A guide to the final EFL matchday of the 2024/25 season

1620 games down, 36 to go. On Saturday, these remaining EFL fixtures will conclude the Championship, League 1 and League 2 seasons, bringing to an end the thrilling promotion, relegation, and play-off qualification battles that have provided unquestionable entertainment since August. Whether you’ve been keenly following the EFL throughout the campaign, or keen to join in late in what promises to be a thrilling final day of football, this guide will provide you with everything you need to know ahead of Saturday (having the league tables to hand whilst reading is strongly advised!).

The Championship:
Game of the Day: Coventry City vs Middlesborough (12:30 pm)

Beginning with undoubtedly the most exciting league ahead of Saturday’s action, the fate of 12 Championship teams remains in the balance.

Firstly, at the top of the division, despite Leeds and Burnley claiming the two automatic promotion spots, the title is still up for grabs with both teams tied on 97 points. Due to their inferior goal difference, if Burnley are unable to better Leeds’ result against Plymouth in their home tie to Millwall, it will be the Whites who will lift the Championship trophy for the first time since 2020.
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Sheffield United (3rd) and Sunderland (4th) are both confirmed to be in the Championship play-offs, but their opponents will be discovered this weekend. Bristol City (5th), who face Preston North End, and Coventry City (6th), home to Middlesbrough, would both secure their spots if able to claim 3 points. For Middlesbrough, currently 2 points behind Coventry, a win could also be enough to sneak into the top 6. Given that the Coventry-Middlesbrough clash must see points awarded to either of their play-off rivals, Millwall (7th) travel to Burnley knowing that they must win despite currently sitting level on points with Coventry. Similarly, Blackburn in 8th will be visiting Bramall Lane knowing that they must earn 3 points as well as see other results go in their favour if their dream of returning to the top flight is to stay alive.

At the bottom of the league, an equally exciting yet complex battle will conclude. With Cardiff City mathematically relegated and Plymouth Argyle doomed by their catastrophic goals conceded column, one relegation spot must be decided. Amongst the 5 remaining relegation candidates in Hull City (48 pts), Luton Town (49 pts), Preston North End (49 pts), Derby County (49 pts) and Stoke City (50 pts), a unique situation exists. Given that one of Derby City and Stoke City must drop points in their clash at Pride Park, a win for any of the candidates would guarantee safety. Hull City, despite their inferior points tally, also know that a draw against newly-promoted Portsmouth would be sufficient if Preston or Luton lose (or Derby lose by a 3-goal margin). Luton, hoping to avoid a double-relegation after a respectable Premier League campaign in 2023/4, travel to the Hawthorns, facing a managerless West Brom side following the recent departure of Tony Mowbray. Finally, Preston, reaching an 8-game winless streak including a disastrous defeat to Plymouth, face undoubtedly the toughest task, taking on promotion hopefuls Bristol City away at Ashton Gate.

League One:
Last week, Wrexham became the first team to complete back-to-back-to-back promotions within the top 5 divisions, securing 2nd spot in League One with a comfortable 3-0 victory against Charlton. With Burton Albions’ survival also recently confirmed, the automatic spots, held by Birmingham City and Wrexham, as well as the relegation spots, held by Crawley Town, Bristol Rovers, Cambridge United and Shrewsbury Town, are already confirmed.

This means that League One has very little to offer in terms of any potential final-day drama – a welcome relief in my attempts to keep this article below 10000 words.

For any League One purists, a late play-off surge from Reading remains possible, seeking to return to the Championship following a 2-year absence. To clinch the final play-off spot (6th), the Royals must better Leyton Orients’ result away to Huddersfield in their home tie against Barnsley.

Furthermore, after a ludicrous £21 million spending spree in the summer, Birmingham City could extend their record-breaking points tally to 111 with victory on the road against Cambridge, having already surpassed Readings’ record of 106 from the 2005/6 Championship campaign.

League Two:
Game of the Day: Bradford City vs Fleetwood Town (3 pm)

Whilst the 2 teams dropping down to the National League, Morecambe and Carlisle United, have been confirmed, the top of the division is bound to involve chaos given each of the top 10 sides has something on the line.

Beginning with the two already promoted sides, Doncaster Rovers and Port Vale, who sit on 81 and 80 points respectively, will battle it out for the League 2 trophy. With Doncaster facing a tougher prospect in travelling to Notts County, Port Vale know that a home victory against Gillingham would be enough if Doncaster fail to win. Alternatively, a draw for Vale could secure their first league title for 65 years if Doncaster were to lose by a 3-goal margin.

For the teams placed 3rd to 5th – Bradford City, Walsall and Notts County – the final automatic spot (3rd) remains available. If Bradford win at home to Fleetwood, promotion back to League 1 on their 6th attempt will be guaranteed, given their superior points total of 75. Walsall, previously 12 points clear at the top of the league in January, sit on 74 points, and now must rely on Bradford dropping points to have any chance of clinching 3rd spot. Only if Walsall fail to win and Bradford are defeated will Notts County (72 points) have a chance of guaranteeing an end to their decade of 4th and 5th-tier football.

In the race for play-offs, both 6th and 7th spot remain available to the teams currently placed in 6th-10th. With AFC Wimbledon (6th) facing 8th-placed Grimsby Town, a win for either side would secure their play-off position. Elsewhere, a win for 7th-placed Salford against Carlisle would be enough, whilst 9th-placed Chesterfield and 10th-placed Colchester will have to win and hope other results go in their favour.