Championship relegation battle: Final eight fixtures compared for Derby County, Luton Town and more, Stoke not safe yet
Championship relegation battle: Final eight fixtures compared for Derby County, Luton Town and more, Stoke not safe yet
There’s still so much to play for at both ends of the table as we head into the business end of the campaign, and here’s a better look at the bigger picture in the Championship relegation battle.
We’ve seen a number of teams get sucked into the fight for survival this season, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most tense finishes to a campaign in years in the Championship.
While the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield United, and Burnley scrap for the title in the final run-in at the top of the league, and a handful of play-off contenders try to squeeze into what is essentially two remaining spots, the relegation issue could be the most enthralling of them all.
As many as eight teams could realistically count themselves as being involved in the Championship relegation battle at this moment in time, and some are hitting form at the perfect moment.
Final eight games for the bottom three: Plymouth Argyle, Luton Town, and Derby County
Right now, our bottom three in the second tier consists of Plymouth Argyle at the foot of the table with 33 points, Luton Town above them with 35, and a resurgent Derby County team in 22nd place with 38 points.
Plymouth fans are resigned to relegation already, and they think the decision to appoint Wayne Rooney at the start of the campaign is to blame for their plight.
Some Championship fans had backed Luton to get out of trouble, and there are some small signs that Matt Bloomfield has finally got the Hatters pulling in the right direction.
| Game | Derby County | Luton Town | Plymouth Argyle |
| 39 | Preston (H) – 02/04/25 | Hull (A) – 29/03/25 | Watford (A) – 29/03/25 |
| 40 | Swansea (A) – 05/04/25 | Leeds (H) – 05/04/25 | Norwich (H) – 05/04/25 |
| 41 | Burnley (H) – 08/04/25 | Stoke (A) – 08/04/25 | Swansea (A) – 09/04/25 |
| 42 | Portsmouth (A) – 12/04/25 | Blackburn (H) – 12/04/25 | Sheffield United (H) – 12/04/25 |
| 43 | Luton (H) – 18/04/25 | Derby (A) – 18/04/25 | Middlesbrough (A) – 18/04/25 |
| 44 | West Brom (A) – 21/04/25 | Bristol City (H) – 21/04/25 | Coventry (H) – 21/04/25 |
| 45 | Hull (A) – 26/04/25 | Coventry (H) – 26/04/25 | Preston (A) – 26/04/25 |
| 46 | Stoke (H) – 03/05/25 | West Brom (A) – 03/05/25 | Leeds (H) – 03/05/25 |
It’s Derby, though, who are the team to watch right now. They’ve won their last three under Eustace, who has been praised for bringing about change at just the right time for the Rams.
Looking at the run-in for each of these teams, Derby will be keen to make the most of the next two games against Preston and Swansea, before tricky ties against a relentless Burnley side, and Portsmouth, who are strong at home.
Derby also get the chance to escape in six-pointers against Luton, Stoke, and Hull before the season is over. Given their current momentum, you wouldn’t bet against them right now.
Luton’s run does not look too pretty, with games against play-off hopefuls West Brom, Bristol City, and Coventry all to come, plus league leaders Leeds United. That clash with Derby on April 18th looks absolutely massive.
As for Plymouth, there’s an argument to be made that their run-in is actually the kindest. Fixtures against Watford, Norwich, Swansea, Middlesbrough, and Preston are all winnable, with all five of those teams being inconsistent all season.
It might not be enough to save Plymouth, but results there would make this Championship relegation battle very interesting indeed.
Cardiff City, Stoke, and Hull are not safe yet
Things are getting really nervy down there, and the likes of Cardiff City, Stoke City, and Hull City are all looking over their shoulders now.
It’s not looking good for Cardiff, who seem to be taking one step forward and two back from game to game.
Mark Robins has seen his side make some progress, but there are still plenty of undesirable traits to their play, and all it would take is one bad gameweek to plunge them into the drop zone.
Hull are slightly better off and can at least sleep easy knowing that one result isn’t going to drag them down just yet. Ultimately, the signing of Joe Gelhardt could be key for Hull, as they at least have some kind of goal threat now.
| Game | Cardiff | Stoke | Hull |
| 39 | Sheffield Wednesday (H) – 29/03/25 | QPR (H) – 29/03/25 | Luton (H) – 29/03/25 |
| 40 | QPR (A) – 05/04/25 | Preston (A) – 05/04/25 | Sheffield Wednesday (A) – 05/04/25 |
| 41 | Preston (A) – 08/04/25 | Luton (H) – 08/04/25 | Watford (A) – 08/04/25 |
| 42 | Stoke (H) – 12/04/25 | Cardiff (A) – 12/04/25 | Coventry (H) – 14/04/25 |
| 43 | Sheffield United (A) – 18/04/25 | Sheffield Wednesday (H) – 18/04/25 | Swansea (A) – 18/04/25 |
| 44 | Oxford (H) – 21/04/25 | Leeds (A) – 21/04/25 | Preston (H) – 21/04/25 |
| 45 | West Brom (H) – 26/04/25 | Sheffield United (H) – 26/04/25 | Derby (H) – 26/04/25 |
| 46 | Norwich (A) – 03/05/25 | Derby (A) – 03/05/25 | Portsmouth (A) – 03/05/25 |
Looking ahead, Cardiff will fear the two Sheffield sides, who have a lot to play for, while West Brom will also be a tough test. However, the likes of Norwich, Preston, and QPR could be on holiday mode when they face the Bluebirds.
Of course, that clash with Stoke on April 12th will be crucial to the final shape of the Championship table come May. Speaking of, Stoke have not got it easy at all.
The Potters have to play the top two teams in the league still, and have three relegation six-pointers, against Cardiff, Luton, and Derby to come. That could be a good thing, in that their fate is in their hands, but defeat in any of those matches would be disastrous.
Hull, meanwhile, not only have a bit of a cushion in terms of points, but their run-in looks reasonably calm. Watford, Swansea, Preston, and Portsmouth should cause them little trouble, while home games against both Luton and Derby will be pivotal to securing safety.
If you ask us, we’d pin Plymouth, Luton, and Cardiff for the drop. Derby are on their way out of danger, Hull should be able to get clear sooner rather than later, and Stoke should have enough about them.
Although, if any other team is going to fall foul of the Championship relegation battle, it’s the Potters, with perhaps the most perilous of run-ins of the lot and lots of potential to slip-up.
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