Three clubs must go into one place on what’s shaping up to be a dramatic final day at the top of the Championship
John Eustace, Sergej Jakirovic and Phil Parkinson
It’s a three-team shootout for the final play-off place on the final day of the Championship season, with Wrexham, Hull City and Derby County all battling for sixth place.
Wrexham will occupy the final play-off berth at kick-off, and host a Middlesbrough side who still have hopes of claiming an automatic promotion place, while City, without a win in six games but level on points with the Red Dragons, welcome in-form Norwich City to a sold-out MKM Stadium. Derby are lurking just a point behind the two sides above them, and face a Sheffield United side that has been awful for the whole campaign.
All three teams go into the final weekend with a real chance of ending it with their promotion dreams still alive, on what’s sure to be a dramatic finish to another captivating
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We spoke to those close to each club to get the lowdown ahead of Saturday…
6th – Wrexham – 70 points – +4
The Wrexham view from Andy Gilpin – Fearless in Devotion Podcast
Wrexham have had a fine season, but is it a surprise to see how well they’ve coped with the step up?
In a word, yes. Most fans would have taken a mid-table consolidation season, even after spending £30m+ in the summer. The league is relentless and we’ve the remnants of a League Two squad, but what Parkinson has been able to do in fostering a new team spirit with a new bunch of journeyman players has been nothing short of phenomenal. And after Christmas, we had a run that took us from 15th to the edge of the play-offs. It’s not been pretty – it’s never pretty – but it’s functional, and it’s playing the percentages. Could we ParkyBall(TM) our way to the Premier League? While everyone is concerned with playing out the back and XG, we’re hitting the big man and gaining ground from set plays. Who doesn’t like the old school way to the top? (NOTE: Everyone who isn’t a Wrexham fan).
Phil Parkinson appeared under pressure earlier in the season. How well has he done to put together such a competitive squad and keep it going?
It’s well known in Wrexham circles that Parky has a strict ‘no dickhead’ test for players. God knows how Ollie Palmer passed it (just joking Ollie) and we thought the same for the likes of Josh Windass. But somehow it has seemed to work… eventually. It didn’t start well and in non-Wrexham circles the knives were out. But never within the club and not within the parts of the fanbase who aren’t new to all this. And he did it turn it around. Parkinson has a formation and what he has done is buy better players to play in it. It’s not rocket science. And when the players bedded in, it started to work. That is down to his recruitment and the team around him. Money helps, but you have to spend it wisely.
What’s the feeling around the club, the fans and within the dressing room ahead of Saturday?
Like a Labrador with its head out the car window, we’re just lucky to be here. There’s zero entitlement among rank-and-file Wrexham fans. We’ve come further than anyone thought possible in a short space of time. It’s different for the players and certainly the owners, though. They think they can do this. And I will say that over the past three pivotal promotion games, Wrexham have found a way to win. This may be a new team, but that know-how running through the club could be vital.
Finally, how do you see it all playing out?
I think Derby will win. They’ve got the easiest game on paper. One of Hull and us won’t win. I can actually see us both drawing and the Rams going up. They’re in the best form, and they have the easiest opponent. That’s where my head is. But my heart says we can beat Boro by the odd goal, maybe 2-1 or 3-2 in a barn-stormer. If that happens and Hull beat Norwich by two clear goals, then fair play, they deserve it. We will not see it as a poor season, far from it. But it will give us the hunger to go again next season. We have three more seasons of Welcome to Wrexham. I think that’s three more chances to get to the Premier League.
7th – Hull City – 60 points – +3 GD
The Tigers verdict with the Hull Daily Mail’s Barry Cooper
Sergej Jakirovic’s Tigers have surprised a few this season, haven’t they?
You could say that, yes. At this stage last season, City had just lost 1-0 at home to Derby County to fall into the bottom three ahead of the final weekend. They went to Portsmouth needing snookers to stay in the division, and it happened. ‘Typical City’ as it were, would be to get in on goal difference 12 months on.
Sergej Jakirovic arrived with pedigree in Europe, but inherited a squad that survived on goal difference on the final day last term, and then a few days into his tenure, the club were hit by transfer restrictions, which meant they could not pay transfer or loan fees. They made some fine signings, though, so many players arrived without full pre-seasons, which we know is hugely important. He’s been hit by big injuries all season. Never once has he been able to name a full-strength squad, let alone a starting XI.
While things like XG suggest City are overachieving, they’ve been consistent all campaign, basically until the return from the March international break, when their form has fallen off a cliff. Most clubs have tough spells at various times throughout the season. City never went more than two games without a win until now, at the worst possible time.
Against a backdrop of struggles, and I mean that genuinely, City have been superb at home and on the road, they just need one final push.
What were the expectations back in August?
For most fans, it was to stay in the division, given the previous campaign and the situation with the transfer market in the summer and again in the winter. Externally, the owner made it clear that he wanted a top 10 finish, which has already been secured. Internally, though, the players believed they had a chance and there was a steely determination that they could at least make the top six.
Naturally, if they don’t make it, having been in the top six for so much of the season, there will be a huge amount of disappointment given how open the league is. When you see the likes of Leicester City, Sheffield United, West Brom and earlier in the season, Southampton and Norwich City struggling, this felt like a big chance for lots of clubs, City included.
Whatever happens on Saturday, this has been a really positive season for the club, and it has to be a foundation to build for next season, rather than it being ripped up again and starting from scratch in the summer, as was the case two years ago when they finished seventh under Liam Rosenior.
How’s the feeling around the club?
It’s mixed. There’s a feeling of frustration that they’ve had so many chances to get the few points needed to get over the line. Given where they were after winning at Wrexham on March 10. The gap to Derby in seventh stood at nine points, and that’s been eroded, but they were given a lifeline after Coventry’s win on Sunday.
There’s also an acceptance that given all the struggles in the transfer market and injuries, they’ve still enjoyed a fine season, and one that isn’t over yet.
Had you offered anyone associated with the club this position at the start of the season, they’d have snapped your hand off. Being frustrated with seeing their strong position fall away, and being proud of their efforts this season, can both be true at the same time.
Ultimately, it’s still in their hands, as it is Wrexham. City just need to win against a good Norwich team and hope Boro can pull off a favour in North Wales. The players seem relaxed, focused and understanding that they’ve got one chance and one chance only, and hopefully they can deliver.
What’s going to happen?
If I knew that, I’d have bought a winning lottery ticket a long time ago! I genuinely have no idea, and that’s the beauty of it. I can foresee a situation where all three win, I can see one where it stays as it is, and worryingly, the nightmare scenario where Derby County leapfrog both Wrexham and City. And given my staunch allegiances to the Europa League semi-finalists at the opposite end of the Brian Clough Way, I would struggle to sleep for the rest of the summer, at least if that happened. Begrudging credit to the Rams because they looked dead and buried at one point, but have hung around like that rusty old banger from those iconic Top Gear TV specials.
I just hope that City take care of business and at least walk off that MKM Stadium pitch at full-time having done their job, and if that proves to be not enough, then so be it. I have to back the Tigers. Wrexham to draw 3-3 with Boro, City beat the Canaries 3-2 and Derby see off United 1-0.
8th – Derby County – 69 points – +9 GD
How about the Rams from Leigh Curtis at the Derby Telegraph?
Derby have seemed to go quietly about their business this season, how impressed have you been with John Eustace and the job he’s done?He’s done a fantastic job particularly when you consider he has lost a lot of players to injury this season. Carlton Morris was injured for three months, Patrick Agyemang is now out until Christmas, Bobby Clark has recently picked up a hamstring problem, Sondre Langas was out for three months, the number one goalkeeper Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was also absent for the same length of time and yet despite all this, Eustace has been able to produce results. He’s fostered an incredible spirit as proven by the 3-2 win over QPR recently and he understands what is required to win in the Championship. Tactically he’s very astute and the fact Derby are in this position 12 months after he saved them from relegation is a testament to his work. He should have been in contention for the manager of the year in my opinion.What were Derby’s realistic ambitions at the start of the season, and are they ahead of schedule?The aim really was to survive the first season in the Championship then stabilise in the second but they’ve surpassed that by some margin. Chief executive Stephen Pearce told me they were a year ahead of their own schedule which has been helped by excellent player recruitment. They’ve spotted good opportunities in the market leading led them to put together a blend of Championship experience and exciting talent from abroad such as Agyemang, Derry Murkin and Oscar Fraulo. Whatever happens this season, it’s been an excellent campaign.Sammie Szmodics seems confident the Rams can get into the play-offs, is that feeling replicated around the club?The general consensus is they will give it their best shot and see what happens. It’s not really in their own hands because if Hull and Wrexham win then it’s goodnight Vienna. You look what happened at the weekend, however, and you do start to think that maybe the stars are aligning. With Charlton and Coventry beating Hull and Wrexham, allied with the nature of Derby’s comeback victory against QPR, which ensured the play-off fight goes to the final day, it’s given them something to fight for. The players are very focused and so is the manager. Understandably, there is a lot of excitement, but they have to win, really.How is the general mood music going into the weekend, among the club and fan base?I think a lot of Derby fans are in that position of ‘whatever will be, will be’. If it happens, then amazing. But if it doesn’t I’ve seen plenty of comments that say it’s still been a great season. You do wonder about where they would have finished if they had kept everybody fit throughout the majority of the campaign. But Pride Park is a sell-out this weekend, there will be a deafening atmosphere, and there is a great deal of excitement.Lots of talk that Derby are the favourites given the games Wrexham and City have, and how poor Sheffield United have been, is that something you’d agree with?The goal difference is a big plus for Derby as it’s better than both Wrexham and Hull, so if they both lose, then a point against the Blades would be just enough to get into the top six. I don’t think they are favourites though. I’d rather be a point ahead than a point behind because had Derby been in Wrexham/Hull’s position, then a win would have taken it out of everybody’s hands.Finally, how do you see it all playing out?I saw Norwich beat Derby recently, and they have vastly improved under Phillipe Clement, and they’ll cause problems. Middlesbrough have to win at Wrexham too and hope Ipswich suffer a final-day capitulation at QPR to snatch second. Pressure does funny things to players on the final day; we’ve seen that so many times before. There will be plenty of drama on what is going to be a fascinating day. Who copes with that best will be key. I will probably be miles off, but my prediction is that Derby will sneak in on goal difference.
What’s going to happen? Have your say in the comments below
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