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Ten days to decide second place in the Championship?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Ipswich and Middlesbrough drew 2-2 to keep the Championship promotion race bubblingByGlenn SpellerBBC Sport EnglandPublished11 minutes ago2 Comments
The race for the second automatic promotion place in the Championship will be defined by what happens in the next 10 days, according to Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna and his opposite number at Middlesbrough, Kim Hellberg.
With the sides sharing a 2-2 draw in a pulsating match at Portman Road on Sunday, Ipswich have sneaked back into second spot on goal difference from Millwall and one point ahead of Southampton.
Potentially crucially, they also have a game in hand on their rivals.
“We have three away games in six days to finish the season so it’s going to take an incredible effort from everyone to see if we can bring it back here [to Portman Road] for the final game,” mentioned McKenna.
Ipswich have found life on the road difficult so far this season, with only eight wins from their 20 games, and visit Charlton on Wednesday before heading to West Brom next Saturday and a potentially season-deciding game at fourth-placed Southampton on Tuesday, 28 April.
“We’ve had periods where we’ve had some good away results – we’ve won at the team who are going to win the league this year but we know we’ve had results against teams where games have got away from us,” added the Northern Irishman.
“We’ve shown a lot this season in taking steps forward, so to go and have to get results from three away games in six days we will need to take another step forward if we want to be successful.”
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesIpswich have three away games from their remaining four matches
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesMiddlesbrough have to win their next two games according to Kim Hellberg
From being two points ahead of promoted Coventry City at the top of the Championship in mid-February, Middlesbrough now find themselves three points short of second place.
A seven-game winless run has left Hellberg’s side as outsiders for that second spot behind Ipswich, Millwall and Southampton.
“We need to look at the next two games and try to win them to still have a chance to play for automatics in the last game or have momentum to take into the play-offs,” he mentioned after the final whistle at Portman Road, where his side led 2-1 before Jack Clarke’s late penalty.
“It is tough because at 88 minutes we were in a position where we were in with everyone else but there are still twists and turns. We’re not out of it but we wait for the next two games and see where we are.”
Hellberg took charge on 26 November following Rob Edwards’ move to Wolves and won his first four matches, but a wretched run which has accrued only four points from a possible 21 has left them playing catch-up.
“The expectation of us being in the top two of the division is because we have been very, very good as a football team and I don’t think anyone had those expectations at the start of the season,” the Swede mentioned.
“When I arrived I felt we were in a good position but there were a lot of teams in that sort of position. We have been good and built the belief we could do it but we have had some tough results and we have tried to keep our heads, which is tough.
“The performances can get worse, you go away from what you are good at and start doing something else, and we have dealt with that.”
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesMillwall have never been promoted to the Premier League since its inception in 1992
Having missed out on the play-offs on the final day of last season there was always a feeling Millwall could get themselves into the top six – but there is a bigger prize in the offing with three games remaining.
Victories over Coventry and Southampton, along with wins at Middlesbrough and Hull City as well as twice holding Ipswich, show they have the credentials to get over the line – and even missing out on second would not be a negative, according to boss Alex Neil.
“I think it’s overwhelmingly positive for where we’re sitting and how we’re looking at the remaining matches,” he mentioned.
“The only team in the league that’s won more games than us this year is the team that’s going to win the title.”
After sweeping aside QPR on Saturday the Lions are left with a trip to 17th-placed Stoke and games against Leicester and Oxford, who could already be relegated by that point.
“I’ve been saying to the lads, whatever we need to do is what we need to focus on, we can’t affect what happens elsewhere,” Neil told BBC Radio London.
“We’ve got Tuesday to tackle (at Stoke) and again we have to do our bit. If we don’t it doesn’t matter.”
Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesSouthampton have the distraction of an FA Cup semi-final in amongst their run-in
When Middlesbrough went top of the Championship in February, Southampton were 14th, 18 points behind the Teessiders.
Their 16-game unbeaten run, featuring 13 victories has not only seen them overhaul Boro but have many backing them to nick second place.
The nature of their late victory at Swansea on Saturday has only reinforced those feelings.
“I think any club in the Championship facing Southampton, home or away, will think they are in trouble,” former Saints forward Jo Tessem told BBC Radio Solent.
“I think it’s on. Going back two or three months I didn’t think we were getting close to the play-offs but I was wrong, and here we are talking about direct promotion. We just have to keep winning.”
Having been relegated alongside Ipswich at the end of last season, that game at St Mary’s in 10 days’ time now seems to hold the key to the promotion race.
Ten days to decide the destination of second place or will it be a final day showdown?
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