Premier League spot up for grabs on Championship final day

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West Brom are favourites with Slaven Bilic's side currently occupying second place.
West Brom are favourites with Slaven Bilic's side currently occupying second place.

Manchester - West Bromwich Albion, Brentford and Fulham all have a chance of grabbing the runners-up spot with Leeds already securing a return to the top flight.

By Reuters

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Published: Tue 21 Jul 2020, 3:16 PM

Last updated: Tue 21 Jul 2020, 5:32 PM

A place in the Premier League is up for grabs on Wednesday, with three teams in the chase for the second automatic promotion spot from the Championship on the final day of the second-tier season.
Leeds United have already secured a return to the top flight after a 16-year absence. But West Bromwich Albion, Brentford and Fulham all have a chance of grabbing the runners-up spot and the lucrative prize it brings.
The third promotion place is decided via a four-team playoff, with those slots also to be finalised by Wednesday's action.
Adding to the drama, all three relegation places have yet to be confirmed with Hull City, a Premier League club three years ago, currently bottom.
West Brom are favourites to be holding a socially distanced promotion party, with Slaven Bilic's side currently occupying second place.
The Baggies know that victory at home to 14th-placed Queens Park Rangers will guarantee them a return to the elite after a two-year absence.
But if the West Midlands side slip up, then the door is open for one of the two London clubs to sneak in on the final day.
Brentford would be back in the top flight for the first time since 1947 if they beat Barnsley at home and West Brom fail to win.
Should neither West Brom nor Brentford win then Fulham, who dropped out of the Premier League last season, would be back if they can win at Wigan Athletic.
The consolation for the two teams that miss out on Wednesday will be a second chance via the playoff.
Nottingham Forest and Cardiff City are currently fifth and sixth but must win on Wednesday to make sure of their place in the two-legged playoff semifinal, and potentially the final itself at Wembley on July 29.
Seventh-placed Swansea are lingering and still in with a slim chance of making it. A win for the Swans at Reading would only be enough if Cardiff lose at home to bottom club Hull.
Fifth-placed Forest, who are at home to Stoke, have the best goal difference but will be keen to get at least a point to make sure of their place.
Two-times European Cup winners Forest have not been in the top flight since 1999.
Seven teams still have a mathematical chance of being relegated. Barnsley and Luton are currently in the drop-zone along with Hull, while Charlton Athletic, Birmingham City, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield are still not safe.
Only three points separate 22nd-placed Luton from Huddersfield in 18th.

CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Position                      P W D L GD Pts
1 Leeds United       45 27 9 9 38 90
2 West Brom            45 22 16 7 32 82
3 Brentford              45 24 9 12 43 81
4 Fulham                 45 23 11 11 16 80
5 N. Forest              45 18 16 11 11 70
6 Cardiff City       45 18 16 11 7 70
7 Swansea City    45 17 16 12 6 67
8 Preston                 45 18 11 16 5 65
9 Millwall                45 16 17 12 3 65
10 Blackburn.      45 17 12 16 4 63
11 Bristol City      45 17 11 17 -5 62
12 Derby                 45 16 13 16 -4 61
13 Wigan Ath.     45 15 13 17 1 58
14 QPR                   45 16 9 20 -9 57
15 Reading           45 15 11 19 4 56
16 Sheffield.       45 15 11 19 -7 56
17 Stoke City.    45 15 8 22 -9 53
18 H.  Town        45 13 12 20 -15 51
19 M'brough     45 12 14 19 -14 50
20 Birmingham 45 12 14 19 -19 50
21 Charlton.        45 12 12 21 -11 48
22 Luton.              45 13 9 23 -29 48
23 Barnsley        45 11 13 21 -21 46
24 Hull City      45 12 9 24 -27 45


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