Sir Alex Ferguson

Throw the battle for the play-offs into the mix and there is still the potential for over half of the division to find themselves in the Premier League Promised Land come the end of May.

The Championship is hailed for its unpredictability so I have the difficult task of assessing which sides are capable of breaking into the big time as we embark on the second half of the season.

QPR

Neil Warnock’s side have led from the front in the first half of the campaign and were unbeaten right up until the middle of December.

However, some cracks have started to appear in the Hoops’ armour with a reverse at the hands of Watford at Loftus Road starting a run of three defeats in five games, while Bristol City snatched a late draw on Monday.

Despite dropping points, the inability of QPR’s (20/23 Championship Outright) rivals to capitalise leaves them five points clear at the top and teams that lead at this stage of the season usually have enough to make it all the way to the top-flight.

Cardiff

Dave Jones’s men just missed out on promotion last term when Blackpool defeated them 3-2 in the play-off final and they looked a good bet to achieve their ambitions this time around.

With a potent forward line, including Jay Bothroyd and Michael Chopra, being added to with Premier League-class in Craig Bellamy on loan, it was hard to look past the Bluebirds for the title (4/1 Outright), let alone promotion.

However, following a strong start, the Welshmen have endured a rough spell of three wins in 11 league games, before defeating promotion rivals Leeds 2-1 on Tuesday evening.

If Cardiff can tighten up at the back and rediscover that early season form, they could make it to the Premier League without the need of the play-offs.

Leeds United

Simon Grayson’s side were promoted from League One last term and the aim was to consolidate in the Championship this season.

However, following an inconsistent start, they responded to a 4-0 home defeat against Cardiff in late October by embarking on a 12-match unbeaten run which ironically ended against the same time in South Wales on Tuesday.

Despite that setback, the Whites have improved on their home form and still look impressive away from Elland Road so a play-off place (7/2 Championship Promotion) is certainly not beyond them.

Norwich

The Canaries won League One last term but, like Leeds, they have adapted to Championship football like a duck to water. Their away form – the joint best in the division – has fired them into automatic promotion contention (13/5 Promotion).

Paul Lambert’s side have only lost one of their last 11 outings and defeated league leaders QPR on Saturday. They are level on points with second-placed Cardiff and could push the Welshmen all the way for Premier League football.

Swansea

Cardiff’s south Wales rivals suffered the agony of missing out on the play-offs by the skin of their teeth last season, having occupied a top-six spot for most of the campaign.

However, a late run of poor form saw them miss out as Blackpool stole the final place and the rest is history!

Under Brendan Rodgers, the Swans have responded well to that disappointment and they have added more wins away from home – five so far – to complement their strong record at the Liberty Stadium to put them right in the mix (3/1 Promotion).

Regarded as one of the best footballing teams in the division, Swansea need to keep picking up points on the road – they have lost their last three in succession – or face more promotion heartache.

Nottingham Forest

Forest made it to the play-offs last season under Billy Davies and were expected to be amongst the frontrunners again this term.

Their home form has never deserted them – they are unbeaten at the City Ground in 31 matches – although their fans could argue they have drawn too many games this term (six wins and six draws).

Away from home, they started shakily but have improved, with Forest’s win at Ipswich on Monday their second in the last three. They are now two points off the play-off places with games in hand on all the sides above them so only a fool would rule Forest out of the running (14/5 Promotion).

(Surprise Package) Watford

Malky Mackay is developing a team spirit at Vicarage Road which mirrors what Ian Holloway successfully generated at Blackpool last season.

The Scot has no funds to play with but has blended youth with experienced heads and loan players to get the Hornets buzzing.

They are unbeaten in seven and have won five successive matches, including convincing victories at QPR and at home to Cardiff and Portsmouth, before grinding out a win at lowly Scunthorpe on Monday.

Striker Danny Graham has been an inspiration in attack for Watford and he could fire them into the play-offs.

The only thing standing in their way would be injuries and suspensions to key players as the season drags on. But if Mackay gets an element of luck in keeping his main men in the side on a regular basis then who knows where they could go (8/1 Promotion).

(Dark Horses) Hull and Leicester

There was an element of uncertainty over both of these clubs before the season started in August.

Hull had financial problems to deal with following relegation from the Premier League, while Leicester had to deal with losing to Cardiff in the play-offs followed by Nigel Pearson’s shock departure to Hull.

However, following disappointingly slow starts, there have been signs of life from both camps to suggest a rally is possible in the second half of the season.

Both clubs have new owners willing to fund some signings in this January transfer window which could help them mount respective promotion pushes.

Former England boss Sven-Goran Eriksson is in charge at Leicester and he has helped drag them up to 12th spot – just four points off the top-six places thanks to two successive wins.

However, the main problem is that they have lost nine on the road to date. But if the Swede can remedy that away form, the Foxes (13/2 Promotion) could well be in the hunt for play-off glory.

Meanwhile Pearson’s Tigers bounced back from defeat against Leicester with an impressive 3-2 win at Portsmouth on Monday.

Hull looked in danger of being in a relegation battle at one point, but they are now just six points of the top-six.

And, with the prolific Matty Fryatt already on board and more cash to spend on players this month, could Hull (14/1 Promotion) be the side that comes from nowhere to sneak into the play-offs at the death?

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