With the 2021-22 Sky Bet Championship run-in kicking off this weekend, here is a guide to the relegation battle and who could avoid the drop.
Reading currently sit in the final safety spot ahead of Barnsley, Peterborough and Derby County, with the former three clubs all having one game in hand compared to Derby which could prove significant.
This is therefore the perfect time to take a look at the individual run-ins of all four teams fighting for their second-tier status, plus here is a reminder of the current standings.
| Team | Points |
| Reading | 33 |
| Barnsley | 28 |
| Peterborough | 26 |
| Derby County | 25 |
24 = Derby County
| Opposition | Venue |
| Preston | Home |
| Swansea | Away |
| Fulham | Home |
| QPR | Away |
| Bristol City | Home |
| Blackpool | Away |
| Cardiff | Home |
With an eight-point gap to safety, Derby face a huge uphill struggle to stand any chance of survival but they can call on their experience of last season’s nervy fight to eventually stay up.
I however do feel like Wayne Rooney’s Rams must win three of their four remaining home games to stand any chance of survival, particularly because I can’t see them getting anything against Fulham.
As for their away prospects, Derby realistically need to beat Swansea to give them momentum heading into that home game against Fulham, especially given how tricky their two remaining away games against QPR and Blackpool look.
This is the Sky Bet Championship though so there will be twists and turns but realistically based on present form and difficulty of their run-in, I can only see Derby beating Preston and Bristol City at home plus Swansea away whilst nicking one or two draws elsewhere.
Points prediction: 10 points.
23 = Peterborough United
| Opposition | Venue |
| Middlesbrough | Home |
| Luton | Home |
| Bristol City | Away |
| Blackburn | Home |
| Barnsley | Away |
| Nottingham Forest | Home |
| Millwall | Away |
| Blackpool | Home |
Having begun to build some momentum under Grant McCann with a brilliant win at QPR last time out, Peterborough sit seven points off safety but I can’t see them getting anything against Middlesbrough, Luton or Blackburn in their next three home matches.
A win away at Bristol City therefore feels likely to be crucial to their survival prospects especially ahead of a six-pointer away clash against Barnsley at Oakwell, where a win plus surprise points at home earlier on could put them right in the mix for survival at the Tykes’ expense.
The Posh’s last three matches though do look tricky in terms of avoiding the drop, unless they deliver their absolute best in those three games which I just can’t see happening as they realistically are probably going to need to win their last four matches to stand any chance of staying up.
In summary, Peterborough’s away visits to Bristol City and Barnsley will be make or break unless they can spring surprises at home, where I just can’t see them getting anything with their upcoming home opposition still fighting for promotion or play-off places.
On that note, I am going for middle of the road because Peterborough fans will likely expect at least seven points from their run-in, which is the total amount of points that I can see them gathering over the next month and a half.
Points prediction: 7 points
22 = Barnsley
| Opposition | Venue |
| Reading | Home |
| Millwall | Away |
| Swansea | Away |
| Peterborough | Home |
| Huddersfield | Away |
| Blackpool | Home |
| Preston | Home |
| West Brom | Away |
Barnsley head into the run-in with a five-point gap to safety but with Reading sat just ahead of them in the table, their home clash against the Royals is an absolute must win and likewise against Peterborough on Easter Monday.
In fact, Barnsley simply need to win all four home matches to stand any chance of survival given their poor away form, especially as I can’t see them winning at any of Millwall, Huddersfield or West Brom which means that the trip to Swansea is set to be crucial.
Barnsley though are unbeaten in their last five home matches so if they beat Reading to reduce their deficit to two points, it is imperative that they convert that fresh home form into away form too otherwise I can’t see them staying up.
I however do see them potentially beating Preston in their final home match of the season, so if they can defeat Reading and Peterborough at home and snatch one or two away draws then the escape might be on.
Points prediction: 12 points
21 = Reading
| Opposition | Venue |
| Barnsley | Away |
| Stoke City | Home |
| Cardiff | Home |
| Sheffield United | Away |
| Swansea | Home |
| Hull | Away |
| West Brom | Home |
| Luton | Away |
With a five-point gap to the relegation zone, Reading know that victory at Barnsley could see them move seven or eight points clear after this coming weekend.
If that is the case then survival is simply in their own hands which I can see them achieving if they can continue their recent head-to-head home form against Stoke and Cardiff, which would see them gain nine points which could be crucial come the end of the season.
I however don’t see them getting anything against Sheffield United, Swansea or West Brom but they could definitely snatch something from Swansea or Luton if lucky, although three early wins could be enough in the end despite a slightly tough final five games of the season.
Points prediction: 10 points
No Great Escapes
Once the above points predictions are added to the existing table, there would be no great escape for any of the bottom three teams, as Barnsley would miss out on survival by three points whilst Derby finish second-bottom above Peterborough.
| Team | Points |
| Reading | 43 |
| Barnsley | 40 |
| Derby County | 35 |
| Peterborough | 33 |
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