19 | 9 | 17 | 62 | 58 | 4 | 66 |
| 7 | Millwall | 18 | 12 | 15 | 46 | 46 | 0 | 66 |
| 8 | Blackburn Rovers | 19 | 8 | 18 | 52 | 47 | 5 | 65 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 18 | 10 | 17 | 64 | 54 | 10 | 64 |
Remaining fixtures:
- Bristol City vs. Preston North End
- Burnley vs. Millwall
- Coventry City vs. Middlesbrough
- Sheffield United vs. Blackburn Rovers
Bristol City and Coventry City currently hold fifth and sixth place, putting their playoff fate in their own hands. However, Bristol faces a challenging final game at home against a Preston side desperate for a win to avoid relegation after a ten-season stay in the Championship. If that match promises drama, the clash in the Midlands between Coventry and Middlesbrough is equally tense – it`s essentially win or bust for Michael Carrick`s side. Frank Lampard`s Coventry are not much better off; they must assume that if they only secure a draw, they will be overtaken by at least one of Millwall or Blackburn.
Blackburn Rovers might be hoping their final game against Sheffield United serves as an early preview of a potential playoff semi-final match-up. Millwall, despite being level on points with Coventry, face a more difficult path to the top six. Earning a point at Burnley will be tough enough, but even then, they would need Middlesbrough to beat Coventry, Blackburn to lose at Bramall Lane, and Bristol City to lose by a significant five-goal margin against Preston. Millwall manager Alex Neil`s side simply needs a win.
“I think the first goal in this game is going to be really important for both teams,” said Neil. “We need to make sure that we put ourselves in a position to win the game. Our situation hasn`t changed for the last ten matches, so our mindset and approach will remain exactly the same.”
3. Five Teams Battling to Avoid 22nd Place
While it may not attract the same level of media attention as a Premier League club facing the drop, relegation from the Championship to League One can be a significant financial and sporting blow for many clubs. Five teams enter the final day with the daunting prospect of finishing in the bottom three. Hull City starts the day precariously placed just above the dreaded trapdoor. They do, however, have the advantage of knowing that at least one of the teams within reach will drop points as Derby County hosts Stoke City.
Relegation Picture
| Team | W | D | L | For | Against | GD | Pts. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | Oxford United | 13 | 13 | 19 | 46 | 62 | -16 | 52 |
| 18 | Stoke City | 12 | 14 | 19 | 45 | 62 | -17 | 50 |
| 19 | Derby County | 13 | 10 | 22 | 48 | 56 | -8 | 49 |
| 20 | Preston North End | 10 | 19 | 16 | 46 | 57 | -11 | 49 |
| 21 | Luton Town | 13 | 10 | 22 | 42 | 63 | -22 | 49 |
| 22 | Hull City | 12 | 12 | 21 | 43 | 53 | -10 | 48 |
| 23 | Plymouth Argyle | 11 | 13 | 21 | 50 | 86 | -36 | 46 |
| 24 | Cardiff City | 9 | 17 | 19 | 46 | 69 | -23 | 44 |
Remaining fixtures:
- Bristol City vs. Preston North End
- Derby County vs. Stoke City
- Portsmouth vs. Hull City
- West Bromwich Albion vs. Luton Town
A point for Hull City at Fratton Park could offer hope, especially given their superior goal difference among the teams involved. However, regardless of their result, their fate is not entirely within their control. This is because Luton Town have shown incredible resilience in their final three games, winning all of them. This remarkable run means they travel to managerless West Bromwich Albion believing a dramatic escape is possible.
Could relegation be decided at Pride Park? Stoke City would guarantee their safety with a point against Derby. A draw would also provide a valuable cushion for Derby, who could then only face relegation if all three of Luton, Preston, and Hull simultaneously win their respective matches. However, the final day of the Championship is renowned for producing unexpected results and inspiring performances from teams fighting for their survival.
4. Reading`s Crisis Demands On-Field Success
Little remains to be decided at the very top or bottom of League One. Wrexham and Birmingham City are confirmed as promoted, while the quartet of relegated teams is also set. The only remaining uncertainty involves the jostling for positioning among teams currently placed from third to fifth, and crucially, the identity of the team that secures the final playoff spot. This could be a dramatic conclusion influenced by both on-field performance and off-field issues.
Leyton Orient currently occupy sixth place and would likely secure it with a win away at Huddersfield Town. Should they fail to win, however, it would open the door for Reading. Noel Clarke`s side is on an impressive eight-game winning streak and plays host to Barnsley on the final day. Despite their exceptional recent form on the pitch, almost every discussion about the Berkshire club in recent years has centered on their ownership crisis. Chinese businessman Dai Yongge purchased the club in 2017 when they were contenders for a return to the Premier League. Since then, his tenure has brought relentless hardship to the Royals` fanbase, including a series of points deductions that culminated in their relegation to League One in 2023.
Following a court ruling in China, Yongge was disqualified from club ownership in March under the EFL’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test and was instructed to sell the club by April 4. This deadline passed without a sale, but Reading was granted additional time, all while facing the ominous threat of expulsion from the EFL. Rob Couhig is considered the likely buyer, but his negotiations with Yongge have been tumultuous, to say the least. The two parties even faced off in London`s Commercial Court last month regarding the sale. An alternative potential buyer is Robert Platek, but his firm BDT & MSD Partners has lent money to several other EFL clubs, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest.
The most recent deadline for Yongge to divest himself of the club is set for May 5th. Just two days later, the team finishing sixth in League One is scheduled to play the first leg of their playoff semi-final. These upcoming days could be truly transformative for Reading`s trajectory… or they could see the club sink further into turmoil.
5. Can Walsall Halt Their Descent?
Plenty remains at stake in League Two as well. There`s a title race to be decided, and the final two playoff spots are up for grabs. Above all, however, there is one last opportunity for Walsall to rescue a season that promised so much for so long. When Mat Sadler`s team defeated MK Dons 4-2 on January 18th, marking their ninth consecutive win, they had established a comfortable 15-point lead at the top of the table. Across England`s top four divisions at that time, no team had earned more points, no team had scored more goals, and only Leeds United and Liverpool boasted a better expected goal difference (xGD). Promotion to League One seemed almost guaranteed.
However, since then, top scorer Nathan Lowe has departed, and Walsall`s reluctance to maintain possession has been exposed. Arsene Wenger`s famous quote about confidence building slowly and disappearing quickly seems particularly apt at the Bescott Stadium. They have managed just two wins from their last 20 matches, a points-per-game tally that ranks them 84th among the 92 teams in England`s top four leagues. The 16 points they`ve accumulated in that period is the joint-worst record in League Two. Luck appears to have completely abandoned Walsall, despite underlying statistics suggesting they haven`t simply become a dreadful side overnight. Ranking the top four leagues by xGD since January 19th, they sit 21st, performing slightly better than Newcastle United.
The significant lead they built has completely evaporated. With one game remaining, they are a point behind Bradford City, who currently hold the third and final automatic promotion spot. Walsall will need a favourable result from Fleetwood Town`s match before they can even focus on securing their own necessary result. On the bright side, they are facing another team that has also experienced a significant collapse in form in 2025. Following Walsall`s win against MK Dons, their nearest rivals were Crewe Alexandra. Crewe now sit 12th in the table after a collapse of similar proportions. Perhaps, just perhaps, the final day is when luck finally swings back in Walsall`s favour.
