Everything that could happen to Derby County and Stoke City in the fight for survival

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This Saturday is set to be one for the history books in the Championship, with battles set to ensue at the top and bottom of the division on the final day of the 2024/25 season.

With the league title still to be decided, Leeds United and Burnley will be hoping to one up each other in their clashes with Plymouth Argyle and Millwall respectively. Meanwhile five sides are still fighting it out for fifth and sixth, with OPTA making their predictions for the play-offs already.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	45	28	13	4	93	29	64	97
2	BurnleyBurnley	45	27	16	2	66	15	51	97
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	45	28	7	10	62	35	27	89
4	SunderlandSunderland	45	21	13	11	58	43	15	76
5	Bristol CityBristol City	45	17	16	12	57	53	4	67
6	CoventryCoventry	45	19	9	17	62	58	4	66
7	MillwallMillwall	45	18	12	15	46	46	0	66
8	BlackburnBlackburn	45	19	8	18	52	47	5	65
9	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	45	18	10	17	64	54	10	64

However, the majority of focus for many will be on the scrap at lower end of the table as another five teams look to secure their Championship status for another year, with just two points separating Stoke City in 18th and Hull City in 22nd.

The Potters make the journey to face 19th place Derby County this weekend at Pride Park, and both sides can have a major say in one another’s survival chances as the second tier gets set for a day of carnage.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
16	PortsmouthPortsmouth	45	14	11	20	57	70	-13	53
17	Oxford UnitedOxford United	45	13	13	19	46	62	-16	52
18	Stoke CityStoke City	45	12	14	19	45	62	-17	50
19	DerbyDerby	45	13	10	22	48	56	-8	49
20	PrestonPreston	45	10	19	16	46	57	-11	49
21	LutonLuton	45	13	10	22	42	64	-22	49
22	Hull CityHull City	45	12	12	21	43	53	-10	48

The permutations that await Derby County and Stoke City

For Stoke, Saturday could be a relatively simple proposition. They know that a point will see them survive, with the Rams unable to overtake them. It’s a result that could leave the Rams vulnerable to Preston North End, Luton Town and Hull, who would all need to win to stay up in this situation.

A win for Mark Robins’ team will also ensure the Potters’ safety, while Derby could be relegated on goal difference if the Hatters beat West Brom, and the Tigers are able to take a point against Portsmouth.

However, if the scoreline at Pride Park is more than three goals in the away side’s favour in this situation, then John Eustace will be managing in League One for the first time in his career.

Derby’s permutations are not quite as simple as Stoke’s, but they know that if one of the three sides below them lose, then they will stay in the division. A victory would secure their Championship-status, while it may send their opponents down if Preston, Luton and Hull win.

The pressure is on Derby County to get a result against Stoke City

While the Potters know that they are still in plenty of danger, the threat will feel a lot more real for the Rams this weekend and those in the stands at Pride Park will be keeping a keen eye on results elsewhere.

Robins has the upper hand on Eustace right now, and the 45-year-old knows that he will have to get one over the ex-Coventry City boss for the first time if his Derby team are to ensure that they do not return to League One at the first time of asking.

However, the East Midlands outfit’s form has been incredible over the course of the last 10 matches, picking up 20 points in that time. They have taken themselves from the the foot of the table to 19th, and the momentum is with them.

Nevertheless, Pride Park will be filled with a nervy energy on Saturday and both those in black-and-white and the 3000 in red-and-white will be watching on with a sweat that may not be attributed to the spring sun.