Final day scenarios: How Birmingham City can escape relegation

Birmingham City have exhausted all their options and need a dramatic turnaround on the final day to avoid relegation from the Championship.

Despite expectations of collecting vital points from away games against Rotherham and Huddersfield, Birmingham failed to secure victories in both matches. With just two points from encounters against the league’s bottom two teams, they are on the verge of dropping down to League One next season.

Their last hope lies in the upcoming match against Norwich City on the final day, with Norwich likely heading to the playoffs unless an improbable sequence of results occurs. Birmingham must win and rely on slip-ups from Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, or Blackburn Rovers.

While Norwich boasts an impressive home record, their away performances have been less convincing, losing five of their last 11 matches on the road and ranking 19th in the Championship away league table.

Birmingham has been relatively strong at home throughout the season, securing nine of their 12 league wins at St Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park. However, their recent record against Norwich is dismal, with just one win in their last 16 meetings, dating back to August 2016.

If Birmingham fails to secure a win on Saturday, relegation is inevitable. Here are the current standings and potential scenarios for the final day.

Only an extraordinary result in Plymouth’s match against Hull City would allow Birmingham City to avoid relegation with a draw against Norwich. Given Plymouth’s better goal difference (-12 compared to Birmingham’s -16), they would need to lose by five goals for Birmingham to survive with 48 points.

While Hull City still have hopes of making the playoffs and need a win to challenge West Bromwich Albion for sixth place, Plymouth Argyle has been formidable at home and is unlikely to suffer a heavy defeat.

Birmingham’s scenario is straightforward: they must defeat Norwich to put pressure on Plymouth, Sheffield Wednesday, and Blackburn Rovers. If Birmingham wins, Plymouth will be relegated if they fail to win. Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn will only be at risk if they lose on the final day; a draw will be enough for both teams to finish above Birmingham.

Sunderland, who face Sheffield Wednesday on the final day, have only earned nine points out of the last 42 available, which doesn’t inspire confidence. However, Blackburn will travel to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City, who have already secured promotion and may not be eager to let Blackburn spoil their celebration on the last day of the season.