Championship play-offs 2024/25: Coventry bidding to make it third time lucky | OneFootball

The race to reach the Premier League will hog the spotlight over the next week as the semi-finals of the 2024/25 Championship play-offs are staged.

Sheffield United, Sunderland, Coventry City and Bristol City have qualified for the post-season shoot-out after filling the play-off spots.

Read on as we look at the upcoming schedule before assessing which team is most likely to win promotion to the Premier League.

Championship play-off semi-finals

Championship play-off final

Sheffield United

Sheffield United are the favourites to make an immediate return to the top-flight, having finished a long way clear in third place.

However, they have never previously been promoted via the play-offs, losing out on each of their previous eight attempts.

The Blades should be too strong for Bristol City in the semi-final, but could have their work cut out against Sunderland or Coventry.

Sunderland

Sunderland spent the first third of the season in the top two, but slipped back to fourth place and remained there for the rest of the campaign.

They ended the regular season with five straight defeats, although manager Regis Le Bris did play weakened teams.

The Black Cats will be eager to return to form in the play-offs, but that will be easier said than done against Coventry.

Coventry City

Coventry have come up short in two recent visits to Wembley Stadium and will be desperate to make it third time lucky this season.

Luton Town defeated the Sky Blues in the 2022/23 play-off final, while Manchester United triumphed in the semi-final of the 2023/24 FA Cup.

Those experiences could stand them in good stead when the pressure is on and they look a good bet to climb into the Premier League.

Bristol City

Bristol City made hard work of things on the final day, fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Preston North End at Ashton Gate.

If Blackburn Rovers had scored just one more goal at Sheffield United, the Robins’ season would already be over.

Liam Manning’s side have done well to finish in the top six, but it’s difficult to imagine them troubling the Blades in their semi-final.