Tees

If you're wondering where your team is going to finish in the Championship this season, you no longer need to worry.

Well, kind of.

Opta's supercomputer has worked its magic to figure out the most likely final league position of every team - and the chances each has of being promoted, making the play-offs or getting relegated.

Who is most likely to win automatic promotion?

It will come as no surprise that leaders Coventry are heavy favourites for the title (69.3%) and also have the highest chance of automatic promotion (84.2%) to the Premier League.

The next most likely to go straight up, with a 30.8% chance, are Middlesbrough. Despite currently sitting seventh and six points behind Boro in second, Ipswich are expected to be the third favourites for a top two finish (18.9%) followed by Stoke (14.1%).

Even though they've each enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, Preston (10.3%), Hull (6.1%) and Millwall (8.3%) have slimmer chances of finishing in an automatic promotion spot.

Who will make the play-offs?

Image source, Rex Features

Even if Coventry don't win automatic promotion, Opta's supercomputer has given the Sky Blues a 97.9% chance of a top-six finish, suggesting it's almost guaranteed.

Each of Middlesbrough, Ipswich, Preston and Stoke are expected to finish in a minimum of a play-off position at least one in two times.

Hull might feel the hardest done by as they sit fifth currently, but are said to have less chance (32.3%) than Millwall (38.8%) and Charton (32.4%), who are below them in the table.

The most likely of the chasing pack to make a surge up the table are 12th-placed Leicester City, who have been given a 31.8% chance of finishing in the top six and are more likely than Bristol City (28.9%), Derby (22.9%) and Birmingham (19.9%).

Last season's beaten play-off finalists Sheffield United have just a 1.8% chance of recovering their season to make the play-offs again, while relegated Premier League side Southampton (12.5%) aren't likely to either... if you trust the supercomputer!

Who is going down?

Image source, Rex Features

It's probably not hard to work out who is most likely to finish bottom and be relegated to League One.

Sheffield Wednesday's 12-point deduction, which has left them 17 points adrift of safety on -4 points, means they're pretty much nailed on to finish bottom (84.8%) - and failing that, are almost certain to go down (98.2%).

Second from bottom Norwich are the next most likely candidates to fall through the trap door (58.5%) but Sheffield United, who currently occupy the final relegation spot, have just a 22.4% chance of going down and are considered more likely to stay up than Oxford (37.8%) and Portsmouth (31.3%).

Middlesbrough fan Matty Proudman says that Boro appointing Kim Hellberg as their new head coach would be "a brave, bold move" but one he is excited for.

"As football fans, we always look at what they've done previously and make your own judgements on it, so that's why it's a clever move from Steve Gibson. It's only positive from the previous, he hasn't got any negative," Proudman told BBC Radio Tees.

"With where we are as a club, second in the league, challenging for the Premier League, he's [Gibson] been really clever and astute with what he's done.

"He's [Hellberg] only 37 but he's been in football a long time. He must be the most Googled man on Teeside, there's no doubt about it."

As for what playing style Hellberg could bring to the side upon his arrival, Proudman is unsure - but it's that which has him hoping for a good outcome.

"A foreign coach - something different, different styles, different methods. A lot of these coaches, they all want to play the same type of stuff. The 'Pepball', play out from the back and absolutely kill it," Proudman added.

"You don't know what you are going to get with him. It's a total unknown and I love the fact you don't know what he's going to do."

Listen to the full reaction and more Middlesbrough content on BBC Sounds.

While Middlesbrough await the arrival of potential new head coach Kim Hellberg, interim boss Adi Viveash will look for a second successive win as they make the trip down to Oxford United on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

Despite the drama of former boss Rob Edwards' move to Wolverhampton Wanderers, Boro took victory last time out to see them within the top two.

Now they face an Oxford side lingering dangerously close to the relegation line and desperate not to concede a third straight loss.

• Oxford United have failed to win any of their last 10 league games against Middlesbrough (D2 L8), losing the last five in a row.

• Middlesbrough have won four of their last five away league games against Oxford (D1), scoring 18 goals across those five games, including a 6-2 win last season.

• Oxford manager Gary Rowett has won four of his 15 Championship meetings with Middlesbrough (D6 L5) with all four wins coming against a different manager – Garry Monk (3-0 with Derby in November 2017), Neil Warnock (1-0 with Millwall in March 2021), Leo Percovich (2-0 with Millwall in October 2022) and Michael Carrick (1-0 with Millwall in August 2023).

• Middlesbrough have won 29 points in 15 Championship games this season (W8 D5 L2), their best tally at this stage since 2015-16 when they had 30 points and later finished 2nd under Aitor Karanka.

• Only Wrexham's George Dobson (43) has made more tackles in the Championship this season than Middlesbrough's Aidan Morris (39) – he has also won the most fouls of any player in 2025-26 (39).

Image source, Getty Images

Adi Viveash says he has been "humbled" by the support he has received inside and outside the club during his spell as Middlesbrough's interim head coach.

Viveash took over team affairs when Rob Edwards was granted permission to speak to Wolverhampton Wanderers before accepting their offer to become manager.

Viveash led Boro to victory over Birmingham City at home with loud backing from the club's supporters and he will be in charge again for the trip to Oxford United on Saturday.

The Teesside club are set to appoint Swede Kim Hellberg as Edwards' replacement pending work permit clearance, but they have an experienced hand to guide them in the meantime in Viveash.

"I'm very appreciative of the support. It's very humbling," he told BBC Radio Tees.

Viveash was assistant to Mark Robins at Coventry City for seven years and before that he worked at Chelsea's academy, but it is the first time the 56-year-old has been in charge of a senior team.

And having had a season out between Coventry and his arrival at Boro in the summer with Edwards, he is appreciating the chance at the Riverside.

"I'm just somebody who's had an ability to help players and I love coaching," he said.

"I love working with players on the grass. I had 11 months out of the game so I've certainly cherished every moment of this last week because it's been really interesting and I've really enjoyed it.

"When you're out of the game, those are the times you miss - on the training ground with the players, trying to get that extra 1% out of them.

"So it's humbling, I'm working at a fantastic club for an outstanding chairman."

"It's the type of appointment Boro haven't really made before. They've had an overseas manager, they've had unproven coaches stepping up to be a head coach, but what they haven't really done before is taken a manager who is young, ambitious, making a name for himself overseas and brought him over to be a head coach in the Championship.

"While this feels like a step into the unknown, and it is to a degree, it's also a path other clubs have trod really successfully. The hope among fans is he'll come in and build on the good work Rob Edwards has done at the start of the season.

"He's coming into a club which has started really well, with a good squad in place, can he now get them to kick-on and make sure they challenge for promotion?"

BBC Radio Tees' Rob Law talks to Scott Wilson of the Northern Echo about Boro's potential new head coach Kim Hellberg.

Click here to listen to the interview and more Boro content via BBC Sounds.

"Naturally there's disappointment because of how well we're doing. We're second in the division, everything's seems to be going the right way and then you get that news, Rob leaves... how do you react to it? It's about what's next for the club.

"There's a few clubs in the league all looking for managers. Middlesbrough is a bit of a unique situation because of the way the manager has left. I am sure there's been a thorough process in terms of getting the right man for the job.

"Whoever comes in has an unbelievable opportunity in terms of the position to come in and take us to the next step.

"Whatever has happened with Rob, he's put the club and team into a great position."

Middlesbrough's new loans manager Tommy Smith and Chelmsford striker Lyle Taylor join Aaron Paul to discuss the week's EFL headlines on the BBC's 72+ podcast.

Among a host of topics they dissect the latest managerial situation at Middlesbrough, with Kim Hellberg expected to be the new man in the dugout following Rob Edwards' departure to Wolves.

Click here to listen to the full episode via BBC Sounds.