Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Race for the Premier League assessed: Who is in contention?

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There is an enthralling race in progress for promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

Fulham currently lead the way, with Bournemouth behind them in second, and Huddersfield, Luton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn occupying the remaining top-six places. Up to six teams below them will still believe they can make the cut, too.

Here, we assess the runners and riders, their form and their key remaining fixtures as they bid to break free of the Championship’s clutches and reach the Premier League…

How to watch Championship live on Sky

Here is how you can watch Championship matches live across Sky Sports throughout March and April

The automatic promotion front-runners

Fulham

Position: 1st
Games played: 38
Points: 80
Sky Bet promotion odds: Currently suspended

Key fixtures: Middlesbrough (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (April 23, 3pm), Nottingham Forest (H) (April 26, 7.45pm), Luton (H) (April 30, 3pm), Sheffield United (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Queens Park Rangers and Fulham.

Bournemouth

Position: 2nd
Games played: 37
Points: 72
Sky Bet promotion odds: 1/16

Key fixtures: West Brom (A) (April 5, 8pm), Sheffield United (A) (April 9, 12.45pm), Middlesbrough (H) (April 15, 3pm), Fulham (H) (April 23, 3pm), Blackburn (A) (April 30, 3pm), Nottingham Forest (A) (May 3, 7pm), Millwall (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)

Also See:

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Bournemouth and Bristol City.

The congested play-off battle

Huddersfield

Position: 3rd
Games played: 40
Points: 66
Sky Bet promotion odds: 13/2

Key fixtures: Luton (H) (April 11, 7.45pm),QPR (H) (April 15, 5.30pm), Middlesbrough (A) (April 18, 12.30pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Hull City and Huddersfield

Luton

Position: 4th
Games played: 39
Points: 64
Sky Bet promotion odds: 8/1

Key fixtures: Huddersfield (A) (April 9, 7.45pm), Nottingham Forest (H) (April 15, 12.30pm), Fulham (A) (April 30, 3pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Luton and Millwall.

Middlesbrough

Position: 5th
Games played: 38
Points: 62
Sky Bet promotion odds: 9/4

Key fixtures: Fulham (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (April 15, 3pm), Huddersfield (H) (April 18, 12.30pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Peterborough and Middlesbrough.

Blackburn

Position: 6th
Games played: 40
Points: 62
Sky Bet promotion odds: 11/1

Key fixtures: Bournemouth (H) (April 30, 3pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers.

Nottingham Forest

Position: 7th
Games played: 37
Points: 61
Sky Bet promotion odds: 3/1

Key fixtures: Luton (A) (April 15, 12.30pm), West Brom (H) (April 18, 8pm), Fulham (A) (April 26, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (May 3, 7pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Blackpool and Nottingham Forest.

Sheffield United

Position: 8th
Games played: 39
Points: 61
Sky Bet promotion odds: 10/3

Key fixtures: QPR (H) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (H) (April 9, 12.45pm), QPR (A) (April 30, 3pm), Fulham (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Stoke City and Sheffield United.

QPR

Position: 9th
Games played: 39
Points: 59
Sky Bet promotion odds: 50/1

Key fixtures: Sheffield United (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Huddersfield (A) (April 15, 5.30pm), Sheffield United (H) (April 30, 3pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Queens Park Rangers and Fulham.

Millwall

Position: 10th
Games played: 39
Points: 58
Sky Bet promotion odds: 28/1

Key fixtures: Bournemouth (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)

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Highlights of the Sky Bet Championship game between Luton and Millwall.

The chasing pack

As we have come to expect, the list of contenders does not simply end there and, with less than 10 games to play, two more teams are a little further adrift but, by no means, out of the picture.

Coventry sit 11th on 56 points after 39 games (100/1 to be promoted), while West Brom (20/1) are a two points and a place behind having played 38 games.

Sky Bet Championship football is back after the conclusion of the final international break of the season. A gripping run-in is upon us.

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