[jjamez]

Huddersfield welcome Bristol City to the John Smiths Stadium on Saturday for the final game of the regular season knowing fully well that they have secured a spot in the play offs and guaranteed a home fixture for the second leg. Bristol City on the other hand have nothing to play for and will be looking forward to their time on the beach as shown by their 5-0 victory over Hull last time out.

It was a resounding victory that had manager Nigel Pearson questioning why they weren't able to do it earlier in the season, much like every manager does at this time of the season, probably comes down to pressure or the lack thereof at this time of season with nothing left to play for. Chris Martin and Andi Weimann both bagged braces against the Tigers, with Antoine Semenyo grabbing the other goal. Huddersfield made the trip for the first time to the Coventry Building Society Arena and came away with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Harry Toffolo and Tino Anjorin, as well as saves made by Lee Nicholls to keep Coventry at bay. Viktor Gyokeres scored a late goal for the Sky Blues but it would be too late for them to mount a comeback.

There are still some games with something still to play for. Luton face Reading, fresh off the back of a 7-0 drumming against Fulham, Sheffield United play host to Fulham, whilst Middlesbrough travel to Preston, all with the spots in the play offs up for grabs. Millwall too, have a chance of making the play offs but they are heavily reliant on the other results going their way, but it isn't unheard of. Town know that they will be facing one of Luton, Sheffield United, Middlesbrough or Millwall in just over a weeks time in the first leg of the play offs. But who do you want?

Back to Town versus Bristol, the two sides met back in the middle of December where Town won 3-2. Weimann got the Robins off to a flier when he scored after just 2 minutes, but Duane Holmes equalised just before half time for Town. Straight after the interval Danel Sinani put Town ahead before Danny Ward made it 3 less than 10 minutes later, Weimann bagged his second of the game in the 97th minute, but Town came back from Bristol with 3 points for the first time in what seems like ages. Bristol would finish the year with yet another home defeat at the hands of QPR. City once again got off to a flier when Alex Scott scored after 3 minutes before Charlie Austin converted a penalty in first half injury time, former Town midfielder Andy King received his second yellow card midway through the second half and whilst the Robins thought they had survived with 10 men, Yoann Barbet scored the decisive goal in second half injury time.

The new year started with a victory for Pearsons' men over Millwall, with Weimann very much to thank for it. He opened the scoring after 7 minutes before two quick goals from Tom Bradshaw and Benik Afobe put the Lions ahead before the half hour mark. Weimann had other ideas and in the last 20 minutes he would grab the equaliser and a late winner for City. They would be unable to carry that momentum forward as they met Fulham in back to back fixtures. Firstly the FA Cup which finished 1-0 to Fulham through a Harry Wilson goal in extra time, the league fixture the following weekend was a proverbial blood bath at Craven Cottage as Fulham ran out 6-2 winners. Semenyo got Bristol ahead after 7 minutes, before Mitrovic scored his first of the game just after 20 minutes, Semenyo would grab his second of the game just before the half hour mark and that would be where the positives ended for the visitors. Neeskens Kabano equalised two minutes later, before Carvalho made it three shortly after. Mitrovic would complete his hattrick before half time as he scored in the 41st and 45th minute to make it 5-2 at half time. Kabano would bag his second of the game in the second half as Bristol had no answer to Fulham. A come back win against Cardiff allowed Bristol to put the thrashing behind them, they fell behind through a James Collins goal, but the lead was short lived as Chris Martin equalised minutes later. The Scotsman would score again in the second half, before Weimann made it 3, whilst Cardiff pulled a late goal back through Max Watters. Back on the road and back to losing ways would come next as they lost 2-1 to Luton. The hosts took the lead through defender Tom Lockyer, before Weimann continued his fine goalscoring form in the second half. However a scrappy Adebayo goal not long after consigned Bristol to defeat. January finished with a sting in its tail for Bristol as a late goal saw them only manage a point away at Preston. Chris Martin opened the scoring for the Robins before Riis Jakobsen equalised just after half time, Semenyo though he had won the game for the visitors when he scored inside the final 10 minutes, but that man Jakobsen had other ideas when he scored in the 95th minute to break travelling Robins fans hearts.



February began with a whimper on the coast as the Robins lost 3-1 at Blackpool. Two quick goals from CJ Hamilton and Gary Madine put Bristol behind at half time and things got worse just after the break as Josh Bowler grabbed a third for the Tangerines, Nahki Wells got a rare goal near the end but it proved to be no more than a consolation. A win was on the cards next time out as the Robins beat struggling Reading at Ashton Gate. Semenyo scored just before half time before a Michael Morrison own goal doubled the advantage after the break, John Swift pulled one back from the spot for the Royals but Bristol were able to hold on. Consistency failed Bristol once again as they lost 3-1 away at Swansea. despite taking the lead. Weimann opened the scoring before half time, but the Swans regrouped after the break and came back to win thanks to goals from Michael Obafemi, Cyrus Christie and Joel Piroe. Middlesbrough were next to visit Ashton Gate and they left with nothing thanks to goals from Weimann and Semenyo, Town academy graduate Matt Crooks pulled one back for Boro late on. Coventry were next up for Bristol as they too visited Ashton Gate, except this time a late Viktor Gyokores goal gave them all three points. Ian Maatsen on loan from Chelsea opened the scoring for Coventry in the first half before Martin pulled one back in the second half, Bristol fans thought they had done enough to salvage a point but Gyokores put that to an end. The Robins finished the month with a trip to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forest, goals from James Garner and Brennan Johnson were enough to see Forest to a 2-0 win.

March began with Birmingham making the trip from the midlands down to Bristol. Tahith Chong scored his first goal in English football in the second minute before Nico Gordon made it 2-0 after just 13 minutes. Alex Scott pulled one back just after half time but Bristol were unable to mount a comeback. Next up was a trip to Lancashire to face Blackburn. Bradley Dack marked his comeback from over a year out through injury with a late penalty miss and it was further compounded when Weimann scored in the second minute of second half injury time to give the Robins three points. That was as good as the month got for Nigel Pearson as he saw his side lose 2-0 at then relegation threatened Barnsley. First half goals from Carlton Morris and Michal Helik gave the Tykes a valuable three points. The month finished with Bristol welcoming West Brom and it was two former Town players that found themselves amongst the scorers. Wells opened the scoring for the Robins in the first half before Karlan Grant equalised from the spot in the second half. Andi Weimann thought he had won it for the host when he scored in the 85th minute, but former Owl Adam Reach scored in the 93rd to give the Baggies a share of the spoils.

April saw the Robins assured of their place in the Championship for another season and it began with a trip to the coast to face Bournemouth. Robert Atkinson scored his first goal for the club after just 4 minutes but saw it cancelled out just before the break by Solanke. The Cherries took the lead just after half time through Lewis Cook before Siriki Dembele double the advantage with 10 minutes to go, Weimann scored a second for Bristol in the 92nd minute but it wasn't enough to allow them to leave with anything. Next up was desperate Peterborough United and Atkinson made it two in two when he opened the scoring just before half time. The Posh saw Joe Ward given a straight red but instead of imploding, the Posh managed to grab an equaliser through Jonson Clarke-Harris. The result left Nigel Pearson questioning the character of his side, with him also saying he'd look to move some of the bad apples on during the summer. A dull end of season trip to Stoke followed and a Jay Dasilva goal was all that was needed to give the Robins the three points. Play off chasing Sheffield United visited Ashton Gate next and had to battle back to earn a point after Chris Martin opened the scoring for Bristol. Morgan Gibbs-White levelled things up as United continued the season with something to play for. Bristol next headed to face Nigel Pearson's old club, relegated Derby County. Weimann scored against the club he spent 3 years at before Semenyo made it 2-0 before half time, Craig Forsyth pulled one back after the hour mark but former Norwich defender Timm Klose made it 3-1 with 10 minutes left to play.

So who should we look out for?

Andi Weimann- The striker has enjoyed a fine season, scoring 22 goals and notching 10 assists for the side. The Austrian began his career at Aston Villa and joined Bristol City from Derby back in 2018 after having a loan spell at Wolves. His time at derby didn't yield the same results as his time in Bristol as he only scored 9 goals in 81 games. So far his time at Bristol has seen him score 61 in 166 games. He appears to have excelled in being a focal point of the attack rather than having to play further wide as he was in his time at Derby.

Antoine Semenyo- A product of the Bristol City academy, he made his debut for the Robins as substitute in the final game of the 2017-18 season, this followed a short but productive loan spell at Bath where he scored 3 in 7. He spent the first half of the 18-19 season on loan at Newport where he scored 3 in 21 and was recalled by the Robins. The next season he would have a loan at Sunderland in League One but failed to score in the 7 games there. After that he was brought into the Bristol fold and made 44 appearances last season, only scoring 2, but this season has seen his game start to click and he has 8 in 30 with 12 assists.



In terms of head to heads, it makes for fairly even reading with Town winning 27, Bristol winning 24 and 11 draws between the two sides. Since we got promoted to the Championship back in 2012, our games against Bristol have usually fallen short, with the Robins winning 6 and Town the 5, there is also the FA Cup game which we lost whilst in the Premier League, most famous for Ben Hamer kicking a goal kick out for a corner. Our first games back in the Championship saw Town do the double over Bristol, Sean Scannell scoring the only goal in the home fixture, whilst James Vaughan scored a hattrick at Ashton Gate, that season saw Bristol as one of the teams to go down along with Peterborough and Wolves. Upon their return to the Championship, they would do the double over Town, the first a 2-1 win over a struggling David Wagner side,. Jonathon Kodija and Aden Flint scored either side of a missed Emyr Huws penalty, whilst Harry Bunn would add a late consolation goal for Town. Town would lose the return fixture 4-0 at Ashton Gate, both sides were safe at the time but Bristol really put Town to the sword. Kodija scored 2, whilst Joe Bryan found his way onto the score sheet, before arch nemesis Lee Tomlin scored against us like normal. In the promotion season, Town won the home game 2-1, Nahki Wells and Elias Kachunga scoring either side of Tammy Abraham's 13th goal of the season. The game at Ashton Gate was marred by a serious injury to Jonathan Hogg. A collision between Hogg and Mark Hudson saw the midfielder stretchered off in a neck brace, with a suspected broken neck. The injury shook the players and Town would go on to lose the game 4-0 through goals from Tomlin, Abraham, Flint and David Cotterill. Upon Towns relegation back to the Championship, Danny Cowley took his side to Ashton Gate and saw them lose 5-2. Josh Brownhill and a Terrence Kongolo own goal put Town two goals behind before Karlan Grant pulled one back. The hosts soon restored the two goal advantage when Niclas Eliasson scored before the break, but it didn't end there as Ashley Williams made it 4-2 before half time. Andi Weimann made it 5-1 just after the break before Juninho Bacuna got Town a second.  The return fixture saw Town pick up a much needed win in their quest for safety, goals from Chris Willock and Karlan Grant put Town 2 up before Famara Diedhiou scored late on. Last season saw the Robins do the double over Town with a late salvo from Jay Dasilva and Jamie Paterson edging Bristol past Town at the John Smiths after Josh Koroma put Town ahead. The return fixture saw Town lose 2-1 once again with Diedhiou scoring 2 goals in three minutes in the first half. Bacuna pulled one back for Town, who despite having 26 shots and 13 corners, were unable to grab an equaliser.

Saturday marks a chance for Corberan to rotate his troops and get game time into the legs of those that need it most, with players like Danny Ward, Levi Colwill and Tino Anjorin all being candidates for minutes, whilst the likes of Jonathan Hogg, Harry Toffolo and Tom Lees could be looking at having a short rest ahead on the semi finals. Josh Koroma could get a few minutes under his belt as he looks to recover from injury, whilst Lewis O'Brien is out injured. Jamal Blackman may get a rare start to protect Lee Nicholls, whilst Carel Eiting could get a rare start since his January move to West Yorkshire, young players like Danny Grant, Ettienne Camara and Pat Jones may all earn a spot in the match day squad after having good seasons for the B team. Camara was the spare man recently when Town made the trip up to Middlesbrough, but didn't earn a spot on the team sheet.

As for Bristol, it is a chance for some players to show that they warrant a place in the squad for next season, with a few seeing their contracts expiring in the Summer, it could also mark the farewell appearance for the likes of Chris Martin, Callum O'Dowda and former Town loanee Andy King. The Robins are possibly going to be without central defender Nathan Baxter after he suffered a head injury but otherwise it seems like there should be a decent squad for Pearson to pick from.

So how has everyone else fared this season?



Barnsley

Terrible, I don't think anything else can be said for them in all honesty. Having being in the play offs last season under Ishmael, his departure and that of midfield maestro Alex Mowatt really gutted the team. Markus Schopp started the season as manager and never really got going, he was sacked in November with 1 win in 15 games and the club in 23rd. His replacement Poya Asbaghi left his role as Sweden u21 manager to take over at Oakwell, but he too struggled to make any sort of impact and was relieved of his duties after the game on Friday with relegation confirmed. Key players from last season in Cauley Woodrow and Callum Styles have failed to shine this season with Carlton Morris being their only shining light of this campaign with 9 goals.

Jj's rating: F

Hopes for next season: A good old clear out seems to be brewing, but the right head coach and some decent signings should see Barnsley do well in League One next season. A lot depends on who stays and who goes, with the likes of Woodrow and Morris likely being sought after signings for Championship clubs on the cheap.

Player to watch: If he stays, Morris. He looked a live wire when we've played them and also seems like the sort of player that would be well suited to Town, to the extent that if we don't go up this season, he could well be a very good part of the puzzle to replace the ageing Fraizer Campbell.



Birmingham

Well what can be said here? Really lucky that Derby and Reading had points deducted otherwise they would really have been in the mire. The recent results have been awful and a reported £750k pay off fee is arguably all that is keeping Lee Bowyer in his job. Consistency has been a major issue for them this season and after a promising summer window with the signings of Troy Deeney and Tahith Chong they failed to live up to the hopes of the fans. Injuries and persistent off field troubles hasn't helped matters, but one player into double figures for goals in Scott Hogan with 10 (who himself has missed parts of the season through injury) and the next player in the list being Gary Gardner on 6, shows the goals haven't been easy to come by, 72 conceded is also an unwanted number, its amongst the most in the League.

Jj's rating: E-

Hopes for next season: A fully fit Birmingham squad should on paper be a solid midtable club really, players like Hogan and the ageing Deeney are still good operators for this level and the January signing of Bacuna added a mercurial talent to team. A good preseason and maybe a potential summer signing of Lyle Taylor who has done well since he joined on loan, could see the Blues achieve that. But the troubles that plague them really need to be sorted before they can truly aspire to move on.

Player to watch: Hogans career has been blighted by injuries but he knows where the goal is, his goals have been key this season and they will be next, there will be a few leaving the club, like our friend Lukas, so more emphasis will be on him to bag the goods. Also keep an eye out on Jude Bellingham's younger brother Jobe, he could start impacting games next season if he is anything like his brother.



Blackburn

Started off well and by the end of December they were sat 3rd in the table, one point behind the leaders. International call ups and injuries to key man Ben Brereton Diaz saw them fall away quite substantially, the loss of his goals saw them struggle to even score between January and the end of February, but his return from injury hasn't seen his goal scoring touch come with it, quite possibly they rushed him back too soon in an attempt for promotion, he's still scored 21 times, but his last goal on the 15th of April was actually his first of 2022, which shows how much he struggled. Manager Tony Mowbray has often been labelled as a conservative manager and it would seem his reluctance to change has hampered Rovers this season. Their recent form has been very poor and a top 10 finish isn't guaranteed either, a poor finish to the season could see Mowbray sacked and Blackburn fans dreaming of what could have been.

Jj's rating: C

Hopes for next season: Does Diaz stay or does Diaz go will be the question all Rovers fans want answering, he was linked with moves away in January and will undoubtedly be linked with moves away in the Summer, a lot of their hopes lie with him. The rest of the squad is solid and dependable, but the fans will be hoping for a push at the playoffs, maybe even more, a bit of momentum from the end of the season into preseason will be very much desired, but one has to ask whether Blackburn's hopes for next season lie at the door of a manger that isn't Tony Mowbray.

Player to watch: If he stays it has to be Diaz, if he goes then Blackburn will have a lot of money to bring in players that can impact a side. If Diaz does go, then the likes of Joe Rothwell and John Buckley will be expected to step up to the plate. Both have impacted games this season, but will be looking to do it on a more regular basis next season. Reda Khadra on loan from Brighton has been influential too, but it remains to be seen if Blackburn will be able to keep him for next season.



Blackpool

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside... and Championship clubs can look forward to a trip to the Tower next season after Blackpool secured a second campaign at this level. Helmed by former Liverpool academy manager Neil Critchley, the Tangerines have been a solid side this season and have possibly exceeded expectations, sure there have been some big defeats but there have also been some big wins like the 6-1 over Birmingham the other week. A solid midtable finish is not out of the equation for the Tangerines this season and it holds them in good stead for next season, although Critchley could find his services being of desire to clubs higher up the League over the Summer. Goals have been shared this season between Shayne Lavery, Gary Madine, Jerry Yates and Josh Bowler and next season

Jj's rating: B-

Hopes for next season: Much of the same will be the order of the day on the West coast for Blackpool fans, although steady progression would be desirable, a few players are ageing like Richard Keogh and at some point they will need replacing. Josh Bowler was targeted by clubs in January and he will be a target for a number of clubs again in Summer. A lot of hopes for Blackpool will rest on how the squad is made up. But truth being told, Blackpool have shown enough this campaign to suggest they have enough to have a good 2022/23 season.

Player to watch: Bowler is a quick and tricky winger that has caused teams problems this season and should Blackpool manage to keep him they will be hoping the livewire will be able to do it again. Last season in League One Jerry Yates was a pivotal member of the side and hasn't found as much success this season, but he has had a decent enough campaign to suggest he may be able to kick on and take his game to the next level, which could prove to be an unwelcome sight for Championship defences.



Bournemouth

Possessing one of the most potent strike forces, a promotion battle was what was to be expected and they delivered on that, although the gap between them and 1st is probably a lot bigger than what they would have wanted, especially considering where they were at the end of December. They dropped off the pace through January and a few surprise results in March saw the Cherries having to settle for just an automatic promotion battle. 28 goals from Solanke led the way for them, with former Town player Billing his closest companion on 9.

Jj's rating: A

Hopes for next season: It will be about survival and consolidation, they have the makings of a squad for it and will need a few new players here and there. A lot of their hopes in the Premier League will come down to whether Solanke can put is previous top division nightmares behind him and continue from this season. The owner has shown a willingness to spend money in the past, but will he want to do it again. But with the Russian owner subject to British sanctions, he too might stop his spending and look to sell the club on.

Player to watch: Other than the goal machine Solanke, he's going to be pivotal in any success for Bournemouth next season, but the development of Jaidon Anthony is going to be the one to look out for, he's scored 8 goals and notched 7 assists this season as well as created the most chances for the team this season. He made 5 appearances last season, so this year has been his breakout season, he'll definitely be one to look out for.



Bristol City

Our opponents have endured a poor season and sit below where they would have hoped to be come this stage of the season, Nigel Pearson's side have struggled this season especially when it comes to keeping the ball out of the net, scoring them hasn't been much of an issue, with Andi Weimann scoring over 20 this season, which is no mean feat in a side that sits not far, but comfortable none the less above the drop zone. Evergreen Chris Martin too has chipped in with his share of goals, but the likes of Nahki Wells has found the season and system hard going and have failed to adapt to Pearson's ways. A number of unhappy City fans may be asking for a change come the Summer.

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: One to watch for me, and not in a good way. FFP has been lurking around them, and owner Steve Lansdown has funded them really well in all fairness, but they are one of the teams that has been alluded to be struggling to meet the demands of FFP and like Reading this season, they may find some punishment heading their way. That is unless they manage to clear some of the big earners off their wage bill. Wells earns over 20k pw as does Kasey Palmer and Andy King, all have failed to meet expectations this season, so could find themselves heading for the exit. In Alex Scott (not her snoots!) and Weimann they do have some saleable assets that could help them clear FFP but it will be an interesting summer.

Player to watch: Outside of Weimanns goals, Alex Scott has had an impressive season, whilst his goals and assists don't catch the eye, the style of play and potential he has shown has caused clubs like Leeds and Tottenham to start turning their attention to him. More attacking minded than say a Lewis O'brien, Scott operates in the gap between the midfield and the strikers or drifts out wide, next season, wherever he may be, should see him hopefully kick on and add to his game.



Cardiff

Its been a season to forget for the Welsh side, they started with the hopes of challenging for promotion and a play off place, instead they have been looking over their shoulder for much of the campaign. The squad assembled by former manager Mick McCarthy is what would be expected from the experienced Irish Barnsleyite, rough and direct. McCarthy was sacked fairly early and Steve Morison was put in charge, the side is still a rough and direct side, and the problem of scoring goals has been a constant throughout the season, defender Aden Flint and winger Reuben Colwill lead the scoring charts with 6 goals apiece and keeping the ball out hasn't exactly been a speciality either, which considering the players in the squad is somewhat surprising. It has been a season where Cardiff never really got going and at no point have ever really looked like starting

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: Well better than this will be first and foremost for Cardiff fans, a fair few players will be leaving, especially the bigger earners, Alex Smithies has already been told he is going and Morison has said the club couldn't afford him even if they wanted to. Kieffer Moore left in January leaving a big hole up top, whilst long term colossus Sean Morrison could also be leaving, another big earner and out for a long period of time, with a contract about to expire isn't where he would like to be. It's possible that it could be another long season for the Bluebirds next season, but a few younger players have had a bit of exposure this season so there could still be a glimmer if Morison is able to put his own stamp on the side

Player to watch: Colwill has been one of the brighter sparks this season for the Bluebirds, but he too has found himself taking a bit of public criticism from the manager this season, maybe it's tough love that he needed or maybe it will upset the way he plays, either way he could be the driving force next season for the Welsh side and may find a lot of hope rests on his young shoulders.



Coventry

There seems to be something about Mark Robins and making Coventry tick. He's achieved what a lot of promoted teams look to do, safety in the first season and then progression in the next. Solidly in midtable with a top 10 finish not entirely out of the equation it has been a good season for the Sky Blues. Goals have been shared between Viktor Gyökeres and the reliable Matt Godden, whilst fiery midfielder Gustavo Hamer has been a creative force for his side. A playoff push was never really out of the reckoning with impressive results like a 4-1 win over Fulham and Sheffield United during the season, ultimately the strength of the competition around them has proven a bit too much this time around.

Jj's rating: B+

Hopes for next season: Much the same will be the order of the day for Coventry fans, with a push to make a play off spot come the end of the season a likely target. Coventry have the makings of a very good side, especially at the Championship level, and players like the already mentioned Hamer and Gyökeres will be key to that, but in the forms of Kyle McFadzean and Jake Bidwell they have a solid base at the back too. The foundations are there for Mark Robins, it is now a question on how and whether he can build upon it

Player to watch: Gyökeres at just 23 will have a few clubs casting an eye at him after a very good season. Originally joined the club on loan last season and struggled to make a real impact, which saw Brighton willing to part company with him, but Coventry saw enough for them to take the punt on him and it seems to have paid dividends so far. It'll be interesting to see how he kicks on next time around.



Derby

Its been a living nightmare for Derby fans, one that Town fans actually have some previous knowledge over. Relegation was almost a certainty for Rams supports but the players put up a valiant effort to stave off that outcome. Wayne Rooneys men have struggled to know where the next paycheck is going to come from but it hasn't dampened team spirit, if it wasn't for the big points deduction Reading and Birmingham would be in a very precocious position. Tom Lawrence has been pivotal for them this season, and to some extent he owed them that after previous trouble he has caused, other young players have been forced to step up to the plate and in doing so have provided themselves with various opportunities for next season.

Jj's rating: B

Hopes for next season: A lot of it balls down to getting the takeover completed and how much the new guy is willing or able to invest into the playing squad. The vast majority of the squad are out of contract come the summer, Krystian Bielik, Max Bird, Jason Knight, Louie Sibley and Jack Stretton are the only players to have a contract taking them past the conclusion of the season. Whilst players want to stay, the current nature of the takeover means that offers from other clubs will be appealing to a lot of them. The immediate bounce back is on, but so is a few seasons of rebuilding in League One.

Player to watch: It's a difficult one with the current status of the club, out of the players that will still have contracts Max Bird is possibly the brightest of those talents but he too could be a sought after player in the summer and could still be going at a cut price. Bielik has shown his class in years gone by, but is still really recovering from a serious injury, sure he has played a few times this season, but after over 9 months out, he still in the process of catching up.



Fulham

As champions elect its hard to pick fault with their season overall, a few bad results here and there but those sorts of things happen over the course of the season, its how you bounce back that counts. The Cottagers have notched a few big wins where they have scored 6 goals and it shows in the goals for column as they bring up the ton. Aleksandar Mitrovic has been pivotal as they look to bounce back to the top division, he's scored over 40 goals this term and rightfully earned player of the season, the Serb has almost ploughed a lone furough this season as Harry Wilson is second top scorer for the London side with 11 goals (at time of writing) but as notched an impressive 17 assists (again atw). The Welsh international has created 81 chances for his side too this campaign as Marco Silva's side return to the Premier League

Jj's rating: A

Hopes for next season: Staying in the Premier League is always a good starting point, with Mitrovic they have someone who knows where the goal is, but his struggles in the top division have been well documented and whether his successes this season mean more success in the top division remains to be seen. Fabio Carvalho is leaving to join Liverpool, whilst Wilson may well make the loan from Merseyside to the banks of the Thames permanent. An ageing Tim Ream at the heart of the defence may find his time in the capital numbered, whilst a few other players have found themselves second fiddle to the stars of Mitrovic and Wilson, Neeskens Kabano and Bobby De Cordova Reid have featured ample times but it remains to be seen as into whether Silva thinks they are the best options for next season. It could be a busy summer, but one must feel that next season will be a tough old slog.

Player to watch: Can he do it? Mitrovic's Premier League returns are nowhere near that of his Championship returns, the heightened pace, strength and knowhow of Premier League defenders has often been too much for him, but this season he has started to contribute in other areas of play, dropping deeper and creating more space and opportunities for other players. It'll be interesting to see if he can do the same next season, in a league where his side may not see as much of the ball.



Huddersfield

The season isn't over yet for the Terriers and it could get even better. Following a dismal first half of 2021 in the previous season, many felt that Corberan was walking a very thin tightrope, a summer of signing more experienced campaigners saw a scratchy start with a draw against a Derby side struggling for players and a heavy home defeat against Fulham. The turnaround has been outstanding. Sorba Thomas has come out of nowhere with some top performances and his delivery from set pieces has been an integral part of Towns game, whilst a resurgent Danny Ward has lead the line well during the season, goalkeeper Lee Nicholls played his way into the team of the year with game clinching saves which have been paramount to getting Town to where they are. As for the playoffs, who knows, a few players are now injured, can they be back fit in time?

Jj's rating: A (win promotion A+)

Hopes for next season: If they were to get promotion, the hopes of survival would in theory be slim to none, the hope would be to do better than our final season last time. The other hope would be that the signings are of the right character and that the strong team unity that has been built up can remain intact. Another season in the Championship, then it would be again hoping that the signings are right and the unity remains, although a few players and the manager will find themselves as desirable to other clubs, but after this season the hope would have to be of being in and around the playoffs once again. Getting the off field situation sorted will be of paramount importance either way, purely so the club and its fans know what direction they are going.

Player to watch: After a breakthrough season Sorba Thomas will be a marked and wanted man, having come from none league and earning his way back up into professional football, the question will be how does he handle the pressure? Already shown that he has a bit of fire in him, how will he handle being targeted more, and the scrutiny that comes with having such a fine season. His assists and all-round contributions will be vital which ever league.



Hull

It has been a difficult and disappointing return to the Championship for Hull following their promotion last season, but they've survived and thats all that really matters to Tigers fans. The campaign saw Grant McCann sacked after a run of poor form and the takeover by Acun Illcali, former Rangers striker Shota Arveladze took over and the results haven't really picked up much for him either, but now they can plan for next season. Keane Lewis-Potter has been a bright spark for the Tigers this season, which has resulted in some Premier League clubs to start sniffing around, whilst former Sunderland midfielder George Honeyman has been a busy body in midfield for them despite missing part of the season through injury.

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: The new owner has said he's willing to spend this summer, so it will be interesting to see what sort of player they will be bringing in, Mesut Ozil was one of the most outlandish names mentioned, no smoke without fire I suppose, but I do struggle to see that happening. Players from the Turkey and the Middle East however could well be options for the Tigers going into next season.

Player to watch: If they are able to keep Lewis-Potter then he will be the one to keep an eye on, they succeeded with Jarrod Bowen and will be looking to do the same here. He's shown glimpses of quality this campaign and has proved to be the main catalyst behind any of Hulls successes and the likelihood is that they will be relying on him to provide the quality again next season.



Luton

Like him or loathe him, but manager of the year for the Championship Nathan Jones has really got this Luton side ticking. They play much in the style of him, aggressive and abrasive, with the aim of roughing and winding the opposition up, and it works. Players like Kal Naismith and Allan Campbell are instrumental to this, whilst the prolific Adebayo has been a shining light for them in front of goal, ably assisted by Harry Cornick. As Jones said when picking up his award, his Luton side has no superstars in it, instead it is built upon being a team and working together, much like Town, and it is refreshing to see two clubs rewarded for it. With a play off spot all but secured for the Hatters, it is now how they manage the squad in the build up, keeper James Shea is out long term with a knee injury, whilst Adebayo has been nursing injuries in recent time.

Jj's rating: A

Hopes for next season: Like with Town and any of the other play off and promotion candidates, it really comes down to what league they are in. If they go up, it will be about using what they have in regards to team spirit and sticking to their current identity whilst trying their hardest to stay up. If they remain in the Championship, then it is about regrouping, refocusing and trying to emulate this season once again, all while keeping pivotal players like Adebayo.

Player to watch: Adebayo made the jump from League 2 to the Championship last season during the January window and has taken to the step up like a duck to water, his style of play arguably assists him here as he continues to try and hurry defenders into mistakes. Should he remain at Luton, regardless of what division, then it will be down to him to continue leading the line. A move to the Premier League may see his goals dry up and the better quality could see him chasing shadows, it'll be up to him and the manager to work out a way to combat that.



Middlesbrough

The season started fairly slowly for Boro and by the middle of November they were comfortably off the pace for the promotion race, resulting in Neil Warnock getting sacked and replaced almost instantly with Chris Wilder. Results slowly picked up and they saw themselves begin to catch up with the rest of the pack. A play off place is not out of the equation but with no player in double figures for goals this season, instead they have been shared around a bit, they have been lacking a touch in front of goal. They have suffered towards the back end of the season for form and it could be this that costs them, which all being told would represent a bit of a disappointment, with Boro being expected to finish up in the playoffs. Former Town graduate Matt Crooks has been a leading performer for the club, his versatility has seen him playing in midfield and up front on occasions, whilst the emergence of Isiah Jones has been a big positive for Boro. Marcus Tavernier has been a consistent performer for Wilders men, but do they regret loaning out Djed Spence?

Jj's rating: B-

Hopes for next season: Whilst the play offs aren't out of the picture, another year in the Championship and a full summer for Wilder to really put his stamp on the side isn't a bad thing. The ageing Sol Bamba and Lee Peltier will likely be replaced by younger players and Spence is constantly being linked with a big move in the summer which in turn could bankroll Wilder's rebuild. Boro have the core of a top team already in place and with a full pre-season and Wilder's own players coming in, could make Boro a real force to be reckoned with next season.

Player to watch: He leads the way for assists this season and under Wilder will be looking to add further aspects to his game. Jones has scored just the once so far this season, but his performances have given Boro fans a lot to be hopeful for. He may find teams start to work him out, but he has one thing that a lot of teams struggle to counter, pace. A preseason under Wilder could see him being one of the brightest talents next season, and with the likes of Crooks, Tavernier and Paddy Mcnair around, he will be ably supported.



Millwall

Its been a good season for the Lions this time out and they are probably where they would be expected to be after finishing last season in 11th, they are another club that could make the playoffs but with a 3 point gap (at time of writing) they are probably going to be reliant on other teams messing up. It still shows steady signs of progression which is what Garry Rowett was probably looking for at the start of the season. Loan striker Benik Afobe has found somewhere he may want to call home, he's in double figures for goals this season, the first time since the 2014-15 season. Scott Malone hasn't had the same impact as last season but has still provided a major impact for the Lions, whilst mercurial Jed Wallace is creator in chief for the Lions despite having missed a fair few games. His contract is up at the end of the season and Millwall fans will be hoping that the club can convince him to stay.

Jj's rating: B

Hopes for next season: It seems likely that they will be playing in the Championship next season and the general hope will be that they can take the next step towards promotion to the Premier League. A lot of hope rests on whether they can convince Wallace to stay, if they can't then that task becomes a whole lot harder. Afobe is only on loan too, so his goals will be a big miss should he not stay either, whilst giant defender Jake Cooper has also seen top division clubs casting their eye over him, he's a main stay of the Millwall defence and a key component at that too. Progression is the aim, but a good summer is essential to that, a bad summer could see the Lions going back to the drawing board very rapidly.

Player to watch: As a team they rely heavily on Wallace to create the chances and hope that someone is there to put them away. He's the one that teams know they have to watch, but it has been like that for a few seasons, so he is used to it, and should he stay, he knows it is most probable that it will be the case once again. He knows his game inside out now and has been able to manage his body accordingly, this is the first season since he was on loan at Millwall in League One that he hasn't played neigh on the full season, the question now is how much has the injury affected him.



Nottingham Forest

Well it was a truly abysmal start to the season, and it seemed like there was more chance of the Brian Clough Derby occurring than Forest facing Leeds, but upon sacking Chris Hughton, the rebuild began. Steve Cooper came in and the results came with him, with Forest going from bottom of the league in the middle of September to the edge of the playoffs at the end of December, and the momentum kept on going.  Brennan Johnson, son of David, has been a major attacking threat for the Reds, whilst loan wing back Djed Spence has been a constant thorn in oppositions sides. Other useful loan signings like James Garner, Phillip Zinkernagel and Keinan Davis have been pivotal to adding to Forest's threat whilst Lewis Grabban has missed a large part of the season through injury, yet has still notched a respectable 13 goals.

Jj's rating: A (+ if promoted)

Hopes for next season: If they go up they could well be the promoted side to make an impact on the Premier League, they will be hoping that the loan players will be back once again as well as being able to keep hold of Johnson. The new owner has the money and contacts to help bring in some good quality players from the continent to boot. Should they miss out on promotion, then it would be the aim next season, the only problem is the likes of Worrall, Yates and Johnson could all well be gone, as could the current loanees, meaning Forest could be in a bit of a hole ahead of next season.

Player to watch: At the moment it would have to be the pace of Johnson, he's had a standout season and earned young player of the season for his efforts. A number of Premier League clubs are circling around the Welsh international and keeping him at the City Ground will be of paramount importance to Forest fans. Could he make the step up to the league above, it would certainly seem like it, he has the pace to trouble any defender and it will be an interesting summer for him regardless.



Peterborough

It makes football fans up and down the country upset when they hear that Peterborough are struggling... so much so that they ended up sacking long time Posh legend Darren Ferguson and replaced him with former Hull manager Grant McCann in a desperate bid for survival, it didn't work as the Posh were relegated after a defeat at home to Forest. As second lowest scorers in the league goals have been a rare commodity for Peterborough, whilst the most goals conceded in the league shows clean sheets have also been a rare sight. Not exactly a match made in heaven when you are hoping for another season in the Championship. Jonson Clarke-Harris leads the scoring charts for the Posh and has managed to make it into double figures, although some would say he has been poorly used with a number of games coming from off the bench, he has also been poorly supported by the rest of the team. It has felt that relegation was almost a certainty, just like it was for Barnsley.

Jj's rating: F

Hopes for next season: The immediate hope would be for them to be able to bounce straight back at the first time of asking and try and build on it, but the club seems to be in a bit of a rut at the moment, but they do tend to always be in and around the promotion race in League one so you'd reckon that they will be able to manage it. Clarke-Harris will be a vital cog in that and it is almost imperative that they manage to keep him as well as add some more quality to the ranks. It has been a disappointing season for the likes of Jorge Grant and Sammie Szmodics and they will be hoping for better next season. They do have some good young players in the form of Joe Ward and Ricky Jade-Jones coming through, so next season may see them getting more responsibility put on their shoulders.

Player to watch: Clarke-Harris leads the line and needs the team to be built around him. Has a little bit of pace and a bit of strength, plus an eye for goal, so he's everything you want in your front man. League one defenders hated coming up against him last time Peterborough were in League One and they will once again. So it is probably a question of how many will he get next season. The more he gets the more chance of promotion.



Preston North End

It has been an underwhelming season for Preston, who probably thought they would be a touch higher in the league, maybe even knocking on the door to the top 10. The season began with Frankie Mcavoy in charge on the back of a decent showing as caretaker the year before, but he was sacked with the team in 18th and Ryan Lowe was poached from Plymouth to take over at Deepdale. Goals have been a little difficult to come by, but their defence has been solid enough, Dane Emil Riis Jakobsen is comfortably the leading scorer for the Lilywhites, but the winter signing of Cameron Archer offered the front line a new lease of life.

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: Put bluntly, better than this one. With Lowe already well at work with the planning for next season, it wouldn't be surprising if a few signings were completed early into the summer window to give them a full preseason. The extension of Archers loan will be a big target for Lowe, whilst a new keeper is likely to be quite high up the list with the retirement of Declan Rudd and Daniel Iversen likely to return to Leicester City. Hopes will rest on Jakobsen to continue his goalscoring  streak, he has had a huge improvement from his first season at Deepdale and will be looking for more the same.

Player to watch: Daniel Johnson appears to be one of the main creators for Preston in the middle of the pitch. Now approaching 30, his contract expires in summer but it is most likely that Lowe will want to extend his stay at Deepdale to continue to guide them forwards. Originally started as a winger with a turn of pace, he now seems to be dropping deeper and deeper in order to affect the game in front of him. He has formed a decent partnership with Ben Whiteman in the middle of the park and they will be the ones teams look to stop in order to stop Preston progressing.



QPR

It was going so well for Rangers, at the end of January they sat 4th in the table, but their form dropped off drastically and they won 1 game between then and the middle of April and it has seen them drop out of the running for a Play off spot. The poor run of form left the QPR board on the verge of sacking manager Mark Warburton, but they refrained from doing so, but ultimately decided on not renewing his contract at the end of the season, electing to find a new voice to take them forward. Goals have been shared around between Ilyas Chair, Lyndon Dykes and Andre Grey, but not one of them has really made a telling mark on the league this season, former Town loanee Chris Willock has the most assists, but Rangers' poor run seems to have cost them dear.

Jj's rating: C

Hopes for next season: The first major hope for Hoops fans is that they get the right manager in quick so that he can sort through the squad and decide who he wants to keep and who can go. In Willock and Chair they have two players that can create chances if given the opportunity, in Grey and Dykes they have two strikers that are able to take those chances, if it all clicks for them next season, then a push for the play offs and maybe even more wont be out of the equation.

Player to watch: Chair is probably got a number of admirers in the Premier League but players in his position seem to be a dime a dozen and whilst he has had a very good season, he probably hasn't hit the heights this term that makes tails wag. Next season he is likely to be the creator in chief for Rangers and a lot of their success will come from him heavily influencing the game. In theory he has had a number of seasons at this level and it is about now where he should be looking to take his game to the next level.



Reading

They began the season with a squad that much like Derby had been torn away by breaking FFP rules and not being able to bring players in until people left. They managed to bring in the likes of Danny Drinkwater and Andy Carroll, but a relatively poor start to the season coupled with a points deduction saw a side that was on the periphery of the Play offs last season, now nervously looking over their shoulder. Whilst Lucas Joao and John Swift carried the team in front of goal, the Royals struggled for form and 24 defeats and 86 goals conceded show how poor they have been this season, with Veljko Paunovic sacked in February, Paul Ince was offered the chance to come manage the club that now boasted his son Tom amongst its ranks, with the aim of keeping them in the division, a feat that was managed, but in no small part down to Derby's deduction.

Jj's rating: E

Hopes for next season: It feels like it could be another season of struggle for Royals fans, with their hands seemingly tied behind their backs in regards to finances and the likes of Josh Laurent, John Swift and Tom Holmes all seeing their contracts expire at the end of the season, questions remain over if Reading will be able to afford to offer them new contracts, let alone entice them to sign a new deal. Loan players like Rahman, Drinkwater and Ince will also return to their parent clubs, with Ince the only possibility should his Father stay in charge. It could be a long summer and a longer season.

Player to watch: Joao has been a top player for the Royals since he signed from Sheffield Wednesday, albeit hampered by some serious injuries. The fact that he has played less than half the season and is still one of the top scorers for Reading this season shows how pivotal he is to them. With the likely departure of Swift, even more pressure will be upon his shoulders to keep Readings heads above water. That being said, he may also be a target for other clubs in the Championship and a departure may be appealing to him.



Sheffield United

After a shaky start to the season under Slavisa Jokanovic, which saw the former Fulham manager sacked and replaced by academy manager Paul Heckingbottom, the Blades sit in the play off spots, knowing that a win will guarantee them a spot for certain. After being relegated and still possessing some star quality from their Premier League days, fans of the red side of Sheffield probably hoped to be higher up and challenging for promotion. Not picking up their first league win until September put them behind the rest of the pack, so finishing in the playoffs will go down as a success. The evergreen Billy Sharp has been the main focal point up top for the Blades with 15 goals, whilst loan star Morgan Gibbs-White has played a key role with both goals and assists. The supporting acts behind them haven't quite lived up to expectations, with young Iliman Ndiaye being the most promising. The likes of Sander Berge have found the season tough going overall.

Jj's rating: C

Hopes for next season: Should promotion not occur this time around, then it will be the target next season, there will probably be a few changes to the set up in order to achieve the goal, but those changes would probably be on the cards even if they went up. Sharp and David McGoldrick aren't getting any younger and at some point the Blades will have to look at who could replace them, Rhian Brewster was brought in during the Premier League days to do so, but he has struggled immensely in the red and white stripes. The possible loss of Gibbs-White will leave an even bigger hole in the United side for them to fill over the summer too.

Player to watch: Ndiaye has shown glimpses of quality this season scoring 6 times, but he will be hoping to add more goals and more assists to his game next season. The attacking midfielder is the likely choice to fill the gap left by Gibbs-White and Heckingbottom will be hoping that the young Frenchman will be able to form a solid partnership with Sharp or whoever plays up top.



Stoke

A promising start to the season saw Stoke sitting in the play off spots come the end of September, but 17 points between October and the end of December saw them begin to slip away. Consistency from January onwards has been hard to come by and at the end of February the Potters had sunk as low as 15th with manager Michael O'Neil starting to feel the pressure from the stands. A mini recovery has come of late, but it hasn't come in time to resurrect play off ambitions and they sit 13th, representing a failure of a season considering what they had hoped for at the start. Jacob Brown leads the scoring charts for Stoke with 14 this season and at times it has seemed he has been alone. Lewis Baker and Nick Powell have been the most help, but they have struggled for appearances. Tom Ince and Sam Surridge are amongst the top scores for Stoke and they are no longer at the club, which shows some of the issues they have had this season.

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: It's feeling like it might be the same again for Stoke next season. Manager Michael O'Neil could be facing a nervous wait before preseason in regards to his job. They possess some good players that other teams may fancy taking a look at, but injuries have been a big part of their season too and in the likes of Baker and Powell, they have a tendency to be a bit injury prone which puts pressure on other players. With the likes of Joe Allen, Sam Clucas and Steven Fletcher all getting on and on big wages at that, there could be a need to replace them, but it comes as a difficult task if they are still under contract. FFP could begin to circle if Stoke are still paying some players Premier League wages.

Player to watch: Tyreese Campbell has shown he has the pace and power to trouble teams, he did to us last season. This season has been hampered by a serious knee injury he picked up in the 2020/21 season and he has done well to come back this season and chip in with 5 goals. He'll be the sort of player that Stoke will be looking at to lead the line along with Brown next season, and if they can form a good partnership then Stoke may have a chance.



Swansea

Their was rather high hopes for Swansea, they had lost a few players like Ayew but had managed to replace those who left. After missing out in the play off final last season, fans would have expected them to be challenging for a play off spot at the bare minimum. Russell Martin replaced Steve Cooper following the play off defeat but his Swansea side have got going this term and sit 15th, 11 points off the pace. Consistency has been missing for the Swans this season and despite the best efforts of Joel Piroe, with 24 goals, it has never looked like coming. Michael Obafemi and Jamie Paterson have been able supporting acts, with Paterson also leading the way with assists and chances created, but it seems like the Swans relied too heavily on them to fire in order to win games.

Jj's rating: D

Hopes for next season: After a season of getting used to Martins style of football, the Swans will be hoping to be back up and around the play offs, however, they were one of the teams FFP were looking at, but that was when they had Ayew on 90k a week, the absence of his wage may have eased the pressure on the club in that regard. A few players have failed to live up to their ability this season and the league position shows, a few will now be wondering whether they will still be plying their trade in Wales next season.

Player to watch: Piroe has come in from PSV in the summer and led the line well for the Swans, yielding 24 goals for them in all. Not bad for your first full season in English (welsh) football, so the eyes will be firmly on him next season, both from clubs in the Championship, but possibly also teams further up the pyramid who are looking for someone with goals behind them. After just one season hopes rest on his shoulders, and whilst Swansea will be charging a nice price for his services this summer, should he go, it will be back to the drawing board big time once again.



West Brom

It has been a disaster of a season for West Brom, they were expected to be challenging for an immediate return to the Premier League and instead have found themselves clawing at a top 10 finish. They began with Valerian Ishmael at the helm, the former Barnsley manager riding the crest of a wave from nearly getting the Tykes into the Premier League. His wave crashed on the shore as the Baggies failed to adapt to his style of football, players fell out with him, whilst fans also didn't take to his football either. In the end his was relieved of his duties and Steve Bruce came in to manage yet another midlands side. When Ishmael left the club they sat 5th and the Bruce bounce never happened as it took him nearly a month to register his first win, by that time they had sunk to 13th and summed up the season. Goals haven't been easy to come by for the Baggies and they have relied heavily on the Karlan Grant and Callum Robinson pairing to create and take chances, with not much else coming from the rest of the squad. Andy Carroll came in to share the burden but he too struggled to make too much of an impact in his half season at the club.

Jj's rating: E

Hopes for next season: On paper they have a really strong squad, with players like Grant, Robinson and Alex Mowatt, experienced defenders like Kyle Bartley should be able to orchestrate the defence and keep it tight. Goalkeeper Sam Johnstone will be leaving in the summer, so it will be interesting to see who takes the number 1 spot under Bruce. Grady Diangana has had a poor season by his standards and more will be expected next season. Promotion will be the aim next season, but a lot of that comes down to who will remain at the club and how the players buy into Bruce's style of football. The return of players like Daryl Dike could come as a big bonus next season to ease the pressure on the current strikers

Player to watch: Karlan Grant seems to score goals wherever he goes and he seems to be able to find the net regularly at Championship level, will another team take another chance on him in the Premier League, that remains to be seen, but West Brom will be relying heavily on his goals next season. How Bruce uses him will impact his goal returns as he seems to score more from out wide than playing as a 9, but the returning Dike should give more flexibility into how Grant operates.