Championship Duress List - Play-off Edition

It's playoff time, and excitement is in the air! But before we dive into this week's list, let's take a quick look at how the regular season concluded for the teams featured on last week's list.

Despite their commendable efforts in securing a 1-0 victory against Norwich City, Birmingham City faced the unfortunate fate of relegation. The results across the league did not favour them, with Plymouth Argyle, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackburn Rovers all clinching wins on the final day of the season.

Plymouth Argyle, who were also featured on the duress list, experienced scenes of jubilation as they secured their Championship survival for another season with a vital 1-0 victory over Hull City.

Finally, West Brom made no mistake in securing their playoff spot with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Preston North End. The result ensures they remain in contention for promotion to the Premier League next season.

The Championship playoffs are indeed the most thrilling phase of the season, with Premier League promotion on the line. Each of the four teams involved faces pressure, but some more than others. Let's take a closer look at what's at stake for each team and assess the duress they're under:

Leeds United v Norwich City

Leeds United

Daniel Farke's Leeds United squad seems to be facing the most pressure in their pursuit of promotion. Despite being strong contenders for second place in the Championship, they stumbled in the final weeks of the season, only managing to pick up six points from their last five games, ultimately missing out on automatic promotion.

Adding to the intrigue of the matchup is the fact that Daniel Farke previously managed Norwich from 2017 to 2021, leading them to promotion twice during his tenure. Despite his esteemed reputation among Norwich fans, they would relish the opportunity to thwart his chances of promotion with Leeds at their expense.

Leeds amassed an impressive 90 points during the season, becoming the first Championship team to reach this milestone without securing automatic promotion. They boast Cryscencio Summerville, the Championship Player of the Year, and possess the league's second-best defence. However, Elland Road's history suggests that the home side can struggle under pressure, as evidenced by their disappointing exit from the 2019 play-offs against Derby County.

With such high stakes, Leeds must navigate their way to at least the play-off final at Wembley to satisfy expectations.

Norwich City

Norwich City, on the flip side, finished the season in sixth place 17 points behind Leeds United. Despite suffering defeats in both encounters against Leeds during the regular season, Norwich full-back Jack Stacey sees a silver lining in this situation. He believes that their underdog status may alleviate some pressure, shifting the spotlight onto Leeds.

Norwich's journey to the playoffs hasn't been without its challenges. After a 1-0 loss to Millwall on December 29th left them languishing in the bottom half of the table, they embarked on an impressive run, losing just four games since then to secure a playoff spot. While their form in the final three games wasn't stellar, picking up only two points, their earlier run offers hope as they prepare to face Leeds United in the semi-final.

Additionally, with David Wagner at the helm, Norwich can feel confident. Wagner has proven himself in playoff scenarios, guiding Huddersfield to promotion in 2017.

While there may not be overwhelming pressure on Norwich to secure promotion, failure would mean a third consecutive season in the Championship. The longer they remain in the second tier, the tougher it becomes to retain talented players like Gabriel Sara, Marcelino Nunez, and Jonathan Rowe, who have excelled in the Championship. Recruiting suitable replacements for these players would pose a significant challenge, further highlighting the importance of promotion for Norwich's long-term aspirations.

Play-off semi-final 1st leg: Norwich City v Leeds United @ Carrow Road (12th May)

Play-off semi-final 2nd leg: Leeds United v Norwich City @ Elland Road (16th May)

Southampton v West Brom

Southampton

Southampton, finishing the season in 4th place with 87 points, enters the playoffs amid contrasting circumstances. It's been a somewhat disappointing campaign for the Saints, who were widely expected to challenge for a top-two finish alongside Leicester City, given their resources following relegation from the Premier League last season.

Despite an impressive 22-game unbeaten league run, Southampton found themselves in prime position for automatic promotion. However, they experienced some stumbling blocks, a crucial late defeat at Ipswich in early April dashed their hopes coupled with a heavy 5-0 loss to Leicester during a three-game losing streak further dimmed their prospects. Nevertheless, they concluded the season on a positive note with an impressive 2-1 away win against Leeds United on the final day.

Southampton's playoff experience is relatively limited, with their last campaign dating back to 2007, where they fell in the semi-finals against Derby County. Compared to West Brom, who boast 42 playoff appearances, Southampton's squad only has 21. However, recent encounters with West Brom should instill confidence, as Southampton has emerged victorious in four out of their last five meetings, including completing the double over the Baggies this season.

West Bromwich Albion

Under the guidance of Carlos Corberán, West Brom has surpassed expectations, finishing 5th in the league with 75 points from 46 games. This achievement is commendable for a squad that wasn't considered a strong contender for promotion. Corberán's previous playoff experience, having reached the final with Huddersfield in 2022 and successfully steering West Brom away from relegation in his debut season, highlights his managerial prowess. He has effectively maximized the potential of a squad that may not boast the most talent but is disciplined and knows their roles well.

With aspirations for their 11th promotion to England's top tier, West Brom's playoff history presents a mixed bag as they’ve faced defeat in their last two campaigns to Villa in 2019 and Derby in 2007. However, the Baggies possess the most playoff experience across the four teams, with a combined 42 appearances among their squad members. Overcoming historical playoff disappointments and harnessing the underdog spirit that has defined their season will be crucial for West Brom.

The clash between Corberán's West Brom and Martin's Southampton promises a showdown of contrasting styles. West Brom, under Corberán's tutelage, is likely to adopt a pragmatic approach, prioritising defensive solidity and exploiting Southampton's vulnerabilities on the counter-attack.?

Play-off semi-final 1st leg: West Brom v Southampton at The Hawthorns (12th May)

Play-off semi-final 2nd leg: Southampton v West Brom at St Mary's (17th May)