The battle for automatic promotion to the Premier League took a series of fresh twists over the weekend as the contenders endured differing fortunes.

Leaders Ipswich, second-placed Leicester and Leeds in third are separated by just two points with the Foxes having played a game fewer, while Southampton, who have two matches in hand on both the Tractor Boys and United, lie six points further back.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the remaining weeks of an increasingly tense Championship run-in.

Ipswich (1st, played 43, 89 points, +32 goal difference)

Run-in: Hull (a), Coventry (a), Huddersfield (h).

Ipswich’s unlikely tilt at back-to-back promotions has hit the buffers in recent weeks after a remarkable run of nine wins in 10 Championship outings was brought to an end by derby rivals Norwich.

A 1-0 defeat at Carrow Road on April 6 has been followed by home draws with Watford and Middlesbrough and Town must rediscover the form which earned manager Kieran McKenna the accolade of Championship Manager of the Season on Sunday evening if they are to reach the top flight.

However, all three of their remaining opponents still have something to play for with Hull and Coventry on the fringes of the play-off race and Huddersfield battling desperately to avoid the drop.

Leicester (2nd, played 42, 88 points, +41 goal difference)

Run-in: West Brom (h), Southampton (h), Preston (a), Blackburn (h).

Once seemingly certain to return to the top flight after a single season in the wilderness – Enzo Maresca’s side were 17 points clear of Leeds – Leicester have suffered a crisis of confidence just at the wrong time.

A 2-1 home defeat by Middlesbrough on February 17 launched a run of 10 league games culminating in Friday night’s 1-0 reverse at Plymouth which has seen them lose six times and collect just 10 of the 30 points available.

Their fate, however, remains in their own hands and with three of their last four fixtures taking place at the King Power Stadium – perhaps the most significant of them Saints’ visit next week – they will hope they can make home advantage count.

Leeds (3rd, played 43, 87 points, +42 goal difference)

Run-in: Middlesbrough (a), QPR (a), Southampton (h).

Like the two clubs immediately above them in the table, Leeds have suffered a wobble at the most inopportune moment.

The 2-1 defeat at Coventry on April 6 was their first in the league since the turn of the year and having seen Sunderland leave Elland Road with a point three days later, Daniel Farke’s men lost on home soil for the first time this season on Saturday when Sammie Szmodics fired Blackburn to victory in West Yorkshire.

Monday’s trip to Middlesbrough is followed by another away fixture at QPR before Southampton head north for a final-day clash which could have a major say in the promotion race.

Southampton (played 41, 81 points, +27 goal difference)

Run-in: Preston (h), Cardiff (a), Leicester (a), Stoke (h), Leeds (a).

Southampton’s bad patch arrived in February, when they lost to Bristol City, Hull and Millwall either side of a 2-0 success at West Brom in the space of 12 days.

A run of four wins and only one defeat in their last seven games, including Saturday’s last-gasp 3-2 victory over Watford, has edged them back into the hunt, but points on the board in the latter stages of a season are precious and Saints are playing catch-up.

Russell Martin’s men face difficult trips to Leicester and Leeds, but their cause will be forlorn if they slip up in theoretically less taxing encounters with Preston, Cardiff and Stoke.

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Declan Rice refuses to give up Arsenal title hopes after Aston Villa defeat
Declan Rice still believes that 'anything can happen' in the Premier League
Arsenal now sit in second place behind Manchester City
The Gunners suffered a 2-0 loss to Aston Villa on Sunday

By Katie Catherall
Apr 15, 2024
Rice refuses to give up hope
Rice refuses to give up hope / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
Declan Rice believes Arsenal still have a chance to win the Premier League despite suffering a disappointing loss to Aston Villa at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The Gunners were handed the chance to rise to the top of the league table after Liverpool were defeated by Crystal Palace earlier in the day. However, it was Manchester City who had the last laugh after both title rivals fell to shocking defeats.

Villa took all three points from Mikel Arteta's side, with two late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins leaving Arsenal two points behind City with six games to go.

Despite the dismay, midfielder Rice thinks Arsenal should have high hopes as they push on to achieve Premier League silverware.

He said: "It's not over yet. We're in an unbelievable position. We're still ready, we're still fully focused on what we want to do and what we can achieve.

Declan Rice, Lucas Digne, Pau Torres
Rice is determined to stay positive / Shaun Botterill/GettyImages
"There's going to be many more twists and turns in the Premier League. Anything can happen.

"We have just got to stay positive. We have got six football matches that we need to give absolutely everything for and good things can still happen. We just need to focus on ourselves really."

Rice also believes that Arsenal's trip to Germany to face Bayern Munich in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-final is a good opportunity to make a statement.

"It's the perfect game for a reaction," Rice continued. "We need a reaction on Wednesday night and it is a great chance to show our character and leadership.

"We've been on such an amazing run since January, won so many football matches, and got ourselves back into an unbelievable position after being written off at Christmas.

"It's a great chance for us to get into a Champions League semi-final. Going to the Allianz Arena, it's going to be a special night. It's time to pull our socks up and show everyone why we're in this position."

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Everton lodge appeal against two-point deduction

Everton have formally lodged an appeal against the two-point penalty imposed on the club earlier this month for breaching Premier League financial rules.

The Toffees indicated their intention to appeal last Monday, the same day the sanction was announced. The PA news agency understands that appeal has now been lodged.

The club admitted breaching the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for permitted losses by £16.6million for the assessment period ending with the 2022-23 season.

The independent commission which imposed the sanction disclosed in the written reasons for its decision that the Premier League had initially sought a five-point penalty.

This was reduced to two by the commission, after mitigation was taken into account, notably the fact that the club were being punished twice in the same overlapping period. In February Everton had a 10-point penalty for an earlier PSR breach reduced to six on appeal.

Everton will now be aiming to achieve a further reduction to the two-point penalty via the latest appeal.

Everton and Nottingham Forest have both now appealed against the sanctions imposed on them, and the hope for all concerned will be that both outcomes are known heading into the final round of Premier League matches on May 19.

The commission which issued the two-point penalty will also hold a separate hearing to settle a dispute between the club and the league around costs which Everton contend are associated to the construction of their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

This dispute is not covered by the new ‘standard directions’ for dealing with PSR cases before the end of the season in which clubs are charged, so any sanction imposed would almost certainly apply next season.