The Championship campaign draws to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday with numerous promotion, play-off and relegation issues still to be decided.
Promotion, relegation and play-off issues to be decided on final day
The Championship campaign draws to a dramatic conclusion on Saturday with numerous promotion, play-off and relegation issues still to be decided.
Of the 12 fixtures taking place on Saturday lunchtime, nine of them have a bearing on matters at either end of the table on what promises to be a nerve-shredding afternoon for supporters.
Hull City can secure promotion to the Premier League with victory over champions
Cardiff at the KC Stadium, but Steve Bruce's men are staggering towards the finishing line having taken just one point from their last three fixtures.
The Tigers' troubles have allowed
Watford to remain in the hunt for second place as they play host to
Leeds United, with the Hornets needing to better Hull's result if they are to claim a place back among England's elite.
At the other end of the table,
Wolves look destined to join Bristol City in League One next season, with the Molineux outfit heading to play-off bound
Brighton knowing that even a win may not be enough to prevent back-to-back relegations.
Barnsley are the other side who currently occupy an unwanted place among the Championship's bottom three, with their trip to
Huddersfield - who are still in danger of the drop themselves despite having amassed 57 points - one of the pivotal fixtures of the day.
Safety
Peterborough are out of the drop zone by virtue of their superior goal difference and have their fate in their own hands as they make the trip to
Crystal Palace, with the Eagles in danger of losing their place in the top six following a run of nine games without a victory.
Sheffield Wednesday suffered a narrow defeat to Posh at London Road last time out and welcome
Middlesbrough to Hillsborough just one point above the line marked for safety, with Owls fans sure to be keeping in touch with events at Huddersfield and Palace.
FA Cup semi-finalists
Millwall have a two-point cushion over the bottom three and know a draw against
Derby at Pride Park this weekend should be good enough, given their superior goal difference over the Tykes.
Bolton currently occupy sixth place as they prepare to welcome
Blackpool to the Reebok Stadium, but with
Nottingham Forest and
Leicester - who go head-to-head at the City Ground - within striking distance, they cannot afford to slip up.
The three fixtures where the pressure is off see
Birmingham play host to
Blackburn,
Burnley welcome
Ipswich to Turf Moor and
Charlton tackle rock-bottom
Bristol City at The Valley.
