Premier League Promotion 2015: Teams, Championship Playoff Bracket and More
Middlesbrough and Norwich City will be bid to join both Bournemouth and Watford as teams promoted from the Championship to the Premier League for next season. It's the Canaries who came with the late run and haven't been short of goals.
Meanwhile, a Middlesbrough team smartly structured by manager Aitor Karanka is one of the most miserly in English football. But Norwich will also be wary of some of Boro's forward talent, specifically cerebral technician Lee Tomlin.
Both teams overcame tough tests in the playoff semi-finals, with Norwich settling an age-old local score. The bracket below details how both sides made it to the brink of England's top flight:
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| Stage | Date | Fixture | Results | Winner |
| Semi-Final First Leg | Friday, May 8 | Brentford vs. Middlesbrough | 1-2 | Middlesbrough |
| Semi-Final First Leg | Saturday, May 9 | Ipswich Town vs. Norwich City | 1-1 | Draw |
| Semi-Final Second Leg | Friday, May 15 | Middlesbrough vs. Brentford | 3-0 | Middlesbrough (5-1) |
| Semi-Final Second Leg | Saturday, May 16 | Norwich City vs. Ipswich Town | 3-1 | Norwich City (4-1) |
| Final | Monday, May 25 | Middlesbrough vs. Norwich City |
The results prove how dominant both sides have been. Truthfully, both were unfortunate to miss out on automatic entry into the Premier League amid one of the toughest and tightest promotion races in years.
Here's a closer look at the teams, starting with the playoff hopefuls:
Middlesbrough
Defensive solidity has been Boro's foundation on Karanka's watch. Schooled by pragmatic Chelsea gaffer Jose Mourinho while at Real Madrid, Karanka has brought his mentor's same adherence to being difficult to beat to Teesside.
Part of the bedrock of Middlesbrough's stingy squad has been veteran Jonathan Woodgate. An incredibly talented yet tragically brittle centre-back, the 35-year-old still has enough nous to thwart most attackers.
He may be on the bench at Wembley, according to the Guardian's Louise Taylor. But Woodgate's experience and influence remains invaluable in this squad. Karanka may deem those qualities too important to leave out on the big day.
Fortunately for Boro, they can already count on Daniel Ayala to keep things steady at the back, no matter whom he's partnered with. The former Liverpool and Norwich defender has blossomed thanks to Karanka's tutelage.
Earlier in the season, Eric Paylor of the Teesside Gazette identified the 23-year-old Spaniard as a defender with a "big future ahead." Paylor also noted how Ayala is a menace from set pieces, something the Canaries will be very wary of.
While things are usually rock-solid at the back for Karanka's men, they often depend on some mercurial brilliance from Tomlin to create something in forward areas.
At his best, the 26-year-old usually provides a magic moment or two. Tomlin has battled major weight issues to revive his career, per Daily Mail writer Matt Lawton. He's got the skill, intelligence and change of pace to unlock any defence.
If Boro do reach the promised land, Karanka will count on the likes of Ayala and Tomlin to be key figures.
Still, he'll still be aware this team will need more firepower to survive a Premier League campaign.
Norwich City
While defensive resolve is the hallmark of Middlesbrough, midfield power is what separates Norwich from most. Alexander Tettey and Graham Dorrans offer a perfect blend of attributes at the heart of the engine room.
The former offers some brute force power and drive. Meanwhile, Dorrans is a crafty schemer who can thread passes between the lines and rarely wastes possession.
The icing on the cake is usually provided by the energetic Jonny Howson. He's a workhorse with a real eye for goal.
But as much as manager Alex Neil can count on his men in the middle, the young Scot needs a more dynamic striker. Anytime a team fields Cameron Jerome up top, it's a sign there's room for improvement.
The lack of top quality to lead the line might cost Norwich against Boro. Even if it doesn't, this team will need a new striker or two to cope at a higher level.
Bournemouth
The one team in the Premier League promotion spots not short of firepower is Eddie Howe's Bournemouth. In fact, the Cherries may find it tough to keep hold of star striker Callum Wilson, even after winning the Championship.
At least Howe knows Arsenal chief Arsene Wenger won't be making a move. The Gunners boss recently disputed claims he's interested in signing the 23-year-old Wilson, per TalkSport.com.
That's welcome news for the Cherries considering Wilson's importance. Squawka's Tahmeed Zaki detailed how Wilson bagged 20 goals this season, with all of his successful strikes coming inside the box, the hallmark of a classic poacher.
Significantly, Zaki also noted how Wilson has "created 62 chances for his teammates and registered seven assists." That's ample proof of how important he is to every level of his team's forward output.
Howe is already thinking about adding even more firepower around Wilson ahead of a first season in the Premier League. The Cherries are currently linked with Blackburn Rovers attacker Josh King, per Sky Sports.
Sticking with an attack-first approach would fit a bold manager whom Gareth Southgate believes is a potential future England boss, per Mirror reporter Dean Jones.
Watford
While Bournemouth boast a star of the managerial ranks in Howe, Watford may be ready to wave goodbye to Slavisa Jokanovic. B/R Spanish Football expert Guillem Balague detailed how the club is already speaking to candidates to replace the man who took the club back to the summit of English football:
However, a report from the Watford Observer's Adam Newson contradicts Balague's rumour. Instead, Newson states Watford and Jokanovic are still taking over a new deal, but he does identify wage demands as a "sticking point."
The standoff with the manager is strangely timed, especially considering the owning Pozzo family is apparently already trying to recruit new players. Udinese defender Thomas Heurtaux is a target, according to Italian website TuttoMercato.web (h/t the Watford Observer).
Bolstering the defensive ranks is always good preparation for facing Premier League opposition. To that end, at least the Hornets know goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes is sticking around, after he signed a new three-year contract, per Sky Sports.
As a stopper with Premier League experience, Gomes should be an invaluable figure next season.
At the moment, it's tough to gauge who has the best chance to survive when the final promotion spot is still to be decided. It's easy to say Watford look shaky given the manager's uncertainty and the high number of loan players comprising a squad that will look radically different when the next campaign begins.
Bournemouth play an open, attractive game. But their pleasing-to-the-eye football could suffer amid the ruthless pragmatism and physicality that pervades the Premier League.
From the playoff hopefuls, Norwich are probably the best equipped to last, if they make it. The Canaries only left the Premier League last season and still boast a lot of quality players who can make it at a higher level.
But they first have to get past Middlesbrough. Karanka is a canny operator who could play spoiler at Wembley before masterminding a few upsets in the top flight next season.
