Wigan Secure Play-Off Spot

29 April 2014
By Hob Nob Anyone?

Wigan have secured a play-off spot this evening after a 1-0 away win at Birmingham. The result means there is now only one play off position up for grabs on the final day of the season next Saturday. That final place will go to either Reading, Brighton, or huge outsiders Blackburn.

On the final day of the season Reading face second placed Burnley at home, while Brighton travel to 11th placed Nottingham Forest. It's unlikely to matter, but if both Reading and Brighton are losing then Reading fans will also need to keep an eye out for Blackburn's result at home to Wigan.

If Reading win...
Then the Royals will secure a play-off place. A win will see Reading finish in sixth place - or fifth on goal difference if Wigan lose their final match at Blackburn.

If Reading draw...
Reading need to match or do better than Brighton on the final day. So a draw would see us finish sixth only if Brighton draw or lose. A Reading draw and a Brighton win would see us finish seventh and miss out.

If Reading lose...
Then we would need Brighton to lose too, and hope Blackburn don't win big against Wigan. If Brighton draw they would finish ahead of Reading on goal difference. Blackburn need to overturn a seven goal deficit to finish above Reading - so would need Burnley to deliver a thrashing in this situation.

Put simply, Reading just need to focus on a win. If we don't win then there's a big chance the season will end in disappointment. A Reading win could also bring more pain - we don't exactly have the best record in the play-offs do we?

A sixth placed finish would see Reading face Derby over two legs in the play offs, while we would play QPR if we finish fifth.

Championship Table at: 30 April 2014
		Pl	HW	HD	HL	HF	HA	AW	AD	AL	AF	AA	GD	POINTS
1	Leicester	45	16	4	2	45	22	14	5	4	37	21	+39	99
2	Burnley	45	15	6	2	37	14	11	8	3	33	21	+35	92
3	Derby	45	14	4	5	46	25	11	5	6	37	26	+32	84
4	QPR	45	15	6	2	38	18	7	5	10	19	24	+15	77
5	Wigan	45	12	7	4	35	23	9	3	10	23	21	+14	73
6	READING	45	8	9	5	36	23	11	4	8	32	31	+14	70
7	Brighton	45	10	7	6	31	21	8	8	6	22	18	+14	69
8	Blackburn	45	10	7	5	30	18	7	9	7	36	41	+7	67

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