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Nottingham Post
Nottingham Post
Sport
Sarah Clapson & Ste McGovern

Play-off permutations for Nottingham Forest ahead of Championship's final weekend

The play-offs await Nottingham Forest in their quest to secure promotion to the Premier League.

Tuesday evening's 1-0 defeat at the Vitality Stadium saw the Reds miss out on second place as opponents Bournemouth clinched a return to the top-flight. Steve Cooper's side will now battle with three other teams for the chance to join the Cherries and Fulham in going up.

At this moment in time we only know the identity of one of those teams that Forest may potentially meet in the mini-tournament - Huddersfield Town. They, too, are guaranteed a spot in the play-offs heading into the final weekend of the Championship campaign.

KEY DATES: When Forest will play in the Championship play-offs

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Both sides are level on points (79), but Cooper's men are way ahead on goal difference (+33 to +15). That means if they equal or better the Terriers' result on Saturday, they will end the season third in the table.

That's important because it could, in theory, lead to an easier draw. The third-placed team face the sixth-placed side in the play-offs, while fourth meets fifth in the other semi-final.

Whoever they do face, though, the Reds will want to head into that first leg on either the 13th or 14th of May with momentum. That's why beating Hull City will supercede everything else for now.

Who Nottingham Forest can play in the play-offs

We know that Forest cannot meet Huddersfield in the semi-finals, due to the aforementioned format of the play-offs. Both of those teams will occupy third and fourth place in the standings whatever happens on Saturday.

Below the battle for third, four teams are still in contention for the top six. Those teams are: Sheffield United, Luton Town, Middlesbrough and Millwall.

The Blades, who are fifth on 72 points, are the bookmakers' current favourites to join Forest and Huddersfield in the play-offs. A win and they're in, no matter what happens elsewhere, but a draw would likely be enough. Lose to Fulham and they might still qualify, but they would need at least two of the other three teams in contention to draw or lose on the final day.

Luton are also on 72 points, but their 7-0 drubbing at the hands of Fulham on Monday has left their goal difference the worst of the lot. Like Sheffield United, win against Reading and they're in, simple as that. A draw will only be enough if one of Boro or the Blades lose, while a defeat opens the door for Millwall. They are second favourites to reach the play-offs with bookmakers.

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MIddlesbrough, the third favourites, are two points outside the top six, meaning they need to beat Preston away and have either of the two teams above them lose to qualify. However, their superior goal difference means that a win and a Luton draw will get them through.

Millwall are outsiders to finish in the top six and need a lot of things to go their way. Three points outside the play-offs, they must beat Bournemouth to have any chance. Then they need both Luton to lose and Boro to draw or lose on the final day to qualify on goal difference.

Based on the odds for how the final table will shake out, a third-placed finish would see Forest play Luton Town in the last four, with the return leg being at home. Huddersfield Town would take on Sheffield United in the other semi-final. We will find out the full picture on Saturday.

Who would you like to see Forest face in the play-offs? Let us know in the comments below!

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