Championship Play-Off Permutations

Sheffield United, Birmingham City and Reading are all guaranteed a place in this seasons Play-Offs despite chasing automatic promotion to join already promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers in next seasons Premier League race.

At present Cardiff City are the team in poor form and look the likeliest to lose there play-off place; however at least a point at Sheffield Wednesday today will keep them in the top six.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (v Doncaster Rovers) at Molineux

• Mick McCarthy's Wolverhampton Wanderers are already promoted to the Premier League as Champions, any result for the Molineux club would make no lasting difference to the play-off chase.

Birmingham City (v Reading) at Madejski Stadium

• The Blues are chasing automatic promotion but a defeat for City will confide them to a play-off place.
• See 'Promotion Permutations' for automatic promotion.
• The St Andrews Club can not finish any lower than 4th position and are guaranteed a play-off place.

Sheffield United (v Crystal Palace) at Selhurst Park

• The Blades too are chasing an automatic spot; a defeat (or draw) will mean play-offs for Kevin Blackwell's team.

• See 'Promotion Permutations' for automatic promotion.

• However they can't finish any lower than 4th position so therefore too are guaranteed a top six finish.

Reading (v Birmingham City) at Madejski Stadium

• Fourth placed Reading could also be promoted via the automatic route but are too already granted a play-off place.
• See 'Promotion Permutations' for automatic promotion.
• Like the Blues and the Blades they can't finish any lower than 4th place.

Cardiff City (v Sheffield Wednesday) at Hillsborough

• Cardiff City require just one point to secure a play-off place which weeks ago looked like they would be in the running for automatic promotion but poor results a late mean that they could win promotion via the play-offs.
• A win for the Bluebirds will secure a place in the top six.
• A draw would also be enough.
• A Wednesday win (we hope not!!!) would mean that there play-off place would hang in the balance - they would have to rely on either Burnley or Preston North End failing to win.
• City can only finish as high as their current 5th place, but as low as 7th placed.
• A seventh placed finish wouldn't put them high enough to be in the play-offs as only teams whom finish 3rd to 6th will contest the 2008/09 play-offs.
• They could win the game and finish level on points with Reading, but the Royals superior goal difference means that the Welsh side can't finish above them.

Burnley (v Bristol City) at Turf Moor

• Burnley would need to win against Bristol City to guarantee there play-off place.
• A draw against the Robins may be enough, but would only need to rely on Preston North End failing to win at home to Queens Park Rangers.
• But a draw for the Clarets and a win for Preston North End wouldn't be enough as the Lillywhites have a slightly better goal difference and would nab the last spot via this system.
• A defeat would also be enough if Preston North End either draw or lose to their opponents.
• However all three points for Preston and none for Burnley would mean that the Clarets miss out on an extra opportunity to win promotion to the Premier League.
• Burnley can finish no higher than fifth place, but no lower than seventh.
• A seventh placed finish wouldn't put them high enough to be in the play-offs as only teams whom finish 3rd to 6th will contest the 2008/09 play-offs.

Preston North End (v Queens Park Rangers) at Deepdale

• No doubt that the Deepdale club will be more than joyous to snatch the last play-off spot at the expense of their Lancashire rivals.
• However a place for both clubs in the Play-Off Final at Wemsbley Stadium (London) would result in first Lancashire derby since 2001 when Preston lost out to Bolton Wanderers 3-0 in Cardiff.
• In order for the Lillywhites to stand any chance of a play-off place they require a win.
• A win for North End would mean they rely on results elsewhere, but only would require Burnley or Cardiff City to fall at the last.
• They could go level on points with the Bluebirds should the Owls win at Hillsborough, but would somewhere need to overturn a +5 goal difference to finish above them.
• Whilst a win for Preston would put them above Burnley if they failed to claim any points at home to Bristol City.
• However Preston would still go above Burnley if they won and the Clarets drew as Preston have a slightly better goal difference.
• As there are two points separating Preston and Burnley a draw at Deepdale wouldn't be any good to Preston.
• Neither would a defeat.
• Potentially the highest Preston can finish is 5th and as low as 8th as Swansea City (who cant make the play-offs) are three points behind them with a better goal difference.
• A seventh or eighth placed finish wouldn't put them high enough to be in the play-offs as only teams whom finish 3rd to 6th will contest the 2008/09 play-offs.