Summary

  • Ipswich promoted to Premier League after beating Huddersfield to relegate Terriers

  • Birmingham beat Norwich but are relegated after Plymouth beat Hull to stay up

  • Blackburn win at champions Leicester to ensure survival

  • Leeds to play Norwich in play-offs; Southampton to face West Brom

  1. Postpublished at 11:56 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Now to the bottom of the Championship.

    Two relegation places still to be decided... well one really barring a Huddersfield miracle.

  2. Will Maresca stay at Leicester?published at 11:55 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Leicester v Blackburn (12:30 BST)

    Media caption,

    The Football News Show: Enzo Maresca could leave Leicester City without summer support

    With all the uncertainty swirling around today, one thing is for sure: Leicester City will lift the Championship trophy to the heavens at the King Power Stadium.

    Their ascension to the Premier League has been a sight to behold at times this season, with a heady mix of slick, winning football and drama.

    And the drama wasn't contained to their late season wobble.

    The club still has a transfer embargo and profit and sustainability charge to address over the summer.

    Leicester boss Enzo Maresca addressed his frustrations in his pre-match press conference on Friday, but insisted he is still enjoying the success of the season.

    His friend and high-profile Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague told The Football News Show that Maresca's future is in the balance because of what has unfolded off the pitch.

  3. Foxes look to keep the party going; Blackburn hopingpublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Leicester v Blackburn (12:30 BST)

    Leicester City fansImage source, Getty Images

    Leicester City have been celebrating for more than a week straight now.

    They had promotion sealed when Leeds lost last Friday, then the Foxes went on to beat Preston to claim the Championship title on Monday night.

    Now they have their sights on 100 points and equalling a 104-year record if they make it 32 wins for the season today.

    Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen has spoken this week about a desire to keep the party going on the field with carefree football.

    I'm sure Blackburn are feeling the exact opposite as they try avoid relegation. They start the day three places and three points clear of the drop zone.

  4. Leeds have it all to play forpublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Leeds v Southampton (12:30 BST)

    Daniel Farke arrives at Elland RoadImage source, Getty Images

    It can go any which way for Leeds United today.

    Elland Road could be about to play host to one of the most intense promotion parties ever, or more likely, this could be an early preview of the play-off final.

    Both are big calls, I know, as there are roughly about a thousand twists and turns left in the season for those chasing promotion.

    But (and I emphasise the but), Daniel Farke's Leeds can still pip Ipswich to a top two finish if their Yorkshire rivals Huddersfield pull off one of the great Championship upsets today.

    And as far as making a call on the play-off final, well Leeds would have to be red-hot favourites to go the distance if they finish third and Southampton are undoubtedly a fierce play-off prospect.

    You want to say otherwise? Well be our guest and get in touch by using hashtag #bbcefl on X.

  5. Ipswich the hottest ticket in townpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Ipswich v Huddersfield (12:30 BST)

    Ipswich Town fanImage source, Getty Images

    George Burley was the man at the Ipswich helm the last time the Tractor Boys earned promotion to the Premier League at the turn of the century.

    He has been on BBC Radio Suffolk this week speaking about the class of '23-24.

    "I don’t think anyone could have envisaged us being the club one game away from getting back into the Premiership, but we’ve done it with teamwork and with the support of the fans in their numbers," he said.

    "Now you can’t even get a ticket for the game, everybody wants to go and watch.

    "It’s a great atmosphere in the Town, and Ipswich needs that. It is a different place when Ipswich are doing well.

    "The players will be ready, they have been ready from every Monday morning, to the games at the weekend. The players are a real strong unit, and they don’t give anything away easy. They battle back, score late goals, and have only lost 6 games this season in the league.

    "Hopefully, although I’m sure it’s going to happen, we’ll be in the Premier League next season."

  6. One shall stand, one shall fallpublished at 11:42 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Ipswich v Huddersfield (12:30 BST)

    Ipswich fans outside Portman RoadImage source, Getty Images

    This is a match that very much defines the highs and heart-break of football.

    As a famous transforming extra-terrestrial robot once said: "one shall stand, and one shall fall'.

    Ipswich draw or win, and they stamp their ticket to the Premier League.

    A look at Huddersfield's goal difference compared to those immediately above them says not even victory would save the Terriers from the drop.

    Dragging the Tractor Boys into their misery soup might be a motivator. Do the visitors have the appetite for it?

  7. Postpublished at 11:40 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Alrighty then, let's take a closer look at what's coming up from 12:30.

    Starting with the top of the table...

  8. State of play in the relegation battlepublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    All games kick off at 12:30 BST

    On Star Wars Day it's a case of May Fourth-bottom be with you for several Championship scrappers...

    Rotherham are long gone. That's one spot out of the way.

    Second-bottom Huddersfield require a footballing miracle to stand any chance of staying up, needing to win at Ipswich and for Plymouth to lose at home to Hull, with a goal difference swing of well over a dozen.

    Above them it gets seriously interesting, Birmingham start the day in the third and final relegation spot, a point behind Plymouth and with a worse goal difference. A draw would only keep Blues up if Plymouth lose by more than four to Hull.

    Sheffield Wednesday are not out of the woods yet either, their poor goal difference means if both Birmingham and Plymouth win then they would be relegated straight back to League One if they lose at Sunderland.

    Blackburn are above The Owls on goal difference and would only be sucked into the drop-zone if they lose at Leicester while Birmingham and Plymouth win and Wednesday avoid defeat.

    Still with me? Great!

    Championship bottom 10
  9. The automatic promotion racepublished at 11:34 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    All games kick off at 12:30 BST

    Sum up the race for automatic promotion they say...

    Easy. For Ipswich Town to end their 22-year Premier League absence they need a point against a Huddersfield side virtually assured of relegation.

    Sure, Leeds United are still in the race but they need the Tractor Boys to make a hot mess of things and they need to beat fourth-placed Southampton.

    Championship league table graphic focused on top sidesImage source, .
  10. Promotion, play-offs & relegation awaits...published at 11:31 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Good morning and welcome to a cliff-hanger final day of Championship action.

    An automatic promotion spot is still up for grabs, and the trap door to League One is ready to shut for clubs in the incredibly tight battle to avoid relegation.

    There is a little less than an hour until kick-off, so stick with us as we build-up to the day's drama.

  11. Postpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    While others may tumble down...

    Oliver Turton of Huddersfield Town is tussling with Lee Buchanan of Birmingham CityImage source, Getty Images
  12. Postpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 4 May 2024

    Some are looking up...

    Nathan Broadhead of Ipswich Town looks to the skyImage source, Getty Images