da betcris： With two games left in the Championship, the race for automatic promotion could not be much tighter.
da poker： Burnley, Middlesbrough and Brighton have pulled away from the rest of the league and sit on 87 points apiece. None of the three sides have lost in their last six games and it is purely goal difference separating the three sides.
Burnley, aiming to return to the Premier League the first time of asking, are top on +33, Middlesbrough, who have been away from the Premier League since 2009, are second on +32 and Brighton, who have never played Premier League football, have a goal difference of +30.
The last two games are vital including a huge clash between two of the three sides, and so, ahead of the fixtures this weekend and next, we at Football FanCast take a look at what lies ahead for the trio, as well as predicting who should be celebrating automatic promotion, and who will be left with a play-off place come May 7th.
Birmingham City v Middlesbrough 29/04/16
Boro travel to Birmingham tonight hoping a win will put pressure on their promotion rivals.
The Blues have had a much steadier campaign this season compared to the relegation scraps of recent years and, currently sitting in 9th, have shown brighter things could be on the horizon for the St. Andrews outfit. It could be a tricky tie for Boro, who could not beat the Midlands side at home earlier in the season – it finished 0-0 at the Riverside.
Whilst Birmingham have nothing to play for now this year, they’ll want to show they can compete for the play-offs next term, and this should make for a tightly contested game.
FFC Says: 1-1
Brighton v Derby County 02/05/16
Wind back to the start of the season, and for many Derby were the team to beat in the chase for promotion.
It hasn’t quite worked out for the Rams though, who have seen Paul Clement leave the club since the beginning of the campaign, while an acceptance that the only way to get promoted now is via the play-offs has crept in. Brighton are absolutely flying – they’re in the best form of the three title chasing sides having won their last five on the bounce – and will want to make a statement against the side so many backed at the beginning of the year.
Derby know momentum is key going into the play-offs, but it may not be enough to halt the Seagulls at the Amex.
FFC Says: 2-1
Burnley v QPR 02/05/16
Table topping Burnley are the last to play in this penultimate set of Championship fixtures, kicking off a couple of hours after Brighton’s fixture.
Whatever the result of Middlesbrough’s and Brighton’s games this weekend, the Clarets know only three points will do against a QPR side that have only won once in their last six.
It’s a fixture that highlights the contrasting fortunes of two of the sides that came down from the Premier League last season, as QPR have faltered all year whilst Burnley have got nearly everything right. This should be fairly comfortable.
FFC Says: 3-0
Charlton Athletic v Burnley 07/05/16
Burnley travel to already relegated Charlton on the final day in what should be a formality.
The Addicks have imploded this season and have far bigger issues to deal with than trying to beat the Clarets next weekend, having already been relegated to League One. With protests against the clubs owners, life at The Valley is far from plain sailing right now.
In a title race that could come down to goal difference, Burnley should go for the jugular against a team that has the second worse defensive record in the division.
FFC Says: 0-4
Middlesbrough v Brighton 07/05/16
What a game this is! All eyes will be on The Riverside as the winner of this game is likely to go up.
Middlesbrough will be hoping that home advantage proves decisive, though based on the result in the reverse this season, it could be anything but. Brighton lost at home to Boro 3-0 in December and will be keen to avenge that loss on the 7th.
Middlesbrough have lost just twice at home this season, but Brighton have lost just twice away and this game could come down to who deals with the pressure best.
FFC Says: 1-2
Who’s up?
Burnley and Brighton secure Premier League promotion with the Clarets taking the Championship title on goal difference.
Middlesbrough, however, will have to settle for the play-offs. Burnley’s favourable run in is what hands them the title. With a home game against mid table QPR and a final day excursion to League One bound Charlton, the men from Turf Moor should settle for nothing less than six points against the London clubs and a vital boost to their goal difference to see them oust Brighton. Burnley should end the season with 93 points and a goal difference of +40. Brighton also finish with 93 points but have to settle for second with a goal difference of +32 and finally Middlesbrough finish the campaign five points adrift with 88 and a goal difference of +31.
Will we be correct?