- Wednesday, April 24, 2024
By: Admin Super
The Championship playoffs are just around the corner and are one of the most anticipated events in the English Football League. Four teams will contest a mini-tournament to determine who will earn the final spot in next season’s Premier League. Besides top-flight status, there are substantial financial rewards up for grabs. The playoffs are always tough to predict, but who is the most likely to come out on top at Wembley this year?
Luton Town spent a decade in England’s top division between 1982 and 1992. They were relegated just before the Premier League rebrand. But this year they are one of the favourites to finally reach the Premier League by winning the playoffs. They are offered at 2/1 to achieve the final promotion place in the Paddy Power Football odds. They will face strong opposition in order to earn their Premier League debut, however. In the Championship betting odds, Middlesbrough is the outright favourite at odds of 13/8 to be promoted. Boro has a history in the Premier League as they have taken part in top-flight campaigns frequently in recent times.
The eyes of the entire footballing world will be captivated when two teams take to the pitch for the final. It is most likely that those teams will be Luton and Middlesbrough, who have recorded the most points in the regular season out of any playoff contestants.
Luton has an excellent all-round team and was unfortunate to miss out on automatic promotion this season. They have United States International Ethan Horvath on loan from Nottingham Forest. He brings incredible consistency between the sticks having recorded 19 clean sheets this season prior to the last regular season game. Carlton Morris is the true star of the team at the opposite end of the pitch. He is Luton’s top scorer this season with over 25 goals and assists combined over the Championship campaign. The former Norwich player is finally showing signs of living up to his potential. He could be a Premier League striker next season and that would be owed to his excellent performances this season.
Maybe not the best performance from him tonight, but Ethan Horvath has been KEY to where Luton Town is right now. Four points out of second place (mathematically still alive for automatic promotion) and guaranteed at least a playoff spot. #USMNT pic.twitter.com/RF8MWzjj0m
— Larry Henry Jr (@lhenry019) April 24, 2023
Middlesbrough have a lengthy history in the English top flight and next season they could add to it. The club has played 574 fixtures in the Premier League era. Mark Viduka and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink were the legends of the past for Middlesbrough. But now new stars are spearheading a potential return to the peak of English football.
Similarly to Luton, Middlesbrough also has a US international in goal seen at The18. Zach Steffen was brought in on loan from Premier League champions Manchester City. He has experience playing in huge international games for his country and even big domestic games for his parent club. His presence will surely be vital for the club in the high-pressure play-off fixtures.
Chuba Akpom is undoubtedly the leading player in the team. He was touted for greatness earlier in his career while playing for Arsenal and has since failed to live up to his potential. However, at Middlesbrough, he may have found the perfect environment in which he can excel. In his first 37 appearances this season, he managed 28 goals which means he will comfortably finish as the league’s golden boot winner. He was awarded the EFL Championship award for the Player of the Season in exchange for his efforts.
Chuba Akpom wasn’t given a squad number by Middlesbrough at the beginning of the season.
9 months later and he’s named Championship player of the season. pic.twitter.com/PeTU1c9NlF
— The Second Tier (@secondtierpod) April 24, 2023
The playoffs are of course renowned for being unpredictable. Luton and Middlesbrough have had the most impressive league seasons heading into the playoffs. But over three fixtures anything can happen. From here on out, their league records are irrelevant, their performances over the two-legged semi-final and at Wembley are all that matters. Luton or Middlesbrough are the most likely teams to secure the final Premier League place next season, but underdogs such as Coventry City cannot be counted out.
