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Ten days to decide second place in the Championship?

Image source: Getty ImagesByGlenn SpellerBBC Sport England1 Hour Ago40 CommentsThe race to secure the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship will be decided by what happens over the next 10 days. Ipswich and Middlesbrough shared a 2-2 tie in a thrilling match at Portman Road, and Ipswich has sneaked into second place on goal differential from Millwall, and one point in front of Southampton. They also have the advantage of having a game left to play. This could be crucial. McKenna said, “We have three games away in six days for the season to finish so it’s going be an incredible effort from all to see if it can come back here [to Portman Road] on the final match.” Ipswich has found life on the roads difficult this season with only eight victories from their 20 matches. They visit Charlton on Monday before heading to West Brom on Saturday, and a potentially-season-deciding game against fourth-placed Southampton Tuesday, 28th April. “We have had periods when we’ve achieved some good results away – we won against the team that will win the league this season but we also know we’ve experienced results against teams who games got away from us,” said the Northern Irishman. “We have shown a lot of progress this season, but to now have to play three away matches in six days will require us to make another step if we are to be successful. “Image source: BBC Sport/Getty ImagesWe need to win the next games – HellbergImage Source: BBC Sport/Getty ImagesFrom two points ahead of Coventry City in mid-February Middlesbrough are now three points behind second place. A seven-game winless streak has left Hellberg’s side as the outsiders for the second spot, behind Ipswich Millwall and Southampton. “We have to win the next two matches to have a chance of playing for automatics or momentum to take us into the play-offs,” Hellberg said after the final whistle. His side had led 2-1 at Portman Road before Jack Clarke’s late goal. “It’s tough because we were tied with everyone else at 88 minutes, but there are still twists in the story.” We’re still in it, but we will wait until the next two matches to see where we stand. “Hellberg was appointed on 26 November after Rob Edwards moved to Wolves. He won his first four games, but an awful run of only four points out of 21 has left the team playing catch-up. The Swede explained that the expectation was for the team to be in the top two positions of the division because they have been very good. “I don’t believe anyone had these expectations at the beginning of the season,” he said. “When I first arrived, I thought we were in a great position. But there were many teams in the same position. We have done well and have built the confidence that we can do it, but we’ve had some tough results. We have also tried to keep our head which is difficult. “The performances can worsen, you have to stop doing what you do well and start doing other things, and we dealt with that. “‘Second place still in play’- Boro boss Hellberg2 hrs agoMcKenna was’surprised by penalty questions’ after Boro draw2 hrs agoMillwall keeping focused – NeilImage Source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesHaving lost out on the play offs on the last day of last season, there was always the feeling Millwall could make it into the top six. But there is a greater prize in store with three games left. “I think that it’s overwhelmingly good for where we are and how we look at the remaining games,” he said. “The only team that has won more games this year than us is the team that will win the title.” After sweeping aside QPR, the Lions have a trip to 17th place Stoke and games against Leicester or Oxford who could be relegated at that point. Neil told BBC Radio London: “I’ve told the lads that whatever we have to do, is what we must focus on. We can’t influence what happens elsewhere.” “We have Tuesday (at Stoke), and we must do our part. If we don’t, it doesn’t matter. “Southampton, the coming force”Image source, BBC Sport/Getty ImagesWhen Middlesbrough won the Championship in February, Southampton was 14th and 18 points behind. Their 16-game unbeaten streak, which included 13 victories, has not only helped them surpass Boro, but has also seen many back them to take second place. The nature of their late win at Swansea, on Saturday, has only reinforced these feelings. Jo Tessem, a former Saints forward, told BBC Radio Solent: “I think any Championship club facing Southampton, at home or away, would think they were in trouble.” “I think the game is on. I thought we were still a few months away from the play-offs, but I was wrong. Now we’re talking about direct promotions. We have to keep on winning. We just have to keep winning. Related topicsSouthamptonMiddlesbroughMillwallChampionshipFootballIpswich Town

  

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Man City beat Arsenal to close gap in title race

Man City beat Arsenal in title raceThis is not available where you are. There was an error.Erling Haaland scored and Rayan Cherki also scored as Manchester City beat Arsenal. This closes the gap by three points and puts more pressure on Mikel Arteta. Premier League6 minutes agoShare this pageAbout sharing

  

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Champions League almost sewn up but race for Europe tighter than ever

Image source: Getty ImagesByJoe RindlBBC Sport Journalist15 minutes ago7 commentsThe race for Champions League qualifying appears to be settled following two dramatic second-half injuries-time goals on Sunday. Liverpool scored in the hundredth minute and Aston Villa scored in the 93rd. Six points separate sixth from 14th. Only once in Premier League history was the gap between 6th and 14th so tight on this date (19th April). That was in 1992-93, when the top three teams were allowed to play in Europe. The Premier League’s top 5 teams all qualify for the Champions League this season. Arsenal and Manchester City have already secured a top-five position. Man Utd, Villa and Liverpool are set for Champions League? Both teams need only six more points to qualify. In fifth place, Liverpool beat Everton late in the game 2-1. The winner of the FA Cup will also qualify for the Europa League. If a team is already in the Champions League, or Europa League, by league position then everything moves down a spot. So sixth and seventh can be good enough for Europa League, and eighth could be for the Europa Conference League. The English clubs that win any of the three European competitions in this season can also earn extra spots. Potentially, ninth could earn a place in the Europa Conference League. They are tied with Brentford and Bournemouth on 48 points. Brighton and Everton are in ninth and tenth place, respectively, with 47 points. Sunderland is 11th, Fulham is 12th, and Newcastle in 13th place with 42 points. There’s a strong argument that, at this point in the season, every team has something to play about. [embedded content]Related topicsManchester UnitedLiverpoolSunderlandFulhamBrentfordChelseaAston VillaBrighton & Hove AlbionPremier LeagueCrystal PalaceBournemouthEvertonNewcastle UnitedFootballMore on this storyFollow your club with BBC Sport12 MarchListen to the latest Football Daily podcastGet football news sent straight to your phone16 August 2025

  

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Record-breaking Bayern win Bundesliga – now for the Treble

Image Image Kan ” You Kan Kan ” We We ” “If Bayern win two more trophies this season, they would become the first European men’s team to win the Treble three times.Can anyone stop them?Related topicsBayern MunichEuropean FootballGerman BundesligaFootballMore on this storyGet football news sent straight to your phone16 August 2025

  

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Van Dijk 100th-minute winner sees Liverpool beat Everton

Van Dijk’s 100th-minute goal sees Liverpool beat EvertonThis is not available to you. There was an error.Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk scores a crucial 100th-minute win against Everton at The Hill Dickinson Stadium. Available to UK users only.Premier League26 mins agoShare pageAbout Sharing

  

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Villa score late to beat Sunderland in seven-goal thriller

Villa score late in seven-goal thrillerThis is not available at your location. There was an error.Tammy Abraham’s last-minute winner gives Unai Emery’s side a vital 4-3 win in their quest to qualify for Champions League next season.

  

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