In what’s becoming an annual Championship tradition, there was an incredible scrap between plenty of huge teams for the three Premier League promotion spots.
The automatic promotion spots were settled well before the playoff places, sealed by Leeds United and Burnley.
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Sheffield United was comfortably third and once-mighty Sunderland’s nailed down fourth place, but the certainty ended there and the final day went deep into second halves at multiple locations before Frank Lampard’s Coventry City and Liam Manning’s Bristol City were confirmed as semifinalists.
The four teams will now compete over two semifinal legs each to reach the “richest game in sports” in the final at Wembley, with the winner grabbing the third and final promotion spot to the Premier League.
MORE — Championship playoff schedule, details
Below is the latest update on the Premier League promotion situation, with focus on the automatic and playoff hunts.
Premier League promotion focus 2024-25 season — Contenders for automatic spots
1st: Leeds United — 94 points, +60 goal difference — PROMOTED
Last season in Premier League: 2022-23
Daniel Farke’s side were the team to miss out on promotion last season after being in the top four basically all season long. And it might happen again after a big late-season wobble. With USMNT attacker Brenden Aaronson, plus Manor Solomon, Joel Piroe and Dan James a brilliant front four in the second-tier, Leeds deserve praise for sticking with Farke after losing in the playoff final last season. That continuity has led to a very solid, impressive season so far. After a wobble, Leeds are back in the big time and have the advantage in the race to win the division outright thanks to goal differential.
2nd: Burnley — 94 points, +46 goal difference — PROMOTED
Last season in Premier League: 2023-24
Scott Parker has built a defensive juggernaut as the Clarets have conceded just 14 goals (yes, 14) in their 43 games so far this season. Parker is excellent at organizing a team defensively and the Clarets are looking good for an immediate return to the Premier League. After losing manager Vincent Kompany to Bayern Munich in the summer, Burnley have responded well and goalkeeper James Trafford is having a fine season. The Clarets are up, and will now hope that the final two matches can find them in first place.
3rd: Sheffield United — 90 points, +27 goal difference — PLAYOFFS
*deducted two points due to defaulting on payments to other clubs during 2022-23 season
Last season in Premier League: 2023-24
Chris Wilder has done an excellent job turning things around at Sheffield United, as that process started last season as they were clearly relegated from the Premier League some time before the end of the season. The Blades have a clear playing style and identity under Wilder with Gustavo Hamer and Callum O’Hare full of energy breaking from midfield and Rhian Brewster and Kieffer Moore both full of experience in attack. They spent big in January to add some key attackers but they suffered three defeats in a row at the worst time of the season to drop from top spot to third. The playoffs beckon.
4th: Sunderland — 76 points, +14 goal difference — PLAYOFFS
Last season in Premier League: 2016-17
The Black Cats were the surprise-package in the hunt for automatic promotion and Bellingham is leading the charge. Jobe Bellingham, Jude’s younger brother, that is. The young midfielder has been a revelation and Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris was relatively unknown when he arrived from Lorient in the summer. He’s not now as he’s guided the Black Cats to the playoffs. Sunderland are quick on the counter with loan signing Wilson Isidor a real find up top. Another loan signing in Chris Mepham has added experience to a very young side and nobody expected Sunderland to be up here. They have had plenty of time to prep for the playoffs and are ready and dangerous.
5th: Coventry City — 69 points, +6 goal difference — PLAYOFFS
Last season in Premier League: 2000-01
Frank Lampard has done a magnificent job since taking over midseason at Coventry as the Sky Blues were one of the teams expected to be in the playoffs this season. After a poor start under Mark Robins they’ve now charged up the table and if they qualify for the playoffs, you will not want to play against them. They have a great knack of grinding out wins late on and Coventry are on the rise with the feel-good factor palpable under Lamps
6th: Bristol City — 67 points, +4 goal difference — PLAYOFFS
Last season in Premier League: Never (last in England’s top-flight in 1979-80)
Liam Manning is a fine young coach and the Robins have a brilliant home record, as they’ve only lost three times all season at Ashton Gate and two of those were narrow defeats to Burnley and Sunderland. Anis Mehmeti and Scott Twine are two forwards to keep a close eye on. Bristol City are probably the biggest club in England who have yet to be in the Premier League and they’re made the playoffs despite finishing with just a point from their final three fixtures.
Better luck next year
7th: Blackburn Rovers — 66 points, +5 goal difference
Last season in Premier League: 2011-12
Rovers have had a rollercoaster season and are finishing strong with Valerien Ismael’s side winning four-straight. They have a slim chance of reaching the playoffs but at the very least Blackburn will have plenty of positive momentum to take into the summer and next season.
8th: Millwall — 66 points, -2 goal difference
Last season in Premier League: Never (last in England’s top flight in 1989-90)
What a job Alex Neil has done to turn yet another midtable Championship side into playoff hopefuls and although they’re in the hunt, they probably left it just a little too late. Still, there’s a chance with one game to go!
Rest of the table
9. West Bromwich Albion — 64 (points)
10. Middlesbrough — 64
11. Swansea City — 61
12. Sheffield Wednesday — 58
13. Norwich City — 57
14. Watford — 57
15. Queens Park Rangers — 56
16. Portsmouth — 54
17. Oxford United — 53
18. Stoke City — 51
19. Derby County — 50
20. Preston North End — 50
21. Hull City — 49
22. Luton Town — 49
23. Plymouth Argyle — 46
24. Cardiff City — 44
