Two EFL Championship playoff places are up for grabs on the final day of the 2021/22 season in the reliably engrossing second tier of English football.
After 45 matches, Sheffield United and Luton Town occupy the fifth and sixth in the table, with seventh-placed Middlesbrough and Millwall in eighth bidding to keep alive their chances of playing Premier League football next season.
EFL Championship final day live scores
| 1H | 2H | Final | |
| Bournemouth vs. Millwall | – | – | – |
| Luton Town vs. Reading | – | – | – |
| Preston vs. Middlesbrough | – | – | – |
| Sheffield United vs. Fulham | – | – | – |
EFL Championship live updates, highlights
One hour 15 mins before KO: All of the teams vying for the playoffs today are in reasonable – if not entirely convincing – form. Millwall have fared best in their last ten games, winning four times and losing only twice on their way to being in with a shot of making the top six on the final day of the season.
Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Luton have all accrued 15 points during that time, each winning four games and losing three. Boro and the Blades have both won their last two games as part of three-match unbeaten runs, while Millwall are unbeaten in five and Luton are winless in two.
With the automatic promotion places wrapped up, the battle to secure a place in the Sky Bet Championship play-offs will continue until the final day of the season 👀👇 pic.twitter.com/aZFDXmWdbA
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) May 7, 2022
One hour 30 mins before KO: Millwall, who travel to promoted Bournemouth, have also never been part of the Premier League since its inception in 1992.
Their highest position in the modern Championship – the second tier of the game in England – is eighth, where they finished in 2018 and 2020.
The Lions also start today’s action in that position. They must win and hope that at least two of the teams above them slip up to have any hope of securing a playoff place.
🛡 Ready for battle.#Millwall pic.twitter.com/Qot2qQe2kU
— Millwall FC (@MillwallFC) May 7, 2022
One hour 45 mins before KO: Although Luton have spent seasons in the top flight, the Hatters have never been in the modern Premier League.
Town were a non-league team as recently as 2014, when they won promotion back to the football league five years after being relegated from the fourth tier of English football. It would be some story for them to make the playoffs, let alone win promotion.
🏠 The calm before the storm.#LUTREA | #COYH pic.twitter.com/ZPya94wnJ2
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 7, 2022
Two hours before KO: Hello and welcome to The Sporting News’ coverage of the final day of the Championship campaign, bringing the regular season of the second tier in England to a close by deciding which teams will enjoy and endure the thrills and agonies of the playoffs.
Unusually for the Championship, all three relegation places have already decided, with Derby County, Peterborough United and Barnsley dropping to League One. Fulham and Bournemouth, meanwhile, have secured first and second place, ensuring they will be playing Premier League football in 2022/23.
That leaves everyone watching the final two of the four playoff spots, in which any slip-ups by Sheffield United or Luton could allow Middlesbrough or Millwall to usurp them. Drama, delight and despair are guaranteed.
Which teams are in the EFL Championship playoffs?
Fulham will be a Premier League club in 2022/23 because they have already won the title as part of a spectacular season for the west London club, while Bournemouth beat third-placed Nottingham Forest on May 3, ensuring they are promoted in second and Forest will be in the playoffs.
.@Boro keeping the pressure on! #EFL | #SkyBetChampionship pic.twitter.com/0ygOERzy3h
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) April 30, 2022
Forest will join Huddersfield Town and two other clubs in the end-of-season series. Luton Town (72 points) and Sheffield United (72) are in fifth and sixth, but they know that any result other than a win could allow Middlesbrough (70) and Millwall (69) to leapfrog them after the final round of matches on Saturday, May 7.
*As of Saturday, May 7
| Rank | Club | GP | W | D | L | Pts | GD |
| 1. | Fulham** | 45 | 27 | 9 | 9 | 90 | +67 |
| 2. | Bournemouth** | 45 | 24 | 13 | 8 | 85 | +34 |
| 3. | Nottingham Forest* | 45 | 23 | 10 | 12 | 79 | +33 |
| 4. | Huddersfield Town* | 45 | 22 | 13 | 10 | 79 | +15 |
| 5. | Sheffield United | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +14 |
| 6. | Luton Town | 45 | 20 | 12 | 13 | 72 | +7 |
| 7. | Middlesbrough | 45 | 20 | 10 | 15 | 70 | +12 |
| 8. | Millwall | 45 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 69 | +9 |
** = Won promotion
* = Clinched playoff berth
MORE: How do the EFL Championship playoffs work?
Luton’s peril has increased because of their 7-0 defeat at Fulham on May 2, dealing a huge blow to their goal difference —the number of goals scored minus the number conceded over the course of the league season, which is used to separate teams finishing on equal points.
That result, allied with Millwall’s 3-0 win against relegated Peterborough two days earlier, means victory for Gary Rowett’s side or Middlesbrough would drop the Hatters out of the top six unless they win.
EFL Championship final day fixtures
It could be construed as good news for the clubs involved in the playoff race that none of the sides they will face on the final day have anything left to play for this season.
As all of their four managers would undoubtedly tell you, though, that ostensible lack of a competitive incentive for their opponents could also prove dangerous.
Luton appear to have the kindest fixture, hosting Reading — the team who will finish nearest the relegation places, but whose safety is guaranteed.
𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 𝘽𝙀𝙃𝙄𝙉𝘿 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙏𝙀𝘼𝙈 💪
NJ 🗣 “You’re only as strong as the team behind you and I have a very good group which has enabled me to individually win something like this”
The Gaffer and his football staff share the @SkyBetChamp Manager of the Year 🏆#COYH pic.twitter.com/MQANkbVEFn
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) April 29, 2022
The Royals will, however, arguably be under no pressure, and could be driven to play for pride after a wretched season for the former Premier League club.
Conversely, Millwall go to Bournemouth and Sheffield United host Fulham — and those could be easier fixtures given that the top two have spent much of the past week celebrating their promotions.
Preston North End, who welcome Middlesbrough, are marooned in midtable. Again, that makes it hard to tell whether they will be motivated to end on a high or simply keen to get the game out of the way.
| Fixture | Date | Kickoff time (UK) | Kickoff time (USA) | Kickoff time (Canada) | Kickoff time (Australia) |
| Bournemouth vs. Millwall | May 7 | 12:30 BST | 07:30 ET | 07:30 ET | 21:30 AEST |
| Luton Town vs. Reading | May 7 | 12:30 BST | 07:30 ET | 07:30 ET | 21:30 AEST |
| Preston vs. Middlesbrough | May 7 | 12:30 BST | 07:30 ET | 07:30 ET | 21:30 AEST |
| Sheffield United vs. Fulham | May 7 | 12:30 BST | 07:30 ET | 07:30 ET | 21:30 AEST |
When are the EFL Championship playoff semifinals?
The playoff semifinals take place over two legs, home and away, with the team finishing third in the Championship taking on those who ended in sixth. Fifth place battles fourth for a spot in the final.
The higher seed hosts the second leg, meaning that any of the sides confirmed in the playoffs on the final day will play at home first, as they cannot finish above fifth.
| Fixture | Date | Kickoff time (UK) | Kickoff time (USA) | Kickoff time (Canada) | Kickoff time (Australia) |
| No. 6 vs. No. 3 | May 13/14 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
| No. 5 vs. No. 4 | May 14 | 14:45 BST | 09:45 ET | 09:45 ET | 23:45 AEST |
| No. 3 vs. No. 6 | May 16/17 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
| No. 4 vs. No. 5 | May 17/18 | 19:45 BST | 14:45 ET | 14:45 ET | 04:45 AEST |
When is the EFL Championship playoff final?
The 2021/22 EFL Championship final is a single-elimination match taking place on Sunday, May 29 at Wembley.
Kick-off is at 16:30 local time (BST), 11:30 ET (in USA and Canada), and 01:30 AEST in Australia on Monday, May 30.
How to watch the EFL Championship final day
| UK | US | Canada | Australia | |
| TV | Sky Sports | — | DAZN | beIn SPORTS |
| Streaming | Now/SkyGo | ESPN+ | DAZN | — |
UK: Viewers in the UK can watch the Championship final day on Sky Sports Football or streamed through SkyGo. Now TV subscribers can also watch or stream the action if they have Sky Sports included.
USA: In the United States, you can stream the Championship finale via ESPN+.
Canada: In Canada, DAZN is your port of call for Championship action.
Australia: In Australia, beIN SPORTS will broadcast the Championship conclusion.
