MNN Hub
Promotion to the Premier League is a lucrative achievement for teams in the Championship, the second tier of English football.
The top two finishers in the Championship table earn automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the next four sides duke it out for the final spot in a playoff knockout bracket.
Last season’s relegated sides from the Premier League were Burnley, Watford, and Norwich City, and all fared very differently in the quest for a quick return back to the top flight. Burnley clinched promotion back to the Premier League next season, while Norwich fell seven points short of a playoff spot, and Watford were just one point better in mid-table.
The Clarets will be joined back in the Premier League by Sheffield United after the Blades finished second, plus a third team yet to be confirmed through the Championship playoffs.
The Sporting News brings you a full and updated look at the playoff picture as it stands with the season nearing a conclusion.
MORE: Updated 2022/23 Premier League table: Title, Champions League, relegation battles
Teams promoted to Premier League 2023
Burnley secured promotion to the Premier League on April 7 and later secured the Championship title on April 25, finishing with 101 points on the season.
Sheffield United, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2020/21, followed right behind them, clinching a spot in the top flight on April 26.
Finally, the teams that finished in 3rd through 6th qualified for the playoffs, which will produce the third and final team to earn a Premier League place in 2023/24.
Luton Town and Middlesbrough were the first two sides to clinch playoff spots, and on the final day, with eight teams in contention for the other two places, Coventry City and Sunderland secured the last two places. Millwall seemingly had a playoff spot wrapped up, but they threw away a two-goal lead to Blackburn on the final day to see their promotion dreams evaporate.
Final table as of last round of fixtures on May 8, 2023
Pos
Team
Points
Matches
Played
Goals
Scored
Goal
Difference
1.
Burnley – Y
101
46
87
+52
2.
Sheffield United – Y
91
46
73
+34
——
——automatic——
———
————
————
—————
3.
Luton Town – Z
80
46
57
+18
4.
Middlesbrough – Z
75
46
74
+28
5.
Coventry City – Z
70
46
58
+12
6.
Sunderland – Z
69
46
68
+13
——
———playoff———
———
————
————
—————
7.
Blackburn
69
46
52
-2
8.
Millwall
68
46
57
+7
9.
West Brom
66
46
59
+6
10.
Swansea City
66
46
68
+4
Y – secured automatic promotion to Premier League
Z – assured of a playoff spot
Burnley promoted to Premier League
Just one year after being relegated from the Premier League, Burnley are back in the top flight after securing automatic promotion with a 2-1 win over Middlesbrough on Friday, April 7.
Belgian manager Vincent Kompany steered his side to a promotion place with seven matches to play. It’s an incredible accomplishment for the club that was dumped into the second tier just 10 months prior on the final day of the 2021/22 Premier League campaign.
Burnley’s rise back to the Premier League comes after a massive summer overhaul that saw club stalwarts James Tarkowski and Nick Pope depart, with Kompany managing to integrate 16 new signings.
The former Manchester City centre-back achieved just one win in the first five matches of the season, but they proceeded to lose just three times all season, blasting teams with an all-out attack while also shoring up at the back — their 87 goals scored and 35 goals conceded were the best marks in the Championship.
A day to remember for Vincent Kompany 😍 pic.twitter.com/ksHtOEydNV
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 7, 2023
Promotion ✅
But, as Corky says, we’re not finished yet… pic.twitter.com/bXGwDr0Pzh
— Burnley FC (@BurnleyOfficial) April 8, 2023
Sheffield United promoted to Premier League
The Blades were dumped from the English top flight two seasons prior, finishing bottom of the table and sent down together with Fulham and West Brom that season.
It was fitting, then, that a 2-0 win over the Baggies on April 26 saw Sheffield United secure a place back in the Premier League.
Led by former Leeds United and Barnsley boss Paul Heckingbottom, the Blades have been revived with some familiar faces and a few key additions. The backbone of the squad remained after relegation two years ago, with Ollie McBurnie and Sander Berge playing big roles in their big promotion campaign.
They also rode the back of 24-year-old Bosnian centre-back Anel Ahmedhodzic, who joined in the summer of 2022 from Malmo and was one of the best defenders in the Championship, scoring six goals as well, including one in the clincher against West Brom.
A pair of young Manchester City loanees, James McAtee and Tommy Doyle, were also key contributors in midfield, and their futures with the club after promotion will be a big focus this coming transfer window.
Championship playoff 2023
The final promoted side will be determined by the Championship playoff, with four teams in the hunt for the final promotion mark.
Luton Town, Middlesbrough and Coventry City are the three sides left in contention for that last spot in the Premier League for the 2023/24 season.
As the highest seed, Luton Town are favourites, having finished third in the table, just five points off automatic promotion. They eliminated sixth-place finisher Sunderland in one semifinal (3-2
Source: Sporting News | Read More
