Race to the Premier League: Ipswich Town, Millwall and Middlesbrough in three-way shootout for automatic promotion on Championship final day

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The battle for automatic promotion to the Premier League will go down to the final day of the regular Championship season, with three teams still dreaming of joining runaway champions Coventry City.

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Southampton were condemned to the play-offs after being pegged back by Ipswich Town on Tuesday night, with the entertaining 2-2 draw meaning The Tractor Boys head into the final round of fixtures a point clear of Millwall in third place.

The Lions, along with Middlesbrough in fourth, were kept in contention for the final automatic Premier League promotion spot as a result of Ipswich failing to win at St Mary's - meaning it is all to play for ahead of the weekend's fixtures.

Kieran McKenna's Ipswich are in the driving seat, and know that a victory over QPR at Portman Road in front of their home supporters will secure an immediate return to the Premier League, having been relegated last season.

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For McKenna, it would seal a third promotion of his tenure, having risen from League One to end Ipswich's 22-year exile from the top flight as runners-up of the Championship back in 2024.

Town collected 96 points, but were pipped to the title by Leicester City two seasons ago. They will be hoping for the same outcome this time around.

Position	Club	Games Played	Goal difference	Points
1st	Coventry	45	+48	92
2nd	Ipswich Town	45	+30	81
3rd	Millwall	45	+13	80
4th	Middlesbrough	45	+25	79
5th	Southampton	45	+24	77
6th	Wrexham	45	+4	70

Coventry, who secured their return to the English top-flight after a 25-year absence, were crowned champions of the second division after beating Wrexham at the CBS Arena last weekend.

While Frank Lampard's side can play without pressure as they visit Watford, all eyes will be on events elsewhere as the chasing pack hope for a slip-up from Ipswich against a side with little to play for.

The final-day permutations leave no margin for error, with both Millwall and Middlesbrough clinging to outside hopes. Millwall host already-relegated Oxford United, while Boro visit Wrexham, who are in sixth position and not yet guaranteed a play-off berth.

Victory is non-negotiable for either side - but even that may not suffice.

Southampton and Ipswich played out a 2-2 draw on Tuesday

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What Ipswich need for promotion

Win against QPR
Draw against QPR AND Millwall not to beat Oxford United AND Middlesbrough not to win by 5 or more goals against Wrexham
Defeat against QPR AND Millwall not to beat Oxford United AND Middlesbrough not to win against Wrexham

What Millwall need for promotion

Win against Oxford United AND Ipswich Town not to beat QPR
Draw against Oxford United AND Ipswich to lose to QPR by 18 goals

What Middlesbrough need for promotion

Win against Wrexham AND Ipswich to lose against QPR AND Millwall not to beat Oxford United
If Ipswich draw against QPR and Millwall fail to beat Oxford United, Boro must win by 5 or more goals against Wrexham

Championship final-day fixtures

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Blackburn v Leicester
Bristol City v Stoke
Derby v Sheff Utd
Hull City v Norwich
Ipswich v QPR
Millwall v Oxford
Portsmouth v Birmingham
Preston v Southampton
Sheff Wed v West Brom
Swansea v Charlton
Watford v Coventry
Wrexham v Middlesbrough

Southampton are now out of contention for automatic promotion

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For Millwall, progress hinges not only on taking three points, but also on Ipswich being held to a draw by QPR. Middlesbrough’s path is even narrower, requiring an Ipswich defeat alongside a win of their own in Wales - given their inferior goal difference.

Speaking after watching his side rescue a draw from a losing position against Southampton, Ipswich boss McKenna told Sky Sports: "We pride ourselves on our fitness, we've had to build that mentality over the course of the season. It's been one of the biggest things.

"We were disappointed to lose the lead from 1-0, the deflection was a little bit lucky, then we made one mistake from our press, but to go 2-1 down against a team with that much momentum in their stadium, in their last home game, and turn it around and equalise, and could have had two or three goals."

It was a breathtaking save that altered the complexion of the promotion race in the dying seconds at Southampton, as Saints goalkeeper Daniel Peretz produced a decisive late intervention to deny Ipswich the chance to celebrate on the journey home.

His fingertip save from Jack Clarke deep into stoppage time preserved the stalemate, preventing a victory that would have lifted Town three points clear in the race for second, armed with a commanding 17-goal advantage.

McKenna added: "You probably can't come much closer to getting promoted than we were at the end, it was a matter of inches from the ball going in the net, but I love where we're at, and I'm looking forward to Saturday now.

"I thought it was an outstanding game, one of the best certainly in my time here, certainly in the Championship. I loved our performance, to be honest. To do that at this stage of the season here, with the form they're in, I think is a great sign of where we're at as a group."

Three teams will vie to join Frank Lampard's Coventry in gaining automatic promotion

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Southampton's failure to hold on to victory means they can no longer finish second, but precisely who they will play in the play-off semi-final will be determined on Saturday afternoon, depending on their result against Preston North End at Deepdale.

Ryan Manning's deflected free-kick cancelled out Wes Burns' second half opener for the visitors on the south coast, before Cyle Larin slalomed his way through to give the home side the advantage. But Jack Clarke struck an equaliser for Ipswich with three minutes remaining to ensure the points were shared.

It was a barnstorming finish at St Mary's which might have gone either way given that Saints needed a victory, but manager Tonda Eckert was proud of his team's efforts, just three days after pushing Manchester City all the way in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

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"I would have enjoyed the game if we got the three points, but if you want to make an advertisement for the Championship, I think that was the game to watch," said Eckert.

"I think that we started the second half really strong. We conceded from a situation that we should never concede, and then we showed where we are as a team, that we are able to turn games back in our direction, and we just kept pushing and pushing."

Eckert added: "Compliments to Ipswich. I think it was two teams finishing on a high coming from a very tough schedule now. Obviously, we would have loved to have won, but I think overall it was a very good game of football.

"It's crunch time now, and that's not just for us, it's the same for Ipswich, but you have just seen the dedication, and we tried absolutely everything to win the game of football. We have clarity now, and we need to get ready for the play-offs."

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