Championship Play-Off Preview 24/25: Who Makes the Premier League?
Gab Sutton 
The Championship play-offs begin on Thursday as the four next best teams in the league compete for a place in the Premier League next season.
Leeds and Burnley have already secured passage to the top flight, leaving Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry and Bristol City to battle it out in what is recognised as the 'richest game in football - the play-off final.
Free Bets' EFL expert, Gab Sutton, has taken a closer look at each side competing over the semi-finals in the next week or so and make his predictions on how things will shape up.
Championship Play-Off Odds
Here's a look at how online betting sites are pricing up the four sides competing in the play-offs.
Sheffield United
Why they will win it
In each of the last four Championship Play-Off iterations, the 3rd-placed team has got to the final, which somewhat reduces the argument that teams who miss out on automatic promotion can suffer a psychological hangover.
Plus, in United’s case, the gap in points accumulated between themselves and their Semi-Final opponents, Bristol City, is a whopping 24: the biggest 3rd v 6th disparity there’s been in Play-Off history.
Class should show.
Why they might not
15 of United’s 28 wins this season have come by a single goal, while only one of them has come by more than two; a few of those victories were games in which the performance was sub-par, and they were bailed out by goalkeeper Michael Cooper and/or a moment of individual quality.
The more ardent Blades would argue that shows they know how to get on the right side of fine margins - perfect for this format - but there’s an equally valid riposte that two wins in seven to finish the season suggests some of that fortune was running out.
The manager
Chris Wilder - one such ardent Blade! A fan and former ball-boy, player and now manager, Wilder lives on the emotional edge of managing his boyhood club, where others might try to compartmentalize. It could be a blessing or a curse in the Play-Offs: on the one hand, he can motivate his players differently because it means so much to him, but on the other, he can create unnecessary drama by acting like the fan he is.
Best player
Gus Hamer was the one who won Championship Player of the Year, but if we’re talking about greatest importance to Sheffield United, it’s probably Michael Cooper. The 25-year-old hasn’t had a dominant centre-back ahead of him since Harry Souttar’s injury in December, and the subsequent failure to adequately replace him, so his shot-stopping has been crucial to the Blades finishing the season with 22 clean sheets – he’s had as strong a campaign as James Trafford at Burnley.
Verdict
Wilder’s passion will count as a blessing: winners.
Sunderland
Why they will win it
They’ve had the longest time to prepare of the four, by far. While their rivals have been knackering themselves out vying for top two, or to secure a Play-Off berth, Sunderland have been able to rest and rotate to keep their squad in peak physical condition.
Why they might not
That waiting time could also be a weakness. The Black Cats have lost their immediate sense of purpose for the six weeks they’ve known their season would extend in May and, after finishing their league campaign with five straight defeats, it’s not obvious how they turn it on again.
The manager
Regis Le Bris. A calm, calculated coach who establishes a nice balance to his teams. They can press intensely for spells but know when to drop into a more compact shape, they can look after the ball at times whilst being able to hit teams on the counter. With a thirst for player development, Le Bris has an admirable range of qualities – the only area that has come in for questioning has been in-game management, as conservative alterations have been known to cede territory on occasion.
Best player
Enzo Le Fée. The Frenchman has rave reviews from across Europe and, after joining on loan from Roma in January, he’s produced some sumptuous performances, especially February’s 3-2 victory at Middlesbrough. If Romaine Mundle is fit to start on the left against Coventry, Le Fée will hope to do serious damage in his favoured central role.
Verdict
This young group have made huge strides this season, but may just fall short under the arch: Finallists.
Coventry
Why they will win it
The majority of the team. Coventry boast one of the best midfields in the league in Matt Grimes, Ben Sheaf and Jack Rudoni, a forward in Haji Wright who can do real damage on his day, a top right-back in Milan van Ewijk, and an in-form defender in Bobby Thomas.
Why they might not
The remaining spots. With Oliver Dovin absent, Ben Wilson has had to be either injured or out of favour to not start ahead of out of form Brad Collins, until he came in on the final day, which calls into question his ability to star in the Play-Offs, while left-back and striker are also areas of imperfection.
The manager
Frank Lampard came into a tough situation, replacing a club legend in Mark Robins, when many disagreed with the latter’s treatment. To his credit, Lampard has done superbly to get the team into the Play-Offs, thanks to some outstanding home performances, although away form has been a problem.
Best player
A monster in the press against the ball, but a picture of finesse with it, Jack Rudoni has been the inspiration-in-chief for City’s successful top six bid. With nine goals and 12 assists to his name, the London-born midfielder has been able to hit the big numbers whilst still putting in a great shift for the team – remind you of anyone?
Verdict
This Coventry team might just need to become slightly better-rounded in order to make that next step: Semi-Finallists.
Bristol City
Why they will do it
Five defeats in 24 league games since Christmas suggests Bristol City are tough to beat, and with one of the Play-Off competition’s best centre-backs in Rob Dickie. The ex-Derby midfield contingent of Jason Knight and Max Bird bring athleticism and craft, respectively, while forward Nahki Wells knows how to finish. Plus, their status as the underdogs may mean they get underestimated on some level – always dangerous in knockout football.
Why they might not
68 points is the lowest tally a team has reached the Play-Offs with in the Championship since Leicester in 2012-13 – yes, for that Knockaert/Deeney moment at Watford! – and it reflects that they’ve been operating on a different level to others in this competition. Plus, they’ve been struck by injuries in the final game to Joe Williams and Scott Twine, while Cam Pring’s absence at left wing-back may disrupt their balance.
Head coach
Remember what we said about Wilder? Well, with Liam Manning, picture the complete opposite. The 39-year-old has emotions, like everyone, but he doesn’t really show them so much. Again, it’s a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, his style can keep everyone calm and focused, which has been the key for City this season. On the other hand, it’s hard to imagine him instead of Mel Gibson playing William Wallace in Braveheart – so assistant Chris Hogg takes on a lot of the motivational aspects.
Best player
Max Bird. When he and Jason Knight were at Derby, the latter was billed as a ‘pressing #10’ while the former was more of a deep-lying playmaker, but they’ve reversed positions at Bristol City – with Knight taking on more of the destructive work and Bird given licence to create. With eight assists for the season, the 24-year-old has a thirst for quick, slick link-up play, opening things up in tight areas.
Verdict
A first top six finish at this level since 2007-08 represents enormous progress, but they might just miss out this year.
