“RELEGATION RATED: They Thought They Were Safe… Until They Saw These Three Games. This ‘Easy’ Fixture List is a TRAP That Could Send Leicester Crashing Out!”

Leicester City’s survival route mapped as Championship relegation run-ins assessed
A detailed breakdown of the remaining fixtures for each of the five clubs – City, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Oxford and West Brom – locked in the basement battle and desperate to dodge a drop into League One

With only nine games left to play, it’s now a two-from-five scrap to beat the drop.

Charlton’s shock midweek victory at Middlesbrough propelled them to 47 points, and barring an absolute meltdown, the Addicks appear to have done enough.

That leaves Leicester City, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Oxford and West Brom fighting it out to avoid joining Sheffield Wednesday in slipping into League One. Just three points separate the five sides as things stand.

A huge factor in the run-in is the fixture schedule. Here, we examine the opposition each relegation-threatened team still has to navigate.

Fixtures remaining:

Promotion contenders: Boro (A), Ipswich (H), Coventry (A)

Play-off chasers: Derby (H), Norwich (A), Birmingham (H)

Mid-table also-rans: QPR (A), Stoke (A)

Relegation rivals: Oxford (H), Leicester (H)

Already down: –

They hold a game in hand over the other sides in the relegation mire but still have three of the top four to contend with, plus a host of play-off hopefuls – though Birmingham’s push may be over by the time Portsmouth face them on the final day.

With two home fixtures against Oxford and City on the horizon, winning those and scraping points elsewhere could be enough for Pompey to preserve their status.

Blackburn – P37 Pts39 GD-14

Fixtures remaining:

Promotion contenders: Millwall (A), Boro (H), Coventry (H)

Play-off chasers: Birmingham (A), Sheff Utd (A), Southampton (A)

Mid-table also-rans: Stoke (A)

Relegation rivals: West Brom (H), Leicester (H)

Already down: –

This looks like the most daunting run-in of all the sides scrapping at the bottom. Blackburn still have the top three to face, while they travel to three teams who will still hold genuine play-off ambitions.

Rovers are going to need to spring some major surprises, otherwise they could be heading into the final day of the season, hosting City at Ewood Park, still needing a result to stay afloat.

Leicester City – P37 Pts38 GD-7

Fixtures remaining:

Promotion contenders: Hull (H), Millwall (H)

Play-off chasers: Watford (A), Swansea (H)

Mid-table also-rans: QPR (H), Preston (H)

Relegation rivals: Portsmouth (A), Blackburn (A)

Already down: Sheff Wed (A)

On paper, City’s fixture list looks favourable. They have the fewest promotion contenders left to face, and it’s entirely possible that both Hull and Millwall will have sealed their league positions before arriving at the King Power Stadium in the final weeks. Likewise, Swansea’s faint play-off hopes may have evaporated by the time they visit.

Picking up positive results over the next few weeks will be crucial to ease the pressure heading into those final fixtures, with City playing both of their six-pointers against Portsmouth and Blackburn away from home.

Oxford – P37 Pts38 GD-13

Fixtures remaining:

Promotion contenders: Hull (H), Millwall (A)

Play-off chasers: Southampton (A), Watford (H), Derby (A), Wrexham (A)

Mid-table also-rans: Charlton (H)

Relegation rivals: Portsmouth (A)

Already down: Sheff Wed (H)

While they face only two sides still in the hunt for automatic promotion, Oxford must take on a host of teams battling for play-off places. Trips to Southampton, Derby and Wrexham look far from straightforward.

Facing Charlton now that they’re virtually safe could work in their favour, while hosting Sheffield Wednesday in their final home game is a welcome boost.

West Brom – P37 Pts GD-18

Fixtures remaining:

Promotion contenders: Hull (H), Millwall (H), Ipswich (H)

Play-off chasers: Wrexham (H), Watford (H)

Mid-table also-rans: Bristol City (A), Preston (A)

Relegation rivals: Blackburn (A)

Already down: Sheff Wed (A)

There are plenty of tough tests ahead for the Baggies, but they can take comfort in the fact that most of their toughest opponents will be visiting the Hawthorns, rather than making the trip to face James Morrison’s side.

Playing Sheffield Wednesday on the final day feels like a major advantage – but they must ensure they’re still in contention by then. The Easter Monday clash at Blackburn could prove pivotal.