Championship promotion race set for crucial Easter weekend with 11 teams in mix

The Championship rarely disappoints when it comes to thrilling promotion races.

But this season is threatening to take that to a whole new level. With just a handful of games left nothing is yet decided in the second tier in terms of automatic or play-off spots. Even 11th-placed Queens Park Rangers still have realistic ambitions of clinching a top-six spot which shows just how open it is in the second tier.

This Easter weekend sees all 24 teams play twice, and by the end of it, the situation should be a little clearer. Here, Mirror Football looks at the remaining fixtures for all the sides in the shake-up.

Fulham

The Cottagers have been runaway leaders for most of the season and despite a blip, losing to Coventry last time out, they are almost over the line for an immediate Premier League return.

They could clinch promotion this weekend, with two wins over Derby and Preston guaranteeing their elevation. Likewise, a win over Derby combined with a Forest defeat on Friday will see them up.

It's just a matter of when, for Marco Silva's side.

Remaining games

April 15 - Derby (A)

April 19 - Preston (H)

April 23 - Bournemouth (A)

April 26 - Forest (H)

May 2 - Luton (H)

May 7 - Sheff Utd (A)

Bournemouth

The Cherries have been in and around the top two all season and their superb start is paying off for them as we approach the final stretch. Scott Parker's side didn't lose any of their first 15 league matches.

They have been strong all season, and are second-highest scorers behind rampant Fulham. Crucially, they have two games in hand on most of the chasing pack.

Two wins over Easter will have them in a commanding position ahead of the run-in.

Remaining games

April 15 - Middlesbrough (H)

April 18 - Coventry (A)

April 23 - Fulham (H)

April 26 - Swansea (A)

April 30 - Blackburn (A)

May 3 - Forest (H)

May 7 - Milwall (H)

Huddersfield

The Terriers were below-par in Carlos Corberan's first season in charge but have transformed into promotion contenders this term.

A recent mini-blip was ended after wins over Hull and Luton, and two wins from their last five should seal a play-off spot. The automatic places, with Bournemouth enjoying two games in hand on them, look out of reach.

Remaining games

April 15 - QPR (H)

April 18 - Middlesbrough (A)

April 22 - Barnsley (H)

April 30 - Coventry (A)

May 7 - Bristol City (H)

Which three sides will be promoted? Let us know in the comments

Nottingham Forest

Forest have been in outstanding form since Steve Cooper took them over in September when they were bottom.

A good FA Cup run only aided their league form and like Bournemouth, Forest have two games in hand on most of the teams around them. Their run-in does look tricky though, with tasty trips to take on both Fulham and the Cherries still to come. Only two of their last seven are at the City Ground.

Remaining games

April 15 - Luton (A)

April 18 - West Brom (H)

April 23 - Peterborough (A)

April 26 - Fulham (A)

April 30 - Swansea (H)

May 3 - Bournemouth (A)

May 7 - Hull (A)

Luton

The surprise package of this season, Nathan Jones' side have been in magnificent form and have belied their modest budget.

They haven't won any of their last three games and with the race for a top-six spot so congested, they'll be looking to get one over on one of those rivals when they host Forest on Good Friday.

Aside from that game, and a visit to a Fulham side who will most probably be promoted by the time the Hatters play them, their run-in looks favourable.

Remaining games

April 15 - Forest (H)

April 18 - Cardiff (A)

April 23 - Blackpool (H)

May 2 - Fulham (A)

May 7 - Reading (H)

Sheffield United

The Blades have been much more consistent since Paul Heckingbottom was promoted to first-team coach following Slavisa Jokanovic's brief tenure.

United have been particularly strong at home and are unbeaten there since October. The fact three of their last five matches are at Bramall Lane bodes well.

Remaining games

April 15 - Reading (H)

April 18 - Bristol City (A)

April 23 - Cardiff (H)

April 29 - QPR (A)

May 7 - Fulham (H)

Blackburn

Rovers have slipped up in recent months, from a relatively strong position to being on the cusp of the top six.

Tony Mowbray's side are only outside the play-off spots by two points and a strong end to the campaign could see them squeeze in, with a favourable run-in.

Remaining games

April 15 - Peterborough (A)

April 18 - Stoke (H)

April 25 - Preston (A)

April 30 - Bournemouth (H)

May 7 - Birmingham (A)

Middlesbrough

Chris Wilder, similar to Steve Cooper at Forest, has had a transformative effect on a side that was floundering before his arrival.

Home form has been key to that although back-to-back Riverside losses have curtailed that progress. Luckily for Wilder's side they have a game in hand on all their rivals.

Their results over the Easter period, against Bournemouth and Huddersfield, could prove crucial.

Remaining games

April 15 - Bournemouth (A)

April 18 - Huddersfield (H)

April 23 - Swansea (A)

April 27 - Cardiff (H)

April 30 - Stoke (H)

May 7 - Preston (A)

Millwall

An outside shot but the Lions have given themselves a fighting chance, after last week's thumping win over Barnsley.

Gary Rowett's side are under no pressure to qualify for the play-offs, unlike many of the teams in the mix, which may just help them.

Remaining games

April 15 - Preston (A)

April 18 - Hull (H)

April 23 - Birmingham (A)

April 30 - Peterborough (H)

May 7 - Bournemouth (A)

Coventry

The Sky Blues have enjoyed a superb couple of years, first winning promotion back to the second tier and then consolidating.

A return to the city after being exiled in Birmingham has aided an improved season this time around. Last weekend's shock win at leaders Fulham made people sit up and notice, although a six-point gap could be a bridge too far for Mark Robins' men.

Remaining games

April 15 - Birmingham (A)

April 18 - Bournemouth (H)

April 23 - West Brom (A)

April 30 - Huddersfield (H)

May 7 - Stoke (A)

QPR

Rangers will be hugely disappointed with how their season has tailed off. They looked a shoo-in for much of the campaign and were regularly nestled inside the top six.

But a drop off in form has seen them lose five on the spin - piling pressure on boss Mark Warburton. Realistically they need to win at least four, if not all, of their remaining five games to finish in the play-offs.

Remaining games

April 15 - Huddersfield (A)

April 18 - Derby (H)

April 23 - Stoke (A)

April 29 - Sheff Utd (H)

May 7 - Swansea (A)