Cardiff continued their strong start to the season and ended September top of the table, despite suffering their first defeat of the season against Preston.

Wolves were a point behind the Bluebirds and would not leave the top two for the rest of the campaign.

Bolton looked set for a season of struggle, still sitting bottom of the table after losing all six games in September.

Sunderland had been in the top six after three games but by now Simon Grayson's side had slipped into the bottom three.

The Black Cats were to spend only two more weeks outside of the relegation zone as their form took a downward turn.

Aston Villa: 7th; Fuham: 10th

Image source, Rex Features

The Championship season began with two Friday night games, as Sunderland came from behind to draw with Derby and Nottingham Forest narrowly beat newly-promoted Millwall.

But it was Cardiff who started the season strongest and the Welsh side sat three points clear at the end of August after winning their opening five games.

Mick McCarthy's Ipswich were the surprise package, lying second, with Thomas Christiansen's Leeds United third.

After five games, on 31 August, today's finalists were:

Aston Villa: 18th; Fulham: 14th

So we've got just under three hours remaining until kick-off and the number of fans on Wembley Way continues to rise.

Over the next hour or so, we'll recap an action-packed second-tier campaign, with our review of the 2017-18 Championship season.

And, of course, the build-up to Aston Villa v Fulham continues...

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Wembley

There's a 15 foot replica of the play-off trophy outside Wembley - slightly bigger than the one John Terry or Tom Cairney will be looking to lift later today.

Image source, BBC Sport

We'd love to hear from you today. Who are you rooting for and why? How are you following the game?

You can have your say via #bbcefl on social media - as these two have already...

Paul Cunningham: As a United fan I'm not sure why I'm saying this, but I'd love to see John Terry back in the Premier League so I'm cheering on Villa today

Matt Price: Behind Fulham 100% today. Their stylish attack has won my eye and deserves a place in the top flight; after all, next season promises a campaign of top-flight attacking flair so even more reason to back the Whites over Villa's 20th century defensive style

Fulham fan Ben

Image source, Ben Jarman

"This morning the Fulhamish Podcast hired out the Old Suffolk Punch in Hammersmith for beers and breakfast before heading to Wembley.

"It's a really relaxed, but apprehensive, atmosphere ahead of our first game at Wembley in 43 years. Come on you Whites!"

Aston Villa fan Phil

Image source, Phil Maiden

"The Bromsgrove Villa Lions made it to our first stop at Uxbridge Cricket Club.

"There are lots of Villans here enjoying the sun and the mood is optimistic.

"Soon we’ll be off on the tube in the hope of a good day out."

We mentioned earlier that it's the fans that make these days special - and that's why we've recruited a couple of them to share with us their Championship play-off final experience.

As the afternoon progresses, we'll be hearing from Fulham fan Ben, who runs the Fulhamish, external Podcast, and Aston Villa supporter Phil, who works for BBC Hereford & Worcester.

Of course, any trip to Wembley makes for a proper football fan's day out - and both Ben and Phil are already well on their way...

Rob Stevens
BBC Sport at Wembley

Walking past Craven Cottage this morning, the club shop was still doing a steady trade in Wembley merchandise.

The Fulham fans are starting to filter north, with one bunch in good voice after getting on the tube at Putney Bridge. Next up, the Metropolitan line to Wembley Park.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Fans from across the West Midlands face a battle just to get to the game, because the train line that would be quickest for Villa fans to get to Wembley is blocked.

Network Rail is carrying out a major signalling project between Birmingham New Street and Coventry.

However, Chiltern Railways has added extra capacity to its London-bound route.

BBC WM Sport

The BBC WM sport team are in place, ready to bring you all the build-up from Wembley Way.

Daz Hale is live from 14:00 with support from Mark Regan, Franksy, Rob Gurney and Garry Thompson.

Phil Cartwright
BBC Sport at Wembley

This is the walk that most football fans want to make when they follow their club.

Wembley Way is pretty quiet right now, just under four hours before kick-off.

Expect that to change pretty soon.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Aston Villa manager Steve Bruce is aiming to secure a record fifth promotion from the Championship, following previous successes with Birmingham City and Hull City

But Slavisa Jokanovic's Fulham, who finished third in the regular season - missing out on automatic promotion by two points - are the slight favourites today, according to the bookies.

I would love to hear from you today. Fans make these days special. Who is going to win, and why?

Are you a Villa fan or a Fulham fan, perhaps on your way to Wembley?

Or perhaps you're following proceedings nervously from a bar in Prague because the best man didn't check the football calendar before booking the stag? If so, tell us who you're backing.

And if you support a Premier League team, which of these two sides would you rather face next season?

You can have your say via #bbcefl on social media. Please do get involved.

Yes, from 17:00 BST, Aston Villa and Fulham will battle it out in a one-off game as they bid to return to the lucrative world of the Premier League.

This match is worth an estimated £280m if the winners go on to survive one season in the top flight, or at least £160m if they don't.

Not a bad return for an afternoon's work, eh?

Image source, EFL

Good afternoon, one and all. The day has arrived. The richest game in world football is just four hours away.

Welcome to our live text coverage of the 2017-18 Championship play-off final between Aston Villa and Fulham.