The end of season Championship run-in is poised to be one of the most exciting and tense finishes in recent history.
Between six and seven games remain of the 2012/13 campaign for most clubs and yet, there are so many questions still be answered.
Following the Easter weekend, as it stands, Huddersfield, Peterborough and Bristol City are the division’s bottom three clubs – and all have played 40 games.
Rewind to this time last season and the incredible fact is that none of the Championship’s current bottom three sides would feature in the relegation zone with 40 played last season.
Bristol City currently sit at the foot of the division with 40 points and have plenty of ground to make up if they are to escape the drop.
At the exact same point last season in the Championship – the Robins would be three points clear of danger.
With the season very much at the business end – now is the ideal time to find some form and motor towards safety.
The Owls have picked up four points from six on offer over the Easter period and have lost just four of their last 18 Championship games. But despite that run, which dates back to December 2012, Wednesday are one of three sides outside of the drop zone on goal difference.
Huddersfield have endured a difficult Easter, suffering back to back defeats against Hull and Bolton and thus find themselves in danger – positioned 22nd in the table.
Peterborough couldn’t capitalise when they faced out-of-form Middlesbrough on Tuesday evening – drawing 0-0, meaning Darren Ferguson’s men sit 23rd.
The Terriers host the Posh this weekend in the proverbial six pointer.
Pressure seems to have brought the best out of many sides fighting for Championship survival and, as a result, the likelihood is that more than two clubs could face relegation with over 50 points.
The only side to have been relegated to League 1 with more than 50 points since the formation of the Championship in 2004 is Leicester, who went down with 52 points in 2007/08.
Three straight wins for Wolves over Bristol City, Middlesbrough and Birmingham has ever so slightly eased relegation concerns at Molineux but Dean Saunders’ men are far from out of the woods just yet – currently one point above the bottom three.
Barnsley continue to demonstrate their credentials in the relegation scrap and have won three of their last four games. Only defeat against the Owls last Saturday mars their recent form.
Blackburn are the other side locked on 47 points along with Huddersfield, Wednesday and Barnsley and they, of course, visit Hillsborough on Saturday.
Rovers have not won a league game since early February and their current adverse run of form has put the Ewood Park side well in the mix.
Ipswich (17th) and Blackpool (16th) have a three-point cushion above the bottom three, both on 50 points.
As it stands at the bottom..
| Played | Goal Difference | Points | |
| Blackpool | 40 | 2 | 50 |
| Ipswich | 40 | -16 | 50 |
| Wolves | 40 | -7 | 48 |
| Blackburn | 39 | -6 | 47 |
| Barnsley | 39 | -10 | 47 |
| Wednesday | 39 | -10 | 47 |
| Huddersfield | 40 | -26 | 47 |
| Peterborough | 40 | -8 | 46 |
| Bristol City | 40 | -16 | 40 |
This weekend’s key fixtures
Owls v Blackburn
Bolton v Wolves
Burnley v Bristol City
Crystal Palace v Barnsley
Derby v Ipswich
Huddersfield v Peterborough
Nottingham Forest v Blackpool
As the Owls face Blackburn at Hillsborough this weekend – there is a special offer on tickets with the game designated ‘Kids for a Quid’!
Come on Wednesday!