Bristol City, Coventry and Middlesbrough learn play-off chances in updated final Championship table forecast
Bristol City are aiming to achieve a play-off place finish
Bristol City return to Championship action this weekend with a challenging away clash against automatic promotion hopefuls Burnley at Turf Moor. The Robins are looking to extend their seven-game unbeaten streak in the Championship, in a run stretching all the way back to a 1-0 home loss to Swansea more than a month ago on 9th February.
Meanwhile, the Clarets are in third position and are desperate to pile the pressure on their top of the table rivals Leeds and Sheffield United, who face Swansea City and Coventry City in their respective home games. Bristol City suffered a 1-0 defeat to Burnley after Jaidon Anthony's 24th minute goal in the two team’s last encounter in November and the Cider Army are aiming to topple the Lancashire side away from home for the first time since December 2007 in a campaign which last saw them finish inside the play-off places.
Liam Manning’s side are determined to treat the Ashton Gate faithful to a first play-off adventure in 17 years, but face a tough challenge to secure their place in the play-offs with the likes of West Brom, Coventry City, Middlesbrough and Blackburn Rovers all dreaming of a trip to Wembley on the 24th May.
With that in mind, as each side prepares for a nail-biting run-in, we take a look at how the experts from OPTA sport expect the table to shape up at the end of the 46-game campaign.
The promotion battle
OPTA Sport expects Leeds United and Sheffield United to both secure automatic promotion to the Premier League ahead of nearest rivals Burnley. The Whites dropped points in a 2-2 draw with QPR but are still in the driving seat with 80 points from 38 games. They are level on points with Chris Wilder’s Blades but have a vastly superior goal difference heading into the final furlong.
Leeds are expected to finish the campaign with 97 points and have been given a 60% chance of winning the title and a 89% chance of promotion. Meanwhile, the Blades are expected to finish second with 95 points, three clear of nearest challengers Burnley.
Can Bristol City secure a top six finish?
Burnley, Sunderland and Coventry City are all expected to secure a play-off place finish this season. West Brom, who are currently in sixth, are forecast to finish narrowly above Bristol City with 70 points compared to the Cider Army’s 68.
The pair go head to head with each other on Tuesday 8th April at Ashton Gate in a blockbuster clash which could have a profound impact on the promotion picture come the end of the season.
Full OPTA predicted table
- Leeds United - 97
- Sheff Utd - 95
- Burnley - 93
- Sunderland - 82
- Coventry - 71
- West Brom - 70
- Bristol City - 68
- Middlesbrough - 65
- Sheff Wed - 63
- Blackburn - 62
- Watford - 62
- Millwall - 61
- Norwich - 60
- Preston - 59
- QPR - 55
- Swansea - 54
- Hull - 52
- Portsmouth - 52
- Oxford - 50
- Stoke - 48
- Cardiff - 48
- Derby - 47
- Luton - 44
- Plymouth - 40