Sheffield United clear favourites to join Leeds and Burnley in the Premier League

Behind them, Sheffield United lead the pack of chasers and are guaranteed to take the top-seeded position for the playoffs in third. Sunderland are also guaranteed to finish in their current position of fourth. 

However, the final two places are less certain – any two from fifth-placed Bristol City down to ninth-placed Middlesborough could theoretically make the cut. 

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The Blades have endured a miserable April. Chris Wilder’s side headed into the month top of the table but, having lost four of their six games this month, they not only threw away their lead, but also any hope of an automatic promotion. 

They will head into the playoffs in the top-seeded position, which makes them favourites, but United have never won any of their play-off promotion bids from eight attempts. 

The bookmakers think The Blades will make it ninth time lucky though, and the Yorkshire-based outfit are currently 15/8 to gain promotion.

Sunderland are guaranteed fourth position and a spot in the playoffs, but the Black Cats have lost their four games in a row so will need to turn things around if they want to return to the Premier League for the first time since 2016/17. Bookmakers have priced Sunderland at 5/2 to do so.

Bristol City have seen a bit of a blip in recent results, losing their last two matches. Currently on 67 points, the Robins’ final match is against Preston, who need victory to be assured of safety, although that is a game they should be winning. 

Things looked bleak for Coventry City at the end of last year. The Sky Blues parted company with Mark Robins, the EFL’s longest-serving manager at the time, with the club in 17th position. But by the beginning of March, they had risen to fifth under the stewardship of Frank Lampard. 

They have slipped to sixth after losing their two most recent matches, but have been given odds of 6/1 to give the former Chelsea boss a dream debut season in charge. They take on Middlesbrough in the final game of the season – a match that could, potentially, determine who makes the playoffs.

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Millwall are currently in seventh position, outside the playoff spots. They play Burnley, who have already gained automatic promotion and won their last four games. They also have the worst goal difference of the teams vying for the final playoff positions, and that could prove vital. However, they have won four of their last five games. The Lions are 33/1 for promotion.

Blackburn have won their last four games and face Sheffield United in their last match. The Blades may choose to rest players ready for the playoffs as their position is guaranteed, but it’s a tough final game of the season. Rovers are currently 25/1 to prevail and make it back to the Premiership.

Finally, Middlesbrough are currently in ninth position but are only two points away from the playoff spots. They’ve only managed one win in their last five and they face fellow hopefuls Coventry in the last game of the season. 

It’s a big ask for Boro, and even if they win their final game, they have to hope for a lot of other results to go their way. But, they’ve been given odds of 12/1, which means bookmakers fancy them more than Blackburn and Millwall. 

Current promotion odds provided by Ladbrokes, correct at the time of writing: