EFL Championship: Cardiff City back in the Premier League; playoff set
By Orri Benatar
The Bluebirds of Cardiff are making their triumphant return to the Premier League. A 0-0 draw with Reading sealed Cardiff’s fate to join Wolves next season.
The Welsh side Cardiff City will play their second season of English Premier League football in 2018-2019. Cardiff finished the EFL Championship season with 90 points, enough to clinch promotion in second place ahead of Fulham.
Manager Neil Warnock returns the Bluebirds to the EPL after a four-season hiatus. Their last EPL season came in 2013-14 when they changed their traditional bluebird logo to a red dragon that belongs on Game of Thrones.
The scenes at the Cardiff City Stadium were electric when the final whistle blew. This young team has been one of the surprises of the EFL Championship season with their 27 wins. Their leading scorer is an underdog player, 27-year old Canadian midfielder Junior Hoilett.
Hoilett’s 11 goals in all competitions were the most in his career after playing all 46 games in the Championship season, where he scored nine of his 11. Hoilett will play his first season in the EPL since 2014-15 when he was with Queens Park Rangers, who finished 16th this season.
Owner Vincent Tan will hope his team’s second go at the EPL will be much better. Their lone EPL season was dismal with just seven wins and nine draws to finish in dead last. The season did start off with a bang as Cardiff won dramatically 3-2 against Manchester City in their first home EPL game. The fireworks early were burnt out quickly in the long season.
And we're done!
— Sky Bet Championship (@SkyBetChamp) May 6, 2018
Here's a look at the final @SkyBetChamp standings... pic.twitter.com/AfEbGjciNK
Who is in the Playoff?
With Wolves and Cardiff heading up in the world next season, the third and final team joining them will be decided in the next two weeks. In one corner, Derby County will face Fulham. In the other, Middlesbrough will take on Aston Villa.
Derby County is searching for redemption and a place in the Premier League for the first time in ten years. Fulham, a former EPL regular, will be relying on young superstar Ryan Sessegnon to return them to the top flight for the first time since 2013-14.
The other playoff semifinal is between two more former Premier League regulars. Aston Villa looks to reclaim their rightful spot in the Prem after a two-year hiatus. Boro is looking to be the only club making their return a season after being relegated. They finished 19th last season.
The drama will begin to unfold on Friday, May 11th when Derby host Fulham in leg one.