Promotion, relegation and the playoff picture in the EFL Championship | OneFootball

Another season of football nears its end, and while drama in the Premier League is largely settled, intriguing battles brew in the Championship. Leeds United and Burnley, contenders for the title, have punched their ticket to the Top Flight- but who will be the third?

Clubs finishing 3rd through 6th qualify for Promotion Playoffs, a knockout competition that opens with two-legged semi-finals, home and away, 3 playing 6, and 4 against 5. Aggregate score determines who advances, with extra time and ultimately penalties utilized to break deadlocks.

The playoff final is a single match held at a neutral venue; London’s Wembley Stadium: “The Home of Football”- will host this year’s final Saturday, May 24.

Wembley Stadium- "The Home of Football" | Copa/GettyImages

The match is one of the most financially significant in sport, with promotion to the Premier League valued anywhere between £150-300 million.

The Contenders

Leading the playoff pack is Sheffield United, relegated from the Premier League last year and keen to return. The Blades had a last stab at one of the two top spots on Easter Monday when they traveled to Turf Moor.

But home side Burnley took the match, 2-1, buoyed by a brace from their captain, midfielder Josh Brownhill. The loss left Sheffield United 8 points adrift, albeit with enough points to lock up the top slot in the playoffs.

Sunderland, fourth on the table with 76 points, have clinched the second seed, despite stumbling through four straight defeats. The last two playoff spots remain hotly contested: Bristol City and Coventry City currently hold the edge, with 67 and 66 points respectively.

But only a miracle away perch Millwall (66), Blackburn (65) and Middlesbrough (64). The Championship’s final Saturday is shaping up to be fascinating football.

Bristol City

Leading the pack of contenders, The Robins had a stellar chance to put themselves in the-ahem- catbird seat Easter Monday, but tumbled 3-1 to Luton Town. Bristol City sought redemption the following weekend when they traveled to West Yorkshire to face league-leading Leeds United.

The result? Bristol City suffered a 4-0 shellacking; Leeds has proven near indomitable at Elland Road this season, compiling 24 wins versus 7 draws and no losses.

Bristol City’s dreams will be realized or dashed at Ashton Gate this weekend, when they host Preston North End- a team desperate to avoid relegation.

Coventry City

The Sky Blues also had a great opportunity to push clear from their competitors on Easter Monday, but stumbled 3-1 against then-last place Plymouth Argyle.

Manager Frank Lampard, a mid-season replacement who’s rejuvenated the club’s fortunes, next took his side to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town — no easy task, the Hatters desperate to avoid the double drop, relegated from the Premier League last season and in danger of falling again.

Frank Lampard and Coventry City FC searching for answers | Gareth Copley/GettyImages

Near disaster early when, in the 13th minute, Coventry’s Jay Dasilva got a red card for tripping Millenic Alli as the striker broke clear for a goal-scoring opportunity.

For nearly an hour, The Robins bravely battled a man down, managing to keep even despite a blitz of shots rattling their woodwork.

A glimmer of hope when Luton Town midfielder Liam Walsh got ejected in the 68th minute, leaving 10 v 10 on the pitch; a tense fight ensued to the bitter end, both teams desperate to win and just as desperate not to lose.

The match seemed destined for a draw when Shandon Baptiste knocked home the winning score for the Hatters in the 90th minute, breaking hearts all across Coventry City.

Their fate falls to this final weekend, when Middlesbrough visits the West Midlands, must wins for both teams.

Millwall

“No one likes us, we don't care”, chant of the Millwall supporters

Millwall FC defeat Swansea City AFC 1-0 at the Den in southeast London | Athena Pictures/GettyImages

The Lions remain in the hunt, thanks to having won 5 of their last 6, including Easter Monday’s 3-1 thumping of Norwich City and last week’s 1-0 victory over Swansea City at The Den in southeast London.

The Lions finish the season with a nightmare match against Burnley, who ride a blistering streak of 32 games without defeat and need a win for a shot to take the title from Leeds.

Blackburn

On Easter Monday, The Rovers defeated Sunderland, 1-0, their third victory in a row; the following weekend they made it four straight wins by defeating Watford, 2-1, keeping alive their quixotic playoff quest.

Blackburn finishes the season with a visit to Bramall Lane against a solid Sheffield United squad.

Middlesbrough

The Boro, with the door open to push themselves into the top 6, instead became yet another team that could not find grace Easter Monday, floundering at Sheffield Wednesday.

Following the 2-1 loss, head coach Michael Carrick claimed: "Disappointed with today, but the season is still alive.”

Not by much.

Middlesbrough bought themselves a second chance last week when they pulled all three points from the Canaries; victory in their final match at Coventry City, coupled with the right results in other venues, could propel The Boro into the final playoff spot.

The relegation zone

At the wrong end of the table, nail-biting time for the teams caught in the relegation permutations. Cardiff City, after failing to win last weekend, became the first team to drop.

Cardiff City suffers relegation- off to League 1 for next season | Athena Pictures/GettyImages

The final two clubs to be relegated have yet to be determined; sides as high as Stoke City, sitting 18th with 50 points, find themselves caught in the danger zone.

Going into the final weekend, Plymouth Argyle (46) and Hull City (48) stare into the abyss, but Luton Town (49), Preston North End (49), Derby County (49), all play in peril.