Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Sun 15 March 2026 15:18, UK

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The Championship‘s automatic promotion race took another twist this weekend as Ipswich won but Middlesbrough and Millwall both dropped points.

Ipswich dispatched of already-relegated Sheffield Wednesday 2-0 at Hillsborough through late goals by Ivan Azon and Jack Clarke.

Boro, meanwhile, were held to a 1-1 draw by Bristol City on home turf, as Adam Randell’s late header for the away side cancelled out Leo Castledine’s opener.

Millwall wasted a fine chance to move into second behind Coventry with a win over struggling Blackburn, as a quickfire Mathias Jorgensen brace gave Michael O’Neill’s side a 2-0 win.

Ipswich remain in third place for now, but are two points behind Middlesbrough with a game in hand, and Opta‘s latest second-tier predictions have reflected their advantage ahead of the final six weeks of the season.

Ipswich now backed for automatic promotion over Middlesbrough and Millwall

Opta had previously been predicting Middlesbrough to be promoted this season, but that has changed after this weekend’s twists.

According to their latest stats, Ipswich are now on course to win automatic promotion, with a 43.98 per cent chance of doing so compared to Boro’s 41.94 per cent.

Coventry lost 2-1 to Southampton on Saturday, yet they remain clear at the top of the table and currently have a 99.04 per cent chance of going up to the Premier League, according to Opta.

Millwall are level on points with Ipswich in fourth place as it stands, yet Opta are not confident of their automatic promotion chances, as they have a 14.2 per cent chance of finishing in the top two this season.

Alongside Boro and Millwall, Hull City and Wrexham are currently being backed to make up the Championship top six.

Who do Opta think will be relegated from the Championship?

It will be a nervy, nailbiting six weeks ahead for those supporting teams near the bottom of the league who are aiming to survive relegation to League One.

Opta are currently predicting Leicester City and Oxford United to join Sheffield Wednesday in the third tier next season.

Leicester lost 3-1 to QPR on Saturday, while Oxford drew 1-1 with Charlton Athletic after Cameron Brannagan converted a penalty that was won by Will Lankshear.

Sources have told Football Insider that Lankshear rejected Middlesbrough and Ipswich in January to stay on loan at Oxford from Tottenham, but his impact is not set to be enough to keep the U’s up.

Leicester have a 49.02 per cent chance of going down, while Oxford are given a 55.32 per cent chance of suffering the same fate, with West Brom predicted to survive with a 43.14 per cent chance of being relegated.