Championship 2024–2025 lineup, last-day substitutions, point deducted, and Stoke City’s rekindled rivalry

After one round of fixtures, Stoke City is one of 14 teams confirmed for the 2024–25 Championship season. Promotion and relegation difficulties are still pending.

 

After a difficult season, Stoke’s position was confirmed last weekend with a 1-0 victory over Southampton. The team’s goal has been to stay up since at least February. They might potentially finish between 16th and 19th in the shuffle, depending on other results and goal differential. They are currently in 18th place heading into their final day at home against Bristol City.

 

Three teams, one from each tier, are already aware that they will play in the second division the next term. Sheffield United is exiting the Premier League and will begin the 2022–2023 season with minus–two points because they were in arrears with other clubs for payments.

After two seasons in League One, Derby County is returning, and Portsmouth has been promoted as champions. Since winning the League Cup 3-0 against Pompey in August 2014, Stoke has not faced the team in league play and has not faced each other since winning the Premier League double in 2009–2010. Salif Diao won 2-1 at Fratton Park with a remarkable goal in the final minute.

After one season back in the EFL, Leicester will be leaving the Championship behind as champions after their victory over Preston North End last night.

 

Leeds United is in second place, seven goals ahead of Ipswich Town on the goal differential. However, Ipswich plays Coventry away tonight at 8 p.m., and regardless of the outcome, the second automatic promotion berth can only be confirmed on the last day. Southampton will play Leeds at home, and Huddersfield will host Ipswich.

Although Southampton is assured of fourth place, the other two play-off spots are still up for grabs. With 73 points and a goal differential of +16, Norwich leads by a wide margin. West Brom (+20 GD) is in sixth place with 72 points, while Hull (+9) is in seventh place with 70. Hull is traveling to Plymouth, West Brom is playing at home against Preston, and Norwich is playing away at Birmingham in their last game.

 

5-7 Hull 45 19 13 13 68 59 +9 70; 5 Norwich 45 21 10 14 79 63 +16 73; 6 West Brom 45 20 12 13 67 47 +20 72;