The Battle for Bronze: who will reach the EFL Championship playoffs?

The promotion fight is heating up...

Adam Lovegrove
26th February 2023
Image: Wikimedia Commons
With only a third of the season left to play, it’s time to look at the table and figure out which teams will make the push for promotion.

Burnley and Sheffield United are seemingly untouchable at the top spots, meaning there is only one space left for a team to make a move up to the Premier League. With the transfer window shut and the international interruptions gone by, we can look take a look at a pool of teams that look most likely to grab a spot in the playoffs.

Norwich City, who dropped from the Premier League last season, have been known to bounce back from relegation quite quickly. The Canaries haven’t spent more than one season in a league since 2019, constantly moving up and down. The team usually qualify for instant promotion and therefore lack experience with the playoffs. However, the team have shown some serious potential under new manager David Wagner, and there’s every possibility he gets the squad flying once again.

Watford, too, were relegated from the Premier League last season, and are also considered favourites to move back up to the top-flight. The Hornets have struggled recently under Slaven Bilic, partially due to a brutal injury crisis. However, with top quality talents like João Pedro and Imran Louza returning to the side, Watford can hopefully find some late form as they did in their 20/21 promotion season.

West Brom and Middlesborough both experienced similar starts to the season, with the Baggies struggling under Steve Bruce and Boro failing with Chris Wilder. However, with their respective new managers Carlos Corberán and Michael Carrick, both teams have shot up the table, with Boro sitting comfortably in the playoffs and West Brom just outside it. If both sides can carry this momentum into the playoff matches, either team could potentially claim a move up to the Premier League.

The battle is incredibly tight, and there are so many teams that could just as easily make the playoffs. Luton are on fire under Rob Edwards and will be looking for a second chance after last season; Milwall could make a push for promotion after six seasons in the Championship; newly promoted Sunderland could complete a double promotion and re-establish themselves as a top-flight side. It's one of the tightest promotion battles the Championship has seen in years, and it's anyone's guess how this battle will close out.

AUTHOR: Adam Lovegrove
BA English Literature | Head of Culture

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