Hull City have taken the battle for a play-off spot down to the final game of the season at home to Norwich City
Hull City are in with a chance of the play-offs
The much-anticipated promotion showdown between Southampton and Ipswich Town ended up pleasing no-one, with a 2-2 draw both ending the Saints’ hopes of going up automatically and denying the Tractor Boys the chance to seal the deal before the final day.
The visitors went 1-0 up through Wes Burns, only to be pegged back by Ryan Manning and Cyle Larin as Southampton led 2-1 and looked set to move up to fourth and within a point of second place.
However, Jack Clarke’s 87th minute equaliser condemned the hosts to the play-offs, while leaving Ipswich in second place, one point ahead of Millwall, two in front of Middlesbrough and with their destiny in their own hands. If they beat QPR at home on Saturday they will return to the Premier League at the first time of asking.
As for Hull City, they know they need to do better than Wrexham to nick sixth – whilst making sure they don’t get overtaken by Derby County coming through on the rails.
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Wrexham face Boro – who can still catch Ipswich but need other results to go their way – while the Tigers are at home to Norwich City.
Sergej Jakirovic knows Southampton will be one of the play-off teams and that they could still finish third if they win at Preston and Boro and Millwall slip-up. Indeed if they do leapfrog both the Tigers’ reward for returning to the top six would be a double header with Tonda Eckert’s side.
If Southampton don’t win then City could still face either Millwall, Boro or even Ipswich – whoever finishes third.
But the variable that hasn’t changed is they need Boro to take something off Wrexham and they must take care of business against the Canaries.
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