Race to the Premier League 2011 – Battle for The Play Offs

With just four games left in the Championship there are three teams outside of the final play off spot battling it out to try and usurp Leeds in sixth.

The reward for a late end of season run for Nottingham Forest, Hull, Burnley could be a ticket to the play off rollercoaster ride.

After looking at the automatic promotion battle yesterday, today ChampionshipTalk looks at the fixtures that could decide the race for the final play off spot.

Leeds – Current Position 6^th (65 points)

Currently in the playoffs Leeds have arguably the toughest run in of the five teams in the hunt, facing two of the current top six as well as relegation strugglers Crystal Palace and play off rivals Burnley.

This will not be easy but with a two point gap between themselves and Nottingham Forest three wins would be the minimum target to secure sixth.

Reading (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Burnley (H)

QPR (A)

Prediction: 7^th

Nottingham Forest – Current Position 7^th (63 points)

Only a month ago Nottingham Forest were 2^nd in the table and threatening to run away with automatic promotion. However recently their form has deserted them and making the play offs would signify a real achievement.

Nottingham Forest have an easier run in than most but will need to win all their fixtures to have a chance now would be a great time to find some form and I think that they might just surprise everyone and do just that.

Leicester (H)

Bristol City (A)

Scunthorpe (H)

Crystal Palace (A)

Prediction: 6^th

Hull – Current Position 9^th (63 points)

Hull have been in erratic form recently but have the ability to beat anyone on their day so cannot be ruled out but are likely to just miss out this time around.

Middlesbrough (H)

QPR (A)

Crystal Palace (H)

Bristol City (A)

Prediction: 9^th

Burnley – Current Position 9^th (63 points)

With the same number of points as Forest and Hull, Burnley are hot on the heels of Leeds and with winnable games against Derby and Portsmouth they then face Leeds in what could be the defining game of the race to the playoffs. 

With a game against Cardiff on the final day I think they could just be pipped to the post on this occasion, but they should certainly not be discounted and are more than capable of springing an upset in the run in.

 Derby (A)

Portsmouth (H)

Leeds (A)

Cardiff (H)

Prediction: 8th

Let me know your thoughts on who will gain the final play off spot on TWITTER