Experts share Championship play-offs predictions with one team tipped to be ‘levels above’ the rest

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year, and we don’t mean Christmas! No, it’s time to get stuck into our Championship play-offs predictions to see which of the four teams we’re backing to go all the way and secure promotion.

While fans of the clubs involved in the Championship play-offs will no doubt be pulling their hair out and feeling very stressed over the next three weeks, neutrals can sit back and enjoy the wildest, most thrilling aspect of the season.

After a long and exciting campaign, Sheffield United and Sunderland were the first to bag their place in the play-offs, while it was down to the final day for Coventry City and Bristol City to join them.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LeedsLeeds	46	29	13	4	95	30	65	100
2	BurnleyBurnley	46	28	16	2	69	16	53	100
3	Sheff UtdSheffield Utd	46	28	8	10	63	36	27	90
4	SunderlandSunderland	46	21	13	12	58	44	14	76
5	CoventryCoventry	46	20	9	17	64	58	6	69
6	Bristol CityBristol City	46	17	17	12	59	55	4	68

We’ll see the Blades take on the Robins first, before the Black Cats try to overcome their bogey team this season, Coventry.

We can’t wait to watch the Championship play-offs, and though Sheffield United are arguably the favourites, there’s always a surprising twist or two when it comes to this part of the season.

So, the EFL Analysis team put their heads together to discuss how this will all play out, and here are our collective Championship play-offs predictions.

• READ MORE: Forget the play-offs, May 17th is the most important date of the summer for Championship clubs and here’s why

The EFL Analysis team share their Championship play-offs predictions

Jakob Barnes – Bristol City

For months now I’ve been backing the underdogs, Bristol City, to go all the way, and I just can’t shake that feeling that Liam Manning’s very solid, well-organised, very hard-working team will surprise us all and get the job done.

Obviously, Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United team are the strongest side in it, and they’ll take some beating. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Blades win it, given their quality, but something is putting doubts in my mind.

As for the other side of the draw, Sunderland are in rotten form and I believe Coventry will sweep them aside without much trouble. But, personally, I think Frank Lampard’s men will get found out at Wembley, and the winner is whoever comes out on top between Bristol City and Sheffield United.

Ailsa Cowen – Sheffield United

My professional answer is Sheffield United. Still, as a Leeds fan, I would rather say anyone but. I do think Bristol City will give Sheffield United a tough game in the semi-finals, though; they drew the last time they met in March.

I think Sunderland have a hard match versus Coventry. Coventry won the last time they met 3-0 (thanks to a Haji Wright hat-trick) and held Sunderland to a 2-2 draw before that.

Ultimately, it will be Sheffield United vs Coventry in the final and I think the Blades will just do it, but you never know. They haven’t done well of late when it comes to big games. Frank Lampard won’t want to miss out on the chance of being a Premier League manager again, and he has also maybe learnt a thing or two during his time at Derby when they reached the play-off final.

One player that could stand out I think is Tyrese Campbell. He’s Sheffield United’s top scorer this season with 10 goals and 0.57 goals per 90 minutes, a ratio only beaten by Leeds United’s Largie Ramazani.

Callum Boyle – Bristol City

I think this is the most open play-offs for a long time. All four teams have shown signs that they could be there for the taking in the final few weeks of the season.

Crucially, I’d say there’s only one team with a different style of play and that’s Bristol City. They’re the surprise team this season and I think they’ll shock everyone again by going all the way.

Ethan Todd – Coventry City

As much as it pains me to say it as a Sunderland diehard, I think Coventry City will beat the Black Cats over the two semi-final legs. There’s a huge discrepancy between the form of both sides heading into the clashes, with Haji Wright’s presence too much for the Sunderland defence to deal with.

Meanwhile, Sheffield United will beat Bristol City over two legs comfortably given the quality that the Blades possess.

However, I believe Frank Lampard’s side will get the better of Sheffield United in the final, buoyed by their brilliant form under Lampard’s tenure, winning 2-0 to go all the way at Wembley.

Josh Barker – Sheffield United

The 2024/25 Championship play-offs, at least on paper, look very easy to predict.

Bristol City, while they deserve credit for their recent form, probably don’t have the quality to go on and win the entire thing.

Frank Lampard has done a remarkable job turning Coventry City around but they have been inconsistent in recent weeks, with their flaws exposed.

Sunderland are another team who have fallen away after looking like they could make a top-two push earlier in the season.

As for Chris Wilder’s men, though they faltered in the race for automatic promotion, it’s clear they are still levels above the rest of the competition.

I think we will get a Sheffield United and Sunderland final, with the former coming out on top.

Khai Smith – Sheffield United

I’m backing Sheffield United to get past Bristol City over two legs in the first semi-final of the play-offs. The Robins may take a lead to Bramall Lane, but I think experience will see Chris Wilder’s side through to Wembley where they will face Coventry City.

Sunderland seem to have run out of legs at the worst possible time and their lack of momentum heading into the play-offs will be their problem. Victory at the CBS Arena will be enough for Frank Lampard’s side before a draw at the Stadium of Light.

However, I’ll back Sheffield United to end their play-off hoodoo with the win at Wembley, and it’s fate that it’ll be Gustavo Hamer sinking his former side in the most dramatic of circumstances as Lampard loses out in the final once again. Experience will once again be the key, with the Premier League ready to welcome the Blades following relegation last season.

• READ MORE: The Championship’s most and least successful play-off teams, including four-time winners

What does history tell us about the Championship play-offs?

So, that’s Sheffield United just about having enough for us as a team to back them to go all the way this season. But, what do the statistics and the past tell us about the match-ups this year?

Looking at each team’s play-off records, Sheffield United have failed in eight attempts at gaining promotion via this route, while Bristol City’s record is shorter but just as equally painful, with defeat in the final to Hull City in 2008.

Meanwhile, Sunderland have triumphed in the play-offs, albeit in League One. Coventry, too, have tasted success in the play-offs, but that was in League Two. The Sky Blues actually lost the final to Luton Town just two years ago.

If you’re looking more recently for evidence to support your Championship play-offs predictions, the results this season tell us quite a lot.

As we mentioned before, Sunderland have struggled against Coventry of late, with five defeats and five draws in the last ten meetings. That includes two defeats this season, too.

As for Sheffield United and Bristol City’s head-to-head record, the Blades have the advantage over the years, and this season has seen United win away at Ashton Gate and a draw at Bramall Lane.

As for what the final league positions tell us about the chances of promotion, as you can see above, the team in third place does usually end up winning the play-offs, with a 36% success rate since 1988/89.

So, if you’re the kind of person that believes in history repeating itself, you should back Sheffield United for your Championship play-offs predictions.