The Championship Promotion Race (06/05/2007)

In what was one of the most exciting promotion races for years in England’s second tier, the three teams that came down from the Premiership last season could return there for the 2007/2008 season.

Just over 1 week ago, Sunderland, Birmingham and Derby were all contenders for automatic promotion, while teams from 4th to 10th could still make the play offs. Birmingham aided their bid to become champions by narrowly beating play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday, with goals from substitute Cameron Jerome and a late goal from Sebastian Larsson – and all of this was with 10 men after Fabrice Muamba was sent off for a bad challenge on Glenn Whelan. Wednesday were unfortunate but failed to make their chances pay, and the 2-0 defeat to the Blues meant that it was impossible for the Owls to make the play offs.

Wednesday could have been in with a chance, but wins from teams such as Stoke and Wolves meant that the 4 point gap was too big. Surprise package Colchester United were defeated at Stoke and although they could make the play offs, it was still highly unlikely.

Sunday May the 6th was the day of reckoning for the Championship. With several teams still in contention for the play offs, the chances were that the 4 teams that currently occupied the places (Derby, West Brom, Wolves and Southampton) would keep them. Derby had suffered defeat to Crystal Palace last Sunday, so it was impossible for them to go up automatically, but they were guaranteed a play-off spot ahead of their game with bottom of the table and already relegated Leeds United.

But Derby still played at the top of their game, and beat the former Champions League semi-finalists Leeds by 2 goals to 0. Behind them, West Brom had a brilliant game as a Kevin Phillips hat trick gave the Baggies a huge 7-0 win over South Yorkshire side Barnsley. Another high scoring game took place as Wolves beat Leicester City – they came from 1-0 down to win 4-1. The final play off place was undecided until towards the end of the games. Preston were contenders, as a Simon Whaley goal 5 minutes from time handed them 3 points and a 1-0 victory over title-chasing Birmingham. Stoke City threw away their chances of a play off spot after they were held 1-1 by QPR. So, with these results, if Southampton won then they would stay in 6th. Despite Southend taking a shock 1-0 lead, braces from Leon Best and Kenwyne Jones gave the Saints a 4-1 win.

Sheffield Wednesday entertained Norwich and a shocking own goal from Dickson Etuhu, who backpassed to Tony Warner who then missed the ball, handed Wednesday a 3-2 win over the Norfolk side. The match at Deepdale (Preston 1 Birmingham 0) proved vital for Sunderland, who eased to a 5-0 victory over relegated Luton Town. Sunderland were second going into the final game and needed Birmingham to slip up if they were going to win the league. Fortunately for them, Steve Bruce’s side lost, and Sunderland claimed the title emphatically. A brace from Murphy send Sunderland on their way to a 5-0 thrashing.

If West Brom win the play offs, then all 3 of the teams that were relegated last season could bounce back up again.