The race for the Playoffs continues this weekend

By Jemma Tappenden
April 20 2007

Another season of thrills, spills, disappointment and expectation is about to reach a screaming conclusion, and its tighter than ever before. Who will actually make the Playoffs...and will it be good news for at least one of our Midlands clubs?

The playoffs could be interesting this year. Normally by this time of the season I would be whinging about the rip off extension to the season, any excuse to milk yet more money from honest hard working supporters. But this season has got me genuinely worked up in a whole different sense.

There is every possibility that the teams finishing from 3rd to 6th in the Championship table could all be Midlanders. Of the six or seven sides who realistically still stand a chance of making the playoffs, five are Midlands clubs. The second automatic spot looks a dead cert to be a battle fought between Blues and Derby. Blues currently occupy the spot, with a one point advantage over Derby. With only three games left to play, and a possible nine points up for grabs, both Wolves and Albion fans are now forced to accept that the second automatic spot has slipped from their grasp. Now ten points behind Blues both clubs are mathematically out of it and Preston at nine points behind will need more than a lot of praying to God to salvage this one.

Both Albion and Wolves now need to turn their attentions to those behind them. Placed 5th and 6th respectively, both clubs are on 70 points. But the inform team Stoke City are dangerously close on 68 points. Preston seem to have briefly revived themselves after having a serious doubt of the colly wobbles, but with only 71 points themselves they too will be keeping one eye open over the next three games.

The run in to the end of this one will be interesting. I gave up predicting Championship results a long time ago, but I certainly wouldn’t re-mortgage my house on this one. Sunderland I would guess have this one pretty much sewn up. They only have 2 points over Blues, but their recent form would seem to suggest that nerves are not an issue. They still face Colchester, Burnley and Luton. Blues will be searching for maximum points against Wolves, Sheffield Wednesday and Preston – all sides looking optimistically towards the playoffs. Derby meet Luton, Palace and Leeds. Luton shall be relegated if they do not win at the weekend. Preston take on Leicester, Plymouth and Blues in the last three, where as West Brom look to Burnley, Coventry and Barnsley. Wolves, currently in 6th spot face a tough test at Molineux against Blues this Sunday, and then play their final game at home to QPR before visiting Leicester City on the last day of the season.

Either way it looks like this years playoffs could be good for the Midlands, an all 4 playoff scenario would ensure at least one more Midlands side in the Premiership. I certainly won’t be hedging my bets too early, but surely its not possible for Wolves and Albion to meet for a 4th or even a 5th time this season……….Is it?