First decisions made in English Championship

The Easter weekend proved to be a decisive one in the Championship, particularly at the top of the table. With just a few games left to play, the promotion race reached a crucial stage. In this article, we take a closer look at how the weekend's results impacted the standings.

Promotion is Settled

Heading into the Easter weekend, Leeds United and Burnley were both five points clear of Sheffield United, with four games remaining. All three sides won their Good Friday fixtures, keeping the pressure high. Monday’s matches were set to be decisive — especially with Burnley hosting Sheffield United. Leeds United made their intentions clear with a dominant 6-0 win over Stoke City in the 3pm kick-off.

Later that day, Burnley and Sheffield United faced off in a match that could determine the fate of the promotion race. Josh Brownhill starred for Burnley with two goals in the first half, while Tom Cannon pulled one back for Sheffield. But it wasn’t enough — Burnley held on for the win, joining Leeds United at the top with 94 points.

With just two matches left and an eight-point gap to third-placed Sheffield United (86 points), both Leeds United and Burnley have secured promotion back to the Premier League.

Title Race Heats Up

Now that promotion is sealed, Leeds United and Burnley are set to battle it out for the Championship title. Both teams are level on 94 points, but Leeds holds a significant advantage in goal difference — +14 better than Burnley. This makes it unlikely Burnley will catch up on goal difference alone.

To win the title, Burnley must earn more points than Leeds over the final two games. If Leeds drop points against either Bristol City or Plymouth Argyle, Burnley could still snatch the title. However, if Leeds win both matches, they’ll be crowned 2024–2025 Championship champions.

Championship Play-Offs

Sheffield United’s title hopes have vanished after a poor run of form dropping 12 points in their last five matches. Once the league leaders, they are now the first team to secure a play-off spot. Their focus will now shift to finishing the regular season strongly and entering the play-offs with momentum.

Sunderland have also clinched a play-off berth. Bristol City and Coventry City currently hold the remaining two spots, but competition remains fierce. Middlesbrough, Millwall, and Blackburn Rovers are all still mathematically in contention.

Bristol City face a tough challenge against Leeds United but can still secure their place with a win at home against 18th-placed Preston North End. The final play-off spot, however, is shaping up to be the most dramatic. Coventry City are three points ahead of Middlesbrough — and the two sides meet on the final day of the season. Should Middlesbrough beat Norwich City in round 45, the clash with Coventry could become a winner-takes-all battle for that final play-off place.