ONCE the international break is over, we are into the final set of games in the 2023/24 season.
With such a congested bottom half of the table, who plays who could prove to be crucial in deciding who will avoid relegation, even when taking into account the Championship’s famous unpredictability.
Neil Harris has managed to give Millwall a huge boost since returning as head coach last month and yet the Lions still find themselves just four points clear of relegation.
Here are their final fixtures – and those of their relegation rivals below them:
Millwall
League Position – 16th
League Position Last Season – 8th
Fixtures: (H) West Brom (5th) – (A) Rotherham (24th) – (A) Huddersfield (22nd) – (H) Leicester (2nd) – (H) Cardiff (11th) – (A) Sunderland (12th) – (H) Plymouth (18th) – (A) Swansea (15th)
–
The 44 points that have been needed on average to stay up over the last 10 seasons will almost certainly not be enough this season.
But with trips to struggling Rotherham United and Huddersfield Town around the corner and a home game against Plymouth Argyle to come, there are enough winnable fixtures there for the Lions.
Relatedarticles
There are also fortunate that all of their games against teams going for promotion – West Bromwich Albion, Leicester City and Cardiff – are at home, where Harris has slowly been turning form around.
NewsAtDen’s Subjective Difficulty Ranking (with 10 being hardest and 1 being easiest): 5/10
–
Blackburn Rovers
League Position – 17th
League Position Last Season – 7th
Fixtures: (H) Ipswich (3rd) – (A) Sunderland (12th) – (H) Southampton (4th) – (A) Bristol City (14th) – (A) Leeds (1st) – (H) Sheffield Wednesday (23rd) – (H) Coventry City (8th) – (A) Leicester City (2nd)
–
Blackburn are in serious trouble and their form over the last few months, with just one win in 2024, is cause for concern for Rovers fans.
Even more worrying is their fixture list with all of top four and eighth-placed Coventry still to come. Sheffield Wednesday are the only ones of the bottom 10 who they still have left to play.
Difficulty Ranking: 9/10
–
Plymouth
League Position – 18th
League Position Last Season – 1st (League One)
Fixtures: (A) Norwich (6th) – (H) Bristol City (14th) – (A) Rotherham (24th) – (H) QPR (20th) – (H) Leicester (2nd) – (A) Stoke (19th) – (A) Millwall (16th) – (H) Hull (7th)
–
Plymouth have lost six of their last nine games and have still not found their footing under Ian Foster.
But their home form has been a strong point this season and they will believe there are points to be won against Bristol City, QPR, Leicester and Hull at Home Park.
Like Millwall, Argyle have not been in the bottom three all season but will need a strong end to the season to keep it that way.
Difficulty Ranking: 4/10
–
Stoke City
League Position – 19th
League Position Last Season – 16th
Fixtures: (A) Hull (7th) – (H) Huddersfield (22nd) – (H) West Brom (5th) – (A) Swansea (15th) – (A) Sheffield Wednesday (23rd) – (H) Plymouth (18th) – (A) Southampton (4th) – (H) Bristol City (14th)
–
Stoke City have dipped their toes into the choppy waters of the relegation zone in recent weeks but have picked up big wins against Middlesbrough and Preston to move up to 19th.
With games against Huddersfield, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth to come, they have some crunch games against relegation rivals around the corner.
Difficulty Ranking: 7/10
–
QPR
League Position – 20th
League Position Last Season – 20th
Fixtures: (H) Birmingham (21st) – (A) Swansea (15th) – (H) Sheffield Wednesday (23rd) – (A) Plymouth (18th) – (A) Hull (7th) – (H) Preston (9th) – (H) Leeds (1st) – (A) Coventry (8th)
–
Marti Cifuentes has masterminded QPR’s revival but there is still more work to be done.
Their first four fixtures look fairly friendly and they are best advised to get the job done early given the awkward last four games that await them.
Difficulty Ranking: 8/10
–
Birmingham
League Position – 21st
League Position Last Season – 22nd
Fixtures: (A) QPR (20th) – (H) Preston (9th) – (A) Leicester (2nd) – (H) Cardiff (11th) – (H) Coventry (8th) – (A) Rotherham (24th) – (A) Huddersfield (22nd) – (H) Norwich (6th)
–
For Birmingham City and their new boss Gary Rowett, it may come down to three huge away games: QPR up first and then later trips to Rotherham and Huddersfield.
All their other fixtures look tricky on paper but the new manager bounce may serve them well.
Difficulty Ranking: 8/10
–
Huddersfield
League Position – 22nd
League Position Last Season – 18th
Fixtures: (H) Coventry (8th) – (A) Stoke (19th) – (H) Millwall (16th) – (A) Preston (9th) – (A) Bristol City (14th) – (H) Swansea (15th) – (H) Birmingham (21st) – (A) Ipswich (3rd)
–
Andre Breitenreiter took over as Huddersfield boss on February 15th and so far has one win, two draws and two defeats to his name
Five of Huddersfield’s remaining fixtures are against teams in the bottom half but, with the second-fewest wins in the league for the Terriers, they will need to start turning some of their draws into wins or risk going down.
Difficulty Ranking: 7/10
–
Sheffield Wednesday
League Position – 23rd
League Position Last Season – 3rd (League One)
Fixtures: (H) Swansea (15th) – (A) Middlesbrough (10th) – (A) QPR (20th) – (H) Norwich (6th) – (H) Stoke (19th) – (A) Blackburn (17th) – (H) West Brom (5th) – (A) Sunderland (12th)
–
Sheffield Wednesday’s fixtures look favourable and they had been on a great run of form before their loss to Leeds United and their 6-0 hammering against Ipswich last Saturday.
Facing Sunderland on the final day of the season could also potentially be decisive given the Black Cats are one of the few sides who you can almost guarantee won’t be fighting for anything
Difficulty Ranking: 3/10
