MY ACCOUNT
The 2022-23 Championship campaign ended in thrilling fashion last Monday — but for four teams, the serious business is only just beginning.
Luton play Sunderland and Middlesbrough take on Coventry as the play-off semi-finals get under way this weekend, with the winners of the two-legged ties facing off at Wembley for a place in the Premier League on Saturday, May 27.
With several of the traditional big-hitters missing out on the top six altogether, this season’s renewal could result in one of the most surprising promotions for several years.
Here’s everything you need to know about the four competitors.
Luton
Luton upset the odds to finish third in the table and have had plenty of time to prepare for the play-offs considering that they have been assured of their place for weeks.
That comfort allowed them to rest players in their home game against Hull last Monday, with eight starters left out of the matchday squad completely, including 20-goal star Carlton Morris.
The Hatters are unbeaten in 14 games and have taken 50 points from 25 matches since Rob Edwards replaced Nathan Jones as manager last November.
Losing Jones to Southampton could have disrupted their campaign, but instead Town look in an even better place than when they lost in the play-off semi-finals 12 months ago.
Middlesbrough
Only Burnley and Sheffield United took more points than Boro between the appointment of Michael Carrick as their manager last October and the end of the season.
Carrick’s side lead the division for goals in that time period, too, scoring 65 times in 30 games as their all-out attacking style saw them fly up the table.
Championship Player of the Season Chuba Akpom has been the standout, scoring 28 league goals in the best season of his career, while Aston Villa loanee Cameron Archer’s 11 strikes have come at a rate of 0.72 per game.
If the Teessiders do win promotion this month, it should be an entertaining watch.
Coventry
Coventry’s fifth-place finish is perhaps the most remarkable story of the Championship season.
Complications with the pitch at the CBS Arena meant that the Sky Blues had only played one home league game by the end of September, when they sat bottom of the table with three points from seven matches.
It was the latest in a series of hurdles Mark Robins has had to overcome in a six-year stint as manager but they have recovered brilliantly to set up a play-off semi-final with Boro.
Top scorer Viktor Gyokeres has netted 21 goals and is the spearhead for Coventry’s trademark counter-attacks, while midfielder Gustavo Hamer is also key to their hopes.
Sunderland
Sunderland took advantage of Millwall’s failure to hold on to a 3-1 lead against Blackburn on the final day to snatch sixth spot.
The Black Cats won 3-0 at Preston, their fourth victory in a run of six matches that saw them move from mid-table into promotion contention.
Manchester United loanee Amad Diallo is their star man, scoring his 13th goal of the season at Deepdale, but an injury crisis in defence means that it would take a monumental effort to go all the way this month.
Manager Tony Mowbray is a calm figure and has adapted well as the list of absentees has grown but even he may struggle if, as seems likely, he has no recognised centre-backs to pick from.
2022-23 Championship play-off dates
Semi-final first legs
Saturday, May 13
Sunderland vs Luton
Sunday, May 14
Coventry vs Middlesbrough
Semi-final second legs
Tuesday, May 16
Luton vs Sunderland
Wednesday, May 17
Middlesbrough vs Coventry
Final
Saturday, May 27
