Middlesbrough snubbed by EFL pundit as Ipswich Town and Southampton promotion prospects raised
There is a crunch clash in the Championship promotion race as Ipswich Town visit Southampton on Tuesday night.
All eyes will be on St Marys Stadium on Tuesday night as Championship promotion contenders Southampton and Ipswich Town go head-to-head - and an away win would put the Tractor Boys on the brink of returning to the Premier League.
A home win would set up a thrilling final day of the season with four clubs firmly in the mix to take the second automatic promotion spot and join already crowned champions Coventry City in the top flight when the next season gets underway in August. For Middlesbrough, all focus is currently on a final day visit to Wrexham and their hosts head into the game needing a win to secure a play-off spot of their own.
An Ipswich win on Tuesday night would leave Boro to focus on a play-off semi-final - but anything else would mean they can travel to Wales knowing they can secure an automatic promotion spot on the final 90 minutes of what has been a season of progression under head coach Kim Hellberg. Should the race for second place go to Saturday, Boro will also have eyes on Ipswich and Millwall in their respective home games with QPR and Oxford United and Southampton’s stunning run of form means they are serious contenders as they close their season with a trip to Preston North End.
EFL pundit Jobi McAnuff has delivered his take over what could lie ahead and the former Wimbledon winger has stated the two sides he believes will join Coventry in the Premier League - and delivered a major snub to Hellberg and his players.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: "You have to put Ipswich as favourites (to finish second) given the position they've got. I think they (Ipswich) will get the job done in the position they're in. And then Millwall, Southampton. That's why it's so interesting, because even last game of the season, there are teams that are already in there, but where you finish is going to be key to who you get in the play-offs. Nobody will want to play Southampton, that's for sure. I will go with Southampton to win the play-offs if they end up in there."
Your next Middlesbrough read: Kim Hellberg sees 'big opportunity' in promotion race after Middlesbrough thrash Watford