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Championship permutations: Burnley gunning for title, two teams facing relegation

Sports Mole looks at the permutations at both ends of the Championship table ahead of this weekend's action, as Burnley go for the title.

The 2022-23 Championship campaign is nearing its conclusion following yet another thrilling season in the second tier, with just three matches remaining for most of the teams in the division.

There is still plenty to be decided, though, with only one automatic promotion spot sewn up and all three relegation places yet to be confirmed.

Here Sports Mole takes a look through what could be decided at both ends of the table in the next round of matches this weekend.



THIS WEEKEND'S CHAMPIONSHIP PERMUTATIONS

Burnley's Ian Maatsen celebrates promotion to the Premier League with teammates on April 7, 2023© Reuters

Already promoted: Burnley

Guaranteed at least playoffs: Sheffield United, Luton Town

Already relegated: None

WHAT COULD HAPPEN THIS WEEKEND?

  • Burnley could win the title

  • Wigan Athletic could be relegated

  • Blackpool could be relegated



  • TITLE PICTURE

    Championship table top two

    KEY FIXTURE

    Burnley vs. Queens Park Rangers (Saturday, 3pm)

    BURNLEY

    Having already missed out on the chance to be crowned champions before this weekend, Burnley's task at home to relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers this weekend is simple: win, and they will win the title.

    Victory would open up an unassailable 13-point gap at the top of the table, with Sheffield United in FA Cup semi-final action and not featuring again in the Championship until Wednesday.

    Anything less than a win for Burnley would leave them having to wait until at least Wednesday to be coronated as the winners of the Championship.



    RELEGATION BATTLE

    Championship relegation picture April 20, 2023

    KEY FIXTURES

    Wigan Athletic vs. Millwall (Saturday, 3pm)
    Birmingham City vs. Blackpool (Saturday, 3pm)

    WIGAN ATHLETIC

    Wigan's narrow victory over Stoke City in midweek staved off the threat of relegation for a few days, but they are still in dire straits and in need of the greatest of escapes.

    Victory over playoff-chasing Millwall this Saturday is the only way for them to guarantee that they will take their survival bid to another match, whereas a defeat will see their relegation confirmed with two games to spare.

    A draw will see them reliant on other results to survive for another week, but they would be relegated if they draw, Reading beat Coventry City and QPR avoid defeat to Burnley.

    BLACKPOOL

    Blackpool find themselves just one point better off than Wigan, although their situation is not quite as perilous just yet in that they could lose to Birmingham on Saturday and still not be mathematically relegated this weekend.

    However, defeat at St Andrew's would relegate Blackpool if Reading win and QPR win or draw against Burnley.

    A draw could also be enough to relegate Blackpool this weekend, although for that to be the case Reading and QPR would both need to win, and Cardiff City would need to avoid defeat against Stoke.



    CHAMPIONSHIP TABLE IN FULL

    Full Championship table April 20, 2023

    Click here for Championship form guides, home and away tables, top scorers, best defences, best attacks and more



    THIS WEEKEND'S CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE IN FULL

    Saturday, April 22

    All kickoffs 3pm unless stated otherwise

    Birmingham vs. Blackpool
    Bristol City vs. Rotherham
    Burnley vs. QPR
    Cardiff vs. Stoke
    Coventry vs. Reading
    Hull vs. Watford
    Norwich vs. Swansea
    Wigan vs. Millwall
    Preston vs. Blackburn (5.30pm)

    Sunday, April 23

    West Bromwich Albion vs. Sunderland (12pm)

    Monday, April 24

    Luton vs. Middlesbrough (8pm)

    Click here for a full list of this season's Championship results


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    Written by
    Barney Corkhill
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    Today's games header
    Tables header RHS
    TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
    1Leeds UnitedLeeds26158348192953
    2Burnley26141023192252
    3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
    4Sunderland26148439221750
    5Middlesbrough26118743321141
    6West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
    7Blackburn RoversBlackburn2511682823539
    8Watford26115103637-138
    9Bristol City2691073330337
    10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
    11Norwich CityNorwich269984337636
    12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
    13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
    14Millwall257992423130
    15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
    16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
    17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2678112941-1229
    18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
    19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
    20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
    21Cardiff CityCardiff2659122641-1524
    22Portsmouth2458113041-1123
    23Hull City2658132536-1123
    24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2649132554-2921


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