Championship Playoffs Preview: Who’s going to claim that coveted final spot to the Premier League?
At last, the Championship Playoffs are back! As the dust settles on another exhilarating Championship season, the spotlight now turns to the high-stakes drama of the playoffs, where four ambitious clubs are poised to lock horns in a fierce battle for Premier League promotion. Leeds United, Norwich City, Southampton, and West Bromwich Albion find themselves on the cusp of footballing glory, each driven by the tantalizing prospect of reclaiming their rightful place among England’s elite. With none of these contenders having endured a prolonged absence from the Premier League, the hunger for redemption is palpable, especially for West Brom, whose relegation in 2020/21 marks the longest hiatus among the quartet.
Yet, beyond the allure of prestige and pride, lies a tantalizing reward – the financial windfall of over £150 million in television rights, a sum that could reshape the destiny of these clubs for years to come. In one semi-final showdown, Leeds will lock horns with Norwich, while Southampton will clash with West Brom in the other, setting the stage for a thrilling spectacle where dreams will collide and destinies will be determined. As the tension mounts and anticipation reaches fever pitch, the Championship playoffs promise to deliver an unforgettable saga of triumph, heartbreak, and the relentless pursuit of Premier League glory.
Championship Playoffs – Team Profiles:
Leeds:
Leeds, once a steady member of the Premier League, had high hopes for an immediate return following their relegation in 2023. However, a faltering end to the season, with only two wins in their last eight matches, saw them slip from top spot to third in the Championship. Despite their storied history in the top flight, including seven top-five finishes in 12 seasons, Leeds have endured their share of struggles, spending 16 years outside the Premier League and even having dipped into League One.
Now, as they brace for the playoffs, Leeds must swiftly regain their form to secure a coveted Premier League comeback. They are the first team since Sunderland in 1998 to amass 90+ points without automatic promotion, but they’d hope they have the quality to secure promotion through the Championship playoffs.
Leeds might feel apprehensive about their playoff prospects, given their track record of five previous unsuccessful attempts. However, there’s a glimmer of hope in the fact that in nearly 50 percent of Championship seasons since the rebrand in 2004, the team finishing third has clinched promotion through the playoffs, signaling a potential path to redemption for the Yorkshire club.
Key Player: Crysencio Summerville – Winger
Norwich:
Norwich City had set their sights on a top-six finish at the beginning of the season, but by November, that goal seemed distant as they endured a challenging period, suffering four consecutive defeats and plummeting to 17th place, their lowest position of the season. However, a remarkable turnaround in the second half of the campaign saw them steadily ascend into playoff contention. Despite their resurgence, a disappointing loss on the final day against Birmingham City saw Norwich slip to sixth place, concluding the 2023/24 season just on the edge of the playoff picture.
They have Championship playoff win experience, having been promoted via the playoffs in 2015. David Wagner and Norwich will be keen to follow suit and take The Canaries back to the top flight once again.
Key Player: Gabriel Sara – Midfielder
Southampton:
Southampton have been a staple of the Premier League for so long and it has been strange to see them out of the competition. A return to the top flight would be their third spell, but their first two spells lasted 13 and 11 years respectively, so they’re essentially seasoned pros by now.
Southampton had set their sights on a top-two finish, aiming to swiftly bounce back to the Premier League after their relegation just a year prior. However, while falling short of that target, securing a playoff spot likely wasn’t the greatest shock considering their season’s trajectory. Throughout the 2023/24 campaign, Southampton found themselves mostly outside the automatic promotion positions, eventually settling for fourth place as the season concluded.
Key Player: Adam Armstrong – Striker
West Brom:
West Bromwich Albion has largely held onto fifth place since October, and it’s no surprise that they concluded the season in that position. However, a late stumble with just one win in seven matches injected some tension into the closing stages of Carlos Corberan’s side’s campaign. Despite their playoff berth appearing secure for much of the season, their spot was briefly in jeopardy.
Fortunately, a crucial victory over Preston on the final day, combined with Norwich’s defeat at Birmingham, allowed West Brom to leapfrog the Canaries and secure fifth place. As mentioned earlier, West Brom boasts the longest absence from the Premier League among this quartet, having been out since 2021, which adds extra motivation for their push to return to the top flight.
The Baggies will be hoping to make it fourth time lucky after two semi-final defeats and one in the 2007 final against Derby in the Championship Playoffs.
Key Player: Grady Diangana – Winger
Norwich vs. Leeds
Championship 2023/24 meetings
- 21 Oct: Norwich 2-3 Leeds
- 24 Jan: Leeds 1-0 Norwich
In the two meetings between the pair this season, Leeds have taken all six points. They’re the clear favourites going into this clash, as they look to reclaim their Premier League spot.
West Brom vs. Southampton
Championship 2023/24 meetings
- 11 Nov: Southampton 2-1 West Brom
- 16 Feb: West Brom 0-2 Southampton
Similar to the other Championship Playoff fixture, one team has taken all the points in the fixtures this season. That team is Southampton, who did the double over West Brom. They are also the clear favorites to reach the final at Wembley in two weeks time.
Championship Playoffs – What are the odds?
Leeds are the favorite to be promoted, priced at 6/4 on bet365. Southampton are a narrow second, priced at 13/8. West Brom and Norwich are both priced at 11/2.
By Nicky Helfgott / @NickyH3lfgott on Twitter
Keep up with all the latest Championship scores and news on the 365Scores website and app!
