QPR currently have a seven point lead at the top of the Championship and look as if they’re heading towards the promise land of the Premier League but the other promotion spots are very much up for grabs, with just 10 points separating second placed Nottingham Forest and Hull City, who are currently 12th (QPR 4/6 – Championship outright).
Forest (11/10 to be promoted) have been on a fantastic run and have not tasted defeat in the league since way back on November 29, when they slipped to a 1-0 defeat at Leicester. Boss Billy Davies has a good pedigree in the division, having led Derby, Preston and Forest into the play-offs in recent years and the Scottish manager will be desperate to go one better than last season, where Forest were knocked out in the semi-finals by Blackpool.
Cardiff (6/4 promotion) have the considerable talents of Craig Bellamy, Michael Chopra and Peter Whittingham to call upon and at the start of the season many were tipping the beaten play-off finalists to mount a challenge for the title. The Bluebirds started the campaign well, despite the disappointment of missing out on promotion, but have stuttered of late. However, Cardiff did manage to secure a 1-0 win at the home of bitter rivals Swansea last time out and if they can rediscover their best form the Welsh side could well challenge for the title, they trail QPR by eight points at the moment but they have a game in hand (Cardiff 6/1 – Championship outright).
Swansea (3/1 promotion) occupy a play-off spot at present and have produced some impressive displays over the course of the season to date. The Swans play an exciting, attacking brand of football and despite their derby disappointment last weekend should be able to secure a top six finish. The Liberty Stadium side do not have the same financial backing as the likes of Cardiff and QPR but Swansea seem to have a great team spirit and work well as a unit, all the ingredients are there for the South Wales side to be this season’s Blackpool.
Leeds (10/3 promotion) and Norwich (5/2) were both playing in League One last season but the duo have settled into life in the Championship quickly and are both in the top six at this stage of the season. In Grant Holt Norwich have a top class striker but he has struggled of late and if they are to continue their push for the second automatic spot the frontman will have to get back amongst the goals sooner rather than later, although he did grab his first goal in six games in the loss at Burnley last time out.
Leeds also have some decent players and could well hang onto their spot in the top six, but the Yorkshire side have a woeful record in the play-offs in recent seasons, both in the Championship and League One, and will probably have to finish second if they’re to go up this season.
Millwall (12/1 promotion), Leicester (4/1), Watford (9/1), Burnley (4/1), Reading (6/1) and Hull (12/1) are also involved in the battle to secure a play-off spot and they will all be confident they can pick up enough points between now and the end of the season to secure a top six spot. Reading have been in fine form of late and were unlucky not to take all three points in their recent draw with Cardiff, while QPR inflicted a narrow 1-0 defeat on the Royals at the Madjeski Stadium last time out. Hull have also been on an impressive run of late and of the chasing pack I would suggest Reading are the most likely side to break into the play-off spots, while at 12/1 the Tigers look good value considering they have lost just once in their last 15 league games.
Want £200 Free? Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.