Gabby Agbonlahor promotion wish set to come true - but Leeds United can have the last laugh

The cream always rises to the top at the end of the Championship marathon. It has been a slog of a campaign and Leeds United look set to miss out on a top-two finish, despite potentially averaging over two points per game.

Many observers tipped the Whites' forthcoming home clash with Southampton on Saturday to be a final-day automatic promotion decider. Both teams have gone on long unbeaten runs this calendar year.

But it now looks more likely to be a dead-rubber, with Ipswich Town putting themselves firmly in the driving seat to secure automatic promotion after beating Coventry City in midweek. A point against League One-bound Huddersfield Town will see them clinch the runners-up spot. Their rise has been nothing short of remarkable. Only three teams (Watford, Southampton and Norwich) have previously achieved back-to-back promotions since 1992.

Read more: Southampton boss drops biggest hint yet about approach for Leeds United with Wembley call made

Bar a last day miracle, United face the prospect of the play-off lottery. Their record in the end-of-season extravaganza? Let's not go there.

It has been a thrilling, intense promotion battle. It appears Gabriel Agbonlahor will get his wish on who joins Leicester City in the top flight next season.

“As a neutral I would rather Ipswich come up," ex-Aston Villa striker Agbonlahor told talkSPORT in mid-February. "You don’t want the three teams that got relegated to get promoted. Leicester, Leeds and Southampton. Leeds were poor last season in the Premier League, so were Southampton.”

He later added: “Everyone I speak to, they are like, ‘yeah, I want Ipswich to come up’. They’re people’s second team, and the story of getting promoted two years in a row — imagine that. I just think it’ll be really upsetting for Leeds, Southampton, and Ipswich for whoever misses out.”

Are Ipswich everybody's 'second team?' Absolutely not.

Yet Agbonlahor does have a point about the tough challenge Leeds and Southampton face to lift themselves for one final push. It will be far from straightforward.

But there could still be a happy ending for United after a topsy-turvy campaign. There is a small chance they could finish second. Nerves could be a factor for Ipswich at the weekend as they look to seal a top-flight return after a 22-year absence. The Whites must be in a position to strike should Ipswich slip up.

Failing all that? The dreaded play-offs provide United with a potential route to Wembley and promotion glory.