Mirror Football's Championship predicts, title winners, play-off spots and relegation on final day

The gulf between the and the Championship may be getting more significant year on year, but the second tier is unmatched when it comes to drama. Don't believe us? Take a look at the state of play ahead of this weekend's season finale.

With just one game left almost half the division still have something to play. The title has yet to be decided, although will require a flurry of goals at both Turf Moor and Home Park where Plymouth Argyle - who are relegated in all but name - host Leeds.

The further south you go, the more unpredictable it gets. Five into two just won't go which means three of Bristol City, Coventry City, Millwall, Blackburn Rovers and Middlesbrough face the most bitter of disappointments. To add to the jeopardy, Coventry and Boro play each other in the race to nab a play-off place. Tasty.

Then the relegation scrap. Who will join and Plymouth in League One next season? Five teams are scrapping it out to finish about that dreaded dotted line with needing to get something from their game at Portsmouth to keep their survival hopes alive.

Dust off your headphones and get ready to refresh the life out of your X feed because the final weekend of the season is upon us - and here's how the team see it going...

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Dan Marsh

I just can't see Leeds slipping up against Plymouth, so we'll box that one off straight away. They and Burnley have been by far and away the best teams this season and it will be intriguing to see how they cope in the next season.

In terms of who joins them, I genuinely reckon the play-off chase has another twist or two. Yes, I'm incredibly biased, but I also genuinely think Millwall have nothing to fear against Burnley. They were the last team to beat them in the league back in November and Alex Neil is tactically shrewd enough to replicate that in the Clarets' own backyard. Let's not forget, Burnley will be without their first-choice forward, Zian Flemming, due to the fact he's technically on loan from Millwall until the summer.

Elsewhere, I'm seeing chaos. Coventry and Middlesbrough will slug it out and I can see that ending the way most must-win big games do: all square. That will potentially open the door for Blackburn, who are away at a Sheffield United side with nothing on the line. But I'm backing Bristol City to get over the line vs Preston North End to lock down fifth place.

At the bottom, I'd love to tell you I see even more drama. But I'm not expecting any Eastenders-esque plot twists to save Hull, who travel to a Portsmouth team who are seriously good at home. That will save PNE, who have sleepwalked their way into a proper dogfight, and the rest of the division's strugglers.

Champions: Leeds

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Millwall

Relegated: Hull City

James Whaling

I fully expect Leeds and Burnley to win their final games of the season (sorry, Millwall) and for Whites fans in the away end, home end and countless pubs on the south coast to have a title party.

The play-off picture is more uncertain. Bristol City currently occupy fifth spot and have a favourable looking home game against a woefully out of form Preston, so I expect them to get in. Coventry vs Middlesbrough will have the biggest say. Boro have just one win in their last five and I think a big home atmosphere might be enough to drag the Sky Blues over the line. But if they drop points, Blackburn are waiting and travel to a Sheffield United side assured of their third-placed position and who will almost certainly rotate their side.

At the bottom, get your radios ready. This has the potential to change as the day goes on. Luton have won three straight to drag themselves out of the bottom three and head to a side with nothing to play for. I fancy the Hatters to make it four in a row and complete a great-ish escape.

Hull travel to Portsmouth, who have a fantastic home record, and I just can't see them winning. But a point may be enough for the Tigers if Preston lose by a couple at Ashton Gate. It would also mean Derby and Stoke can play out a 0-0 in the knowledge both sides will stay up.

Champions: Leeds

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Coventry

Relegated: Preston North End

Nathan Ridley

As much as I'd like to see Milwall in the play-offs, I expect Scott Parker's Burnley to finish the job with a professional performance at Turf Moor. That'll move them onto 100 points and I think they'll be crowned champions.

Plymouth do need a miracle to survive but I can see Miron Muslic's men battling until the end and upsetting Leeds. A draw or defeat would certainly make Daniel Farke's future more interesting. Derby got a huge win last weekend against Hull and I reckon that they'll both what they need to survive the drop. Luton, meanwhile, are in great form and I can't see the Hatters or Stoke being dragged in on the final day.

So sadly for Preston North End, I think it'll be them joining Plymouth in going down. Bristol City are coming off the back of two bad results but I'm predicting them to get a win when it counts at Ashton Gate, much to the despair of the Lancastrians.

The same goes for Coventry, who'll also end Blackburn and Middlesbrough's hopes of a top-six finish. Or I could be completely wrong about everything - that's the Championship for you.

Champions: Burnley

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Coventry

Relegated: Plymouth and Preston

Felix Keith

Leeds are absolutely flying, having won their last five in the Championship by an aggregate score of 14-2 and will ease past as-good-as-relegated Plymouth this weekend to deservedly secure the title.

The play-offs are a bit harder to call, with the current holders of the final two spots, Bristol City and Coventry having stumbled by losing their last two matches. But I think they will both get their acts together to get over the line, the Robins beating relegation-threatened Preston and Coventry getting one over on their favourite opponents. Frank Lampard's side have beaten Boro in the last four meetings, are unbeaten in seven against them, and got past them in the play-offs semis in 2022/23.

Relegation is the toughest to call. Hull are in the drop zone right now, but face Portsmouth, who crucially have nothing to play for. Luton have won three in a row and have West Brom, who are also rooted in mid-table, whereas Preston have lost their last four and face Bristol City. Derby play Stoke and will be buoyed by their 1-0 win away at Hull last time out. I reckon Preston could just be sucked down the plug hole - but expect lots of last-day drama.

Champions: Leeds

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Coventry

Relegated: Preston

Mark Jones

Burnley have been incredible this season but Leeds are still the team you'd pay to watch, and I don't see anything other than a win for them at effectively relegated Plymouth. That's not to say they'll fare the better of the two in the Premier League though, and it'll be interesting to see what happens to a promoted side who play as the Clarets do.

We've been here before with Bristol City, but I think they'll just do enough to edge past Preston and cling on to fifth place despite their recent wobbles. I can see a tense game between Coventry and Middlesbrough ending in a draw, but Millwall losing out at Burnley and Blackburn being beaten at Sheffield United, so Frank Lampard's Coventry, to give them their full name, just scrape sixth.

This is where the real twists could come, and I fear for Preston. Hull and Luton have away games against sides with nothing to play for, and I reckon they'll pull off the wins they need, dragging North End down after a nightmare few weeks.

Champions: Leeds

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Coventry

Relegated: Preston

Tom Victor

There are so many variables in the final weekend of the season, with so much resting on the finale even if those first two promotion spots are wrapped up. It's a shame Plymouth's goal difference leaves them all but down, taking a bit of spice away from their finale against leaders Leeds, but with the situation as it is I'm backing Daniel Farke's team to end the season on top.

Burnley won't take it easy against Millwall, though, and that's good news for the latter's play-off rivals. Bristol City and Coventry have things in their own hands, with home victories enough to seal the deal, and that's what I'm expecting from the pair despite both losing last time out.

A victory for Bristol City against Preston will leave the latter looking nervously over their shoulders, with Hull and Luton able to reel them in. The Tigers will fancy their chances away to a Portsmouth side already assured of safety, and a win there - coupled with a point or more for Luton against managerless West Brom - could leave Preston severely punished for a late-season collapse after they sat 14th at the start of April.

Champions: Leeds

Play-off spots: Bristol City and Coventry City

Relegated: Preston North End

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