The race for automatic promotion in the Championship is going down to the wire with Ipswich Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough all hoping to secure Premier League football for next season.
Jack Clarke's late equaliser for Ipswich against Southampton at St Mary's abruptly ended the Saints' automatic promotion hopes and kept the Tractor Boys in the driving seat for a top two finish.
Millwall were left to rue a 1-1 draw against relegated Leicester City last Friday which leaves them third, one point behind Kieran McKenna's side, while Middlesbrough recorded back-to-back successes over Sheffield Wednesday and Watford to keep themselves in the frame heading into the final day of the season.
We take a look at all of the Championship promotion permutations ahead of a potentially exhilarating end to the campaign.
Championship table
Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goal Difference | Points | |
2 - Ipswich | 45 | 22 | 15 | 8 | 30 | 81 |
3 - Millwall | 45 | 23 | 11 | 11 | 13 | 80 |
4 - Middlesbrough | 45 | 22 | 13 | 10 | 25 | 79 |
Championship final day fixtures
- Ipswich Town v QPR
- Millwall v Oxford United
- Wrexham v Middlesbrough
Championship automatic promotion permutations
What do Ipswich Town need to win promotion?
Victory over Southampton would have all but secured Ipswich's return to the Premier League but the Tractor Boys remain in pole position to secure second after their St Mary's stalemate.
McKenna's side know a win over QPR at Portman Road will seal automatic promotion, while even a draw at home to Julien Stephan's men might be enough providing Millwall fail to win at home to Oxford and Middlesbrough don't overhaul a five-goal deficit with victory over Wrexham.
If Ipswich lose to QPR, they're still promoted providing Millwall and Middlesbrough fail to win, with the Tractor Boys boasting a far superior goal difference to Alex Neil's Lions.
What do Millwall need to win promotion?
Due to their inferior goal difference, only a win over relegated Oxford will suffice for Millwall if they're to leapfrog Ipswich into second.
If Millwall win, they require QPR securing at least a draw against Ipswich if they're to reach the Premier League for the first time in their history.
What do Middlesbrough need to win promotion?
Like Millwall, only a win will do for Middlesbrough and they're dependent on the teams above them failing to win as well.
Kim Hellberg's team face a tough trip to play-off contenders Wrexham, who need a result of their own to secure a top six finish.
For Middlesbrough to finish second, they must beat Wrexham and hope Millwall fail to beat Oxford and Ipswich lose to QPR.
There is still a mathematical possibility Middlesbrough achieve automatic promotion if Ipswich draw to QPR, but it would require Boro to beat Wrexham by a six-goal margin.
View the latest Championship automatic promotion odds on site.
