Sheffield Wednesday’s place in League One has been confirmed for some time, but who else will be relegated from the Championship?
The Owls’ points deduction this season meant it was more or less a certainty they’d go down this season. That left just two other spots to go down to League One this season.
Several teams have flirted with going down this campaign, but it now appears that five teams will be battling it out to avoid relegation.
Opta’s supercomputer has now cast its vote for who will be joining Sheffield Wednesday in League One next season.
Portsmouth — 7.8% Probability of Relegation
Portsmouth looked at one stage likely to face the drop this season. However, back-to-back wins a few match days ago helped them climb away from the bottom three.
Pompey currently have a 7.8% chance of being relegated this season, according to Opta. Their game in hand will likely be a key part in that, as they sit five points above the drop zone.
They are predicted to finish 19th on 53.8 points, which is over five points above 22nd.
Before the season, Portsmouth were given a 14.6% chance of going down.
Blackburn Rovers — 23.52% Probability of Relegation
There’s a significant jump in terms of relegation probability to Blackburn Rovers, at 23.52%. They are currently four points above the bottom three and are expected to finish just over three points above the drop.
Their next two games could be crucial as they face Portsmouth and Oxford United. A win, especially against the latter, could help them build a comfortable gap.
They’ve also got to face West Brom and Leicester City, the other two teams in the relegation battle. Rovers host the Foxes on the final day of the season, which could potentially be a winner-takes-all game.
Before the start of the season, they were predicted to be challenging for the play-offs. Blackburn were even given a 6.6% chance of being promoted to the Premier League.
Leicester City — 35.12% Probability of Relegation
The 2015/16 Premier League champions could be playing their football in League One next season. Luckily, Opta believe they will find their way out of the bottom three before the end of the season.
They are currently 22nd on 34 points after receiving a six-point penalty that they are currently appealing.
The supercomputer believes they will finish 21st with 48.7 points and keep their place in the Championship.
Before the season, the Foxes were predicted to finish 2nd. The points deduction hasn’t helped, but even before that, they were some way off challenging for a return to the Premier League.
West Brom — 54.14% Probability of Relegation
Another team that was predicted to be challenging for promotion this season, but finds themselves struggling is West Brom. The Baggies were predicted to finish 6th and given a 9.4% chance of going up.
However, they are predicted to finish in the bottom three come May and have a 54.14% chance of going down.
They’ve got a tough run of games coming up, including a trip to Sheffield United, as well as hosting Hull City, Wrexham and Southampton.
One must win game is against Blackburn, but it could be a little too late if results don’t go their way between now and then.
Oxford United — 74.96% Probability of Relegation
Oxford United are expected to join Sheffield Wednesday and West Brom in League One season.
Before the campaign started, they were predicted to finish 24th and given a 21.7% chance of going down.
With 11 games left to play, they are now three points off safety and have a 74.96% probability of going down.
They do face Blackburn and Portsmouth before the end of the season; wins in those games could help their cause. But their 74.96% relegation chance doesn’t make for pretty reading.
