Ipswich Town

Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna is not getting ahead of himself, despite Town's promotion destiny being in their own hands.

"There are many, many examples across football of the last day throwing up different instances and different things can happen in the game that can rock your best laid plans," McKenna told BBC Radio Suffolk.

"It's going to be an absolutely wonderful atmosphere in our stadium. It's the third time in four years that we've had a home game to try and get promoted.

"It's not lost on us the fact that these are special times and they're special times to enjoy, so we're really excited for it.

"We want to go and deliver a big performance, a big result and enjoy what comes after. We're desperate for everyone to achieve that this year and we know what it means to everyone."

Image source, Opta

Kieran McKenna has made two changes to the Town XI which drew 2-2 at Southampton on Tuesday night.

Jack Taylor returns in place of Dan Neil in midfield with George Hirst replacing Ivan Azon up top.

Neil and Azon drop to the bench alongside Tuesday’s hero Jack Clarke, who has to settle for another impact sub role.

QPR boss Julien Stephan has made three changes from the R's side beaten 3-2 late-on by Derby at Loftus Road last Saturday.

Joe Walsh returns in goal in place of Paul Nardi and Nicolas Madsen and Ilias Chair are handed starts in an XI which doesn't feature a recognised striker. Madsen has not started since February while this is Chair's first start since 6 December.

There’s no Richard Kone or Rumarn Burrell in the squad, Paul Smyth drops to the bench and with no Nardi or Ben Hamer, young keeper Matteo Salamon makes the bench for just the second time this season, and first since September.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Getty Images

Ipswich head to Portman Road this lunchtime aiming to seek promotion for the third time in four seasons.

Town emerged from a tricky run of away games with five points, a win at Charlton, a stalemate at West Brom last Saturday and a dramatic 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday night to ensure they go into the final day with a one-point advantage in the race for automatic promotion, which is effectively two due to their superior goal difference.

The Town has been decked out in blue and white ahead of what Tractor Boys fans are hoping will be their final game of the season. If they win, it will be. However, if they stumble today and Millwall or even Middlesbrough are able to capitalise, Kieran McKenna's men will have to recalculate their route back to the top tier via three games in the play-offs.

QPR have been adrift in mid-table for weeks, but Millwall will be hoping their London neighbours can do them a favour and give Town a run for their money this afternoon.

Aaron Paul
BBC Radio 5 Live reporter at The Den

Image source, Shutterstock

It is 38 years to the day since Millwall beat Hull City to be promoted to the old First Division.

This part of the capital is ready for a celebration - as the song goes…LET 'EM ALL COME DOWN TO THE DEN.

Millwall

Millwall boss Alex Neil says he will not be keeping track of scores elsewhere this afternoon because there is "nothing we can do about it".

"We know what we need to do, we need to go and win the match and that's all I'm focused on. Whatever will happen at the end of the game will be what it is," Neil told BBC Radio London.

"I think what we do need to do is make sure we don't lose sight of the fact that we've made the play-offs as a club for the first time in 25 years.

"We've got the best away record in the league. We'll have kept the most clean sheets in the league.

"There's just so much to like about us this season that it's been a remarkable year. But we want to have something to show for our efforts come the end of the year.

"For us to get promoted would be a remarkable achievement from everybody involved, but there's a hell of a lot of work to be done between now and then."

Image source, Opta

Alex Neil has made two changes to the Lions XI which salvaged a draw at Leicester last time out.

Derek Mazou-Sacko drops to the bench and there’s no Josh Coburn in the squad after coming off at the King Power, with Barry Bannan starting in midfield and Mihailo Ivanovic recalled in attack.

Matt Bloomfield has made one change from the U’s side which beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-1 last Saturday.

Cameron Brannagan drops to the bench with Yunus Konak handed a start in midfield.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Getty Images

Millwall's promotion destiny will be decided when they welcome already-relegated Oxford United to The Den for the Championship season finale.

After being held at Leicester eight days ago, the Lions now lie a point behind Ipswich, who occupy the second automatic promotion place.

Alex Neil's men need a win, coupled with Town failing to beat QPR at Portman Road, to secure promotion to the Premier League for the first time.

If Ipswich win, three points for the Lions would still seal third place and home advantage in the play-offs - their first at this level in 24 years.

Oxford's return to League One after two seasons in the Championship was sealed last Saturday, before they went on to beat Sheffield Wednesday at home.

Image source, Opta

Despite hitting a couple of hurdles midway through the course, Coventry stayed on in the final straight to finish well clear of the field and will watch the drama unfold from the winners' circle.

Ipswich are a length clear going into the final furlong, a point ahead of Millwall and with a huge goal-difference advantage, which is as good as another point.

The equation is clear for Town, beat QPR, adrift in mid-table, winless in five games and losers of their past three, and Kieran McKenna's men will ensure a third promotion in four seasons. Things are never dull at Portman Road these days.

However, should the Tractor Boys falter and fail to pick up three points, the door would be open for Millwall to take second, should they finish their season with a home win over relegated Oxford United at The Den.

Middlesbrough face the toughest ask of all. Not only do they visit a Wrexham side with their own season on the line, but they need to win and hope Ipswich lose and Millwall fail to beat Oxford to sneak back into the top two, where they have spent more than three-quarters of the campaign, leading the way on three separate occasions.

The only way Boro could go up without Ipswich losing is if Kim Hellberg's men win by six goals at the Stok Cae Ras while Town draw, and even then Boro would need Millwall to fall short in their own game.

Image source, Opta

Midfielder Bobby Clark is named on the bench for Derby County as boss John Eustace makes a triple change.

It was feared Clark, who was named the Rams' young player of the year, wouldn't make another appearance for the side unless they made the play-offs after picking up a hamstring injury in April.

Jaydon Banel, Craig Forsyth and David Ozoh are the three to enter the starting XI.

Sheffield United change two with Leo Hjelde missing out after coming off at half-time in their 3-2 loss to Preston last week.

He's replaced by Harrison Burrows in the XI, while Tom Cannon comes in for Tahith Chong.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Hull City are without Eliot Matazo after he sustained another serious knee injury at Charlton last weekend, while Semi Ajayi and John Lundstram drop to the bench.

Into the side come Charlie Hughes, Regan Slater and Mohamed Belloumi.

Pelle Mattsson takes the captain's armband for Norwich in place of the injured Kenny McLean, who has a back problem.

Harry Darling, Paris Maghoma and Liam Gibbs are among the substitutes with Ruairi McConville, Jacob Wright, Amankwah Forson and Ali Ahmed starting.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Phil Parkinson sticks with the same Wrexham line-up that started the 3-1 defeat at champions Coventry City last Sunday.

Middlesbrough boss Kim Hellberg makes four changes from the side that thrashed Watford 5-1 last time out.

Matt Targett, skipper Dael Fry, Alan Browne and Tommy Conway all come back into the team.

Alex Gilbert, Jeremy Sarmiento and Sontje Hansen drop to the bench. Alex Bangura is not in the squad after being withdrawn at half-time last weekend.

Image source, Opta

Right, let's take a look at the all-important team news for these massive encounters in the play-off race...

Ian Mitchelmore
BBC Sport Wales

I spoke to former Wrexham captain Ben Tozer earlier this week, and it's fair to say he's a man who knows what it takes to deliver in crunch moments like today.

Wrexham have a habit of delivering in the big moments on their own patch, and Tozer feels the home crowd can help Phil Parkinson's men get over the line today.

"It's phenomenal. They're literally the 12th man," he told BBC Sport Wales.

"Any stadium can be, but in particular the Cae Ras, when it's bouncing, it's intimidating for the opposition, it helps win games."

BBC Newsbeat

Image source, William Ascough

For Middlesborough, a win today at Wrexham may not be enough to get them into the Premier League after nine years away.

Boro fan William Ascough, 20, tells BBC Newsbeat the season’s been “an absolute whirlwind” and “a proper emotional rollercoaster”.

After starting the season “on fire” with Rob Edwards in charge, he says fans “were instantly dreaming of what could happen”.

He was worried when Edwards left for Wolves but says new manager Kim Hellberg has been “a complete blessing in disguise”.

William’s realistic enough to know that Boro are likely to end up in the play-offs.

“Once our play-off position is confirmed, that’s when the nerves will really start settling in,” he says.

“That’s one of the most nerve-wracking parts of English football for any fan.”

Middlesbrough

Despite having the slimmest chance of the three sides involved in the race for automatic promotion, Middlesbrough manager Kim Hellberg has encouraged the fans to "try to enjoy it because that's what you support the club for".

"That's why you play football. You try to be in those positions where you can achieve something and now we are in that position," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees.

"Bring everything. But also, I love when there's a lot of emotions around it. There should be. That's why we love this sport.

"Do everything you can with those emotions to try to bring the best Middlesbrough out and support in the way you can.

"If that's cheering at the game or screaming at the radio or whatever it is, you do your best and we will do the same."

Wrexham

Image source, Shutterstock

Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson has made no bones about what is at stake this afternoon.

The 58-year-old, who has led the Red Dragons from the National League to the cusp of the play-offs for a shot at the Premier League, describes this game as the biggest of the season.

"As always in any of these games, whether it's a big cup tie or it's a pivotal league game, it's about blocking everything out," Parkinson told BBC Wales.

"The motivation is always going to be there, an understanding of concentrating on the detail of what's required on the day.

"It's just having that level of understanding about how Middlesbrough are going to play, what their strengths are, what the weaknesses are and can we put that into practice when it matters the most on the most important game of the season.

"That's a great challenge for us and we're looking forward to seeing the lads put that into place."

Image source, PA Media

There is a case to be made that this could be the biggest game of the day, in the sense that it's the only final-day fixture in which both teams have something HUGE riding on it.

Both are embroiled in a tense three-way race - Wrexham for the last play-off spot as they look to keep hopes of an unprecedented fourth consecutive promotion alive, and Middlesbrough for automatic promotion to the Premier League.

The Red Dragons must either match or better the result of both Hull City and Derby to clinch it. However, if Phil Parkinson’s side win and the Tigers beat Norwich, it will come down to goal difference, which is currently separated by just one in Wrexham’s favour.

A draw would only be enough for the Welshmen if Hull and Derby also fail to win.

As for Boro, to realistically finish in the top two, they must win and hope that Ipswich lose and Millwall fail to beat Oxford.

If the Tractor Boys draw, Kim Hellberg's side would need to win by six goals to overhaul them on goal difference - and it would also still require the Lions to not beat the U's.

Given the transfer embargoes and financial issues Hull City had to contend with before the season even started, and the fact they only secured their Championship status on the final day of the previous campaign it is maybe already an achievement to be in the play-off shake-up today.

Putting that to one side, the Tigers could still be left with that 'what if?' feeling.

Their form has fallen off a cliff at exactly the wrong time - four points and no wins from their past six matches means they need some help from Middlesbrough at Wrexham to stand any chance of securing a top-six finish as well as getting the job done here against Norwich.

Boss Sergej Jakirovic will not be on the touchline for this one as he serves a suspension.

"The target is to do everything we can to win the Norwich game - we didn't do our job against Charlton but Coventry (beating Wrexham) have given us one more chance," said Jakirovic.

Norwich may also have that 'what if?' feeling this afternoon - only three teams have taken more points than the Canaries' 56 since Philippe Clement took over in November.

Only Millwall, Middlesbrough and Coventry have more than their 35 away points while they have the fourth-best defensive record and have won their past three on the road.

What if Clement had come in two weeks earlier?

Derby are the underdogs of the Championship play-off race. While they have been in the top six this season, they've spent much of their time just outside banging at the door to get in.

Today, they will have one last bash at cementing their place in a three-horse race with Wrexham and Hull.

They go into the final day with the best form of the three based on their previous five matches; the Rams have picked up nine points, while Wrexham have gathered six and the Tigers just three.

Derby also have arguably the easiest, lowest-ranked side to face of the three in Sheffield United. But while it seems like sealing that last final play-off place is a very real possibility, Rams boss John Eustace just wants to live in the moment.

"We have been written off for a large part of this season already, so its makes no difference to us - we'll concentrate on ourselves," he told BBC East Midlands Today.

"It hasn't really been in our hands for a lot of the season. We haven't really cemented a top-six place at any stage and just flirted with it. It's been in everyone else's hands.

"The group is going to enjoy it, there's no pressure on us. We have to enjoy and embrace the occasion, and if we are lucky enough to get the three points, let's see how the other two do."