The second tier is frequently described as the most competitive league in Europe with plenty of evenly-matched teams vying for promotion, either automatically or via the end-of-season play-offs. Managers regularly say it is the hardest division to get out of and, with Wolves, Blackburn and Bolton joining the Championship ranks next season, there are several teams in contention to go up come next May.

Totesport make wealthy Leicester City the 7/4 favourites in the promotion market but the Foxes were also highly-fancied to go up last term only for that prediction to fall flat on its face when they failed to even make the play-offs after finishing a disappointing ninth.

In Nigel Pearson they have a manager highly respected in the Championship and have strengthened with the astute capture of Ritchie de Laet from Manchester United.

Add in the experience of Neil Danns and Ritchie Wellens, plus the goalscoring threat of Jermaine Beckford and you do have a side capable of beating anyone in the league.

Predictably, Bolton (5/2 to go up) and Wolves (11/4) are next in the betting to be promoted following their relegation from the Premier League in May. Both have considerable talent in their squads to cope well in the Championship – although there could be departures from the Reebok and Molineux in the coming weeks. Wolves are hoping to keep hold of key men Kevin Doyle, Matt Jarvis and Steven Fletcher amid interest from top-flight clubs and, if they do, they are good value to secure a fast return to the big time and even worth backing at 9/1 in the outright winner market.

Bolton are back at this level for the first time in 11 years and will fancy their chances of at least making the play-offs with Owen Coyle desperate to restore his reputation in the new season. They, too, have players who could leave but expect them to be in the running when it matters come the end of the campaign.

Lancashire rivals Blackburn’s summer purchases to date have caught the eye with Danny Murphy making the move along with Newcastle striker Leon Best and veteran former Portugal international Nuno Gomes. The latter may be a high-profile risk at 36 but the other two represent solid signings from Steve Kean and could be just the players to help quell the discontent at Ewood Park and inspire a promotion bid (9/2).

Other lively outsiders for promotion include Watford (8/1), under new Italian ownership and expected to have Gianfranco Zola at the helm, while traditional big clubs like Leeds (9/2), Cardiff (7/2), Nottingham Forest (5/1) and Birmingham (11/2) will be in the mix if they strengthen well and make good use of their plentiful home support.

Of the rest, promoted Charlton (13/2), Sheffield Wednesday (7/1) and Huddersfield (12/1) will look to stay up first and foremost although the Addicks could launch a shock back-to-back promotion bid, in the manner of Norwich and Southampton, under the guidance of Chris Powell if they keep their young squad intact.

It is certainly a tight division that again is hard to predict and, when looking a the promotion market, you can make a case for around three-quarters of the clubs to go on and secure a place in the Premier League come next May.

Bolton, Leicester and Wolves, then, are the early tips to battle for the title while we see Blackburn and Watford running them close. After that, provided financial restrictions are lifted and takeovers completed, Nottingham Forest and Birmingham also have good promotion claims while Charlton are dark horses.

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David James

England put in an awful display during the 0-0 draw against Algeria on Friday night to leave many fans wondering what has happened to the team that qualified for the finals with ease.

Hopes and expectations were raised after the Three Lions qualified in style, but they looked a shadow of that side as they struggled to break down a resolute Algerian side.

Once again England’s top players who perform week in week out in the Premier and Champions League against the top players in Europe failed to show up.

They are supposed to be world class but they did not show that last night. It looked like they were playing with fear and with the weight of the nation on their shoulders and that would be a viable explanation.

Capello hinted as much after the game, but goalkeeper James is having none of it and says they just struggled to break down a side that set their stall out for the draw.

Well Lampard, Gerrard and Rooney come up against teams like that every week in the Premier League and do not seem to have a problem then.

“Did he?” retorted James when told Capello said they played with fear. “Arguably it is more frustration than fear. You are usually playing matches when the opposition wants to win. It is very difficult when you are up against a side who seem not to want to lose.

“You are trying to work out the way to unlock a defence. They did what they needed to do. It was very frustrating.”

It was also very frustrating to watch and the England fans who have spent their hard earned cash to travel out to South Africa will demand more against Slovenia or the boos will be ringing out again.

However James is confident there will be no repeat and says a win is on the cards.

“We are tight enough to recover and win this game,” he added. “I don’t have any doubts about that at all. The reality is if we get a good win on Wednesday we finish top of the group.

“Regardless of whether we win one and draw two or win all three, you are top, which is what our aim was. I have the utmost confidence in our squad.”

At this moment in time the fans don’t and it will take a big performance on Wednesday to get them back on side.

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