Tag Archives: promotion

Promotion hopefuls set to shine

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The Championship action continues on Saturday with a number of intriguing clashes including the derbies between Midlands pair Birmingham and Leicester (4/1 joint favourite – Championship outright) and Lancashire duo Burnley and Blackpool.

The game at St Andrew’s could be season-defining for both sides and defeat may even see either Lee Clark or Nigel Pearson lose their jobs (Match Betting – Birmingham 21/10, draw 12/5, Leicester 5/4).

After missing out in the play-offs last season, the Blues were widely expected to once again be challenging for promotion, but they have struggled so far this term, winning just three of their 10 matches.

This run has seen them drop to 21st in the table and despite only arriving in the summer there is already huge pressure on Clark to start delivering some results.

In contrast, the Foxes are flying, sitting second in the league, but that hasn’t stopped the speculation surrounding Nigel Pearson’s position, with Harry Redknapp being linked with the job as the club’s ambitious board look to bring a big name in to boost their profile.

Despite the internal struggles at the King Power Stadium, 49-year-old Pearson has done a stunning job at Leicester and has managed to get rid of the disruptive elements that harmed their form last season.

This has led to them playing some of the most exciting football in the Championship and although the game will be tight, they should extend their run on Saturday (Leicester 8/1 to win 2-1).

The other game that stands out is the clash between Lancashire rivals Burnley and Blackpool in the late game (Match Betting – Burnley 15/8, draw 12/5, Blackpool 11/8).

The Clarets are currently a side in crisis following boss Eddie Howe’s recent return to Bournemouth and haven’t won in their last four matches.

Whoever comes in at Turf Moor will certainly have their work cut out, as Howe appeared to be only half way through transforming them back into the promotion contenders after selling a lot of the club’s leftover stars from their time in the Premier League.

However, they still have plenty of talent within their side and with Charlie Austin (5/4 to score at anytime) in fine form, they’re always dangerous.

After a superb start to the season the Seasiders have also struggled in recent weeks, losing three out of their last four games, but are still well in the promotion hunt.

With a number of his players back after the international break, Ian Holloway will be looking for a response and his young side will be desperate to prove their worth after a difficult few weeks.

With so much talent on display, this game could produce fireworks but with all the confusion surrounding Burnley, Blackpool will expect to get back to winning ways (Blackpool 12/1 to win 2-0).

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Trio searching for promotion points

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The race for automatic promotion from the Championship is intensifying and it now looks like being a three-horse race between Southampton, Reading and West Ham, who are all in action on Saturday looking to get some more vital points on the board.

Burnley v West Ham

Sam Allardyce’s Hammers have hit a sticky patch at just the wrong time in their bid to secure an immediate return to the Premier League (4/7 – Promotion) this season.

The Londoners looked certain to win promotion at one stage, but their recent inability to kill teams off – particularly at home – has resulted in five draws from the last six outings which has allowed in-form Reading to jump into second spot behind league leaders Southampton.

However, West Ham have been strong away from home all season and it might be good for them to be playing away from Upton Park as the pressure from the stands appears to have affected them in recent weeks.

The Hammers have picked up half of their total of 68 points on the road so will be confident of improving on that at Turf Moor.

Julien Faubert and Ricardo Vaz Te are still absent with respective groin and hamstring problems, while defender Guy Demel and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop have long-term injuries.

Burnley have been consistently inconsistent this season with their home record of six wins, six draw and six defeats summing things up perfectly. However, Eddie Howe’s men did defeat the Hammers 2-1 at Upton Park earlier in the season and have lost only four of 36 games against them on home soil.

Left-back Danny Lafferty and forward Danny Ings will be checked before the game, while top scorer Jay Rodriguez is also likely to start again after completing 90 minutes against Ipswich in midweek.

The Clarets want a first win in seven, while West Ham know a draw will mean a record fifth consecutive stalemate, but Allardyce’s side should get their promotion bid back on track on Saturday.

Prediction: Away Win 90 Minutes @ 5/4
Value Bet: Draw/West Ham HT/FT @ 9/2

Reading v Blackpool

A huge game is in wait in the scrap for promotion and play-off places at the Madejski Stadium as second-placed Reading take on fifth-placed Blackpool.

Brian McDermott’s Royals have jumped above West Ham into the second automatic promotion places (4/7 – Promotion) following a run of nine wins and one draw before Tuesday’s surprise 3-1 defeat at Peterborough.

They stay two points ahead of the Hammers, who have a game in hand, so will be desperate to secure three points against the Tangerines to stay in the box seat for another weekend.

The Royals have won five successive games on home soil going into this match and will be looking to extend that run, although they will have to do it without striker Jason Roberts due to a hamstring injury.

England youth international Benik Afobe has arrived on loan from Arsenal until the end of the season, and the youngster could make his debut, while Hayden Mullins is set to continue on the right of defence in the absence of ankle injury victim Matt Connolly and Joseph Mills continues to miss out.

Blackpool have hit an indifferent run of form in recent weeks, although Wednesday’s last-gasp 3-3 draw with Leicester at Bloomfield Road has kept them in the play-off places.

Ian Holloway’s side have won two, drawn two and lost two in their last six, but an encouraging statistic is they are the Championship’s top scorers on their travels with 32 so far.

Roman Bednar will sit this one out due to injury and so it is a timely return for Stephen Dobbie to the club from Swansea.

The Royals look set to bounce back from Tuesday’s Posh defeat and put another three points on the board this weekend.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 4/5
Value Bet: Reading To Win 3-2 Correct Score @ 25/1

Southampton v Doncaster

A real top-versus-bottom affair at St Mary’s which, on the face of it, appears to be one of the biggest home bankers of the weekend.

Nigel Adkins’ Saints sit five points clear at the top of the Championship table (1/3 – Outright) and look good for a return to the Premier League, while Doncaster are one place and one point off the bottom spot.

Southampton’s home form is easily the best in the league with 14 wins and just two defeats, while they have won five and drawn one in their last matches.

Guly do Prado and Tadanari Lee are injury doubts for the Saints so Billy Sharp could be handed a rare start against his former club, while midfielder Richard Chaplow could return to the squad after missing out at Hull in midweek.

Dean Saunders’ Rovers are in desperate need of a win as they are four points adrift of safety following a run of just one win in six, which came at fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest.

Shelton Martis remains a major injury doubt for Doncaster with hamstring and calf problems, while Tommy Spurr’s absence means George Friend will contest the left-back berth with Herita Ilunga after returning to training from knee ligament damage.

Pascal Chimbonda is poised to return at right-back having missed the Millwall home defeat due to his wife being unwell, while Kyle Bennett faces a late fitness test on his toe.

Everything points to a home win, but Rovers did defeat the Saints 1-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium earlier in the season and won 2-1 on their previous visit to St Mary’s so they will have some hope of securing a result.

But anything other than a comfortable win for the Saints would be a major shock.

Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 1/3
Value Bet: Lambert 1st Goal Southampton To Win 3-1 Scorecast @ 22/1

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Magpies hunt down promotion

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Notts County boss Martin Allen has transformed his side around from a struggling club at the foot end of the table last season into a promotion chasing team this time around. They take on Hartlepool at Meadow Lane on Sunday and should be backed at Evs to continue their fine start to the season with three points.

Although they have lost their opening two games in October, Allen did pick up the manager of the month award in League One, as a reward for his side’s run in September. The curse of the award seems to have taken its toll on the opening results in the new month.

The two results won’t concern Allen too much, and he will see them as a mini blip as he challenges his players to go on winning run once again.

The Magpies were boosted with the news that Lee Hughes has signed an extension to his contract at the club. The former West Brom man has been critical to their rise from League Two strugglers in recent years. Take Hughes to score the first goal in the game at 9/2.

Hughes is one of the leading strikers in this division and always a handful for the opposition defence. He has been so successful at this level over the past couple of season that his goal celebration has become a big hit in these quarters.

Notts County have won four of their last five games in front of their home crowd, and that’s one of the key reasons to why they are currently ninth in the League One table, just one point outside the play-off zone.

It must be said that Hartlepool have had a solid start to their campaign and sit just one place above their opponents going into their game.

However, their recent run of fixtures have been kind to them, and they can expect things to become a lot tougher in the near future.

Coach Mick Wadsworth has refused to talk about promotion, and he is probably wise to do so because they are punching above their weight at the moment.

Their latest result was a 1-0 defeat at home to Sheffield Wednesday. The start of a tough run of fixtures.

Pools are without an obvious leading striker, like Hughes, who is capable of scoring 15 goals this season. They lacked quality in front of goal last weekend against the Owls.

Notts County are a high scoring side and the visitors will have to score at least twice if they are going to get something from the game on Sunday afternoon.

Take the 2-1 scoreline in favour of Notts County for your correct score selection at 8/1.

Three points on Sunday will keep the Magpies on track for a push for at least the play-offs this season. They struggled last season following promotion into the league, financial problems being their biggest Achilles heels. However, they now know what is required as they look for a return back into the second flight on English football.

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Saints can maintain promotion bid

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An international break gives us the chance to take stock of how the Championship has been panning out and who look like genuine promotion candidates. Many people will be surprised that Southampton currently sit top of the pile, but Nigel Adkins’ men look like they could be real contenders this term.

Having won promotion from League One last season and losing young star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer, several pundits would have been expecting a season in the bottom half of the table for Saints. But they have taken to life in the Championship like a duck to water and have a 100 per cent record at St Mary’s.

In Rickie Lambert, Saints (5/4 to win promotion) have the joint top goalscorer so far this season, with the former Bristol Rovers man banging in eight goals already. Adam Lallana has also highlighted his ability in tandem with Lambert, while Southampton’s defensive record is also impressive – with just 12 goals conceded in 10 games.

Middlesbrough (13/5 to win promotion) are hot on the heels of the league leaders and are the only team in the division unbeaten at this stage, with five wins and five draws. Tony Mowbray has done a fantastic job in a short space of time and has experience of winning promotion to the Premier League with West Brom.

The former centre back has built a solid foundation at Boro, having had to stave off the threat of relegation last term. The only worry for Mowbray will be the lack of goals in recent times, with Boro relying heavily, at present, on midfielder Marvin Emnes.

West Ham (5/2 to win Championship title), currently fourth, remain the bookies favourites to go up and have arguably the strongest squad in the division. Sam Allardyce’s men are unbeaten in five away games to date, but the Upton Park form will be a concern – with the Hammers already losing twice, to Cardiff and Ipswich.

Of the chasing pack, Hull City (6/1 to be promoted) are enjoying the best run of form at present and look real contenders under the shrewd leadership of Nigel Pearson. Having struggled for goals earlier in the season, the loan capture of Martyn Waghorn looks to have inspired the Tigers.

Hull are on a six-game unbeaten run and with an impressive away record over the last 12 months, will believe they can secure a top-six spot come May. We will get a better idea of their credentials after the break though, with a trip to Brighton to come on October 15.

Leicester (5/1 Championship Outright) have spent a lot of money and the expectations appear to be weighing heavily on Sven Goran Eriksson’s men. Consistency is lacking with the Foxes, but should they find their feet, they must surely be contenders for automatic promotion.

After a poor start, Ipswich have all of a sudden sneaked up to 10th, following a four-game unbeaten run. Michael Chopra looks to have found his shooting boots and the recent addition of Keith Andrews has given the Tractorboys a real lift.

Derby are sitting in third but their recent 4-0 drubbing at Leicester suggests they are punching above their weight, although Nigel Clough has to be praised for the way he has turned around the Rams fortunes on a tight budget.

Cardiff and Blackpool will both believe the play-offs, at least, are within their grasp this term, while Leeds (6/1 to win promotion) can still mount a top-six challenge if they can tighten up at the back and keep Ross McCormack and Luciano Becchio fit.

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Foxes face promotion pressure

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Eriksson McDermott

With just over two weeks to go until the start of the Championship season, punters will be eyeing a potential ‘good value bet‘ in a wide-open division. The likes of Swansea, Blackpool and Burnley have surprised many by gaining promotion to the top flight in recent years, could there be another surprise package this season?

Leicester (9/2jf Championship Outright) look like the team to beat this term after spending big during the summer transfer window.

Sven Goran Eriksson turned the Foxes from relegation candidates to play-off contenders last season and has spent money on strengthening his squad.

David Nugent, Matt Mills, Neil Danns, Sean St Ledger and Kasper Schmeichel are among the names arriving at Leicester and although they look like quality additions, the pressure will be on for Eriksson’s men to deliver the goods.

West Ham (6/4 to win promotion) are another team expected to go close this season, despite losing a number of first-team players since their relegation from the top flight.

Sam Allardyce has pulled off a real coup with the capture of Kevin Nolan, but a couple of other new faces will be needed if they are to stake a claim for an imminent return.

Birmingham and Blackpool are the other two clubs looking to go back up at the first time of asking, with the Tangerines looking a better bet at this stage.

Ian Holloway may have lost Charlie Adam and David Vaughan but in Kevin Phillips (33/1 Championship Leading Scorer) they have someone who can grab 20-plus goals this term.

Blues have lost four first-team regulars and Chris Hughton has some rebuilding to do to make them a force, although he knows how to win promotion having won the title with Newcastle.

After the appointment of Steve McClaren, much of the press will be keeping a close eye on Nottingham Forest (3/1 to win promotion) this season.

The ex-England boss has brought back Andy Reid to the City Ground and the capture of Jonathan Greening from Fulham looks like a useful addition. The play-offs will be the minimum target for McClaren.

Burnley finished last season strongly under Eddie Howe and have a lot of quality in their squad, but they will need a goalscoring replacement for Chris Iwelumo. The Clarets’ home form is likely to keep them in touch with the chasing pack, but they will need to improve on the road.

Reading (12/1 Championship Outright) will still be haunted by their play-off final defeat to Swansea and the loss of Mills will have a big impact on their hopes. Brian McDermott must keep Shane Long if the Royals are to challenge for promotion.

The Yorkshire challenge will come from Leeds and Hull, with the Tigers looking a more likely threat.

Nigel Pearson has made some shrewd additions, in particular Paul McKenna, and in Matt Fryatt (20/1 Top Goalscorer) has one of the best strikers in the division.

Leeds have struggled to make an impact in the transfer market and will be relying heavily on the intimidation factor of Elland Road.

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Promotion race boiling over

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With only two games remaining in the regular Championship campaign there are still plenty of matters to be resolved with regards to the battle for automatic promotion and scrap to seal a place in the end-of-season play-offs (npower Championship promotion 2010-11).

Only Neil Warnock’s QPR side seem to be assured of a place in the Premier League next season, although they were forced to put the champagne on ice after Norwich’s 96th minute winner against Derby on Easter Monday.

However, with a far superior goal difference and just one point required from their final two matches, the Hoops are finally set to seal their place at the top table of English football and can then focus on wrapping up the Championship title.

The battle to join them, as always, has turned out to be a nerve-jangling, goal-filled affair which has maintained the Championship as one of the most entertaining leagues in world football.

Norwich City

Paul Lambert’s Canaries (1/2 Promotion) are in the box-seat to join QPR in the Premier League automatically as they know wins in their final two games against sides which have nothing to play for  – Portsmouth at Fratton Park on Monday and at home to Coventry on May 7 – will see them clinch back-to-back promotions.

Norwich also appear to have hit form at the right time since a 3-0 defeat at Swansea on April 9 by going four matches unbeaten, including three successive wins in which they have scored 10 goals.

Cardiff City

Dave Jones’ Bluebirds (10/11 Promotion) are now the only side who can realistically take second place as fourth-placed South Wales rivals Swansea must win their final two matches and hope both Norwich and Cardiff lose.

They sit a point behind Norwich with two games remaining – against mid-table Middlesbrough at home on Monday and a tough trip to play-off chasing Burnley on the final day.

However, as far as momentum is concerned, Cardiff have the edge as they have not lost since a 1-0 reverse at Crystal Palace on March 8 with five wins and three draws in the bag since.

The fight to secure the final play-off place is also bubbling along nicely as Cardiff or Norwich, Swansea (13/5 Promotion) and Reading (9/4 Promotion) will be joined by Nottingham Forest, Leeds, Millwall or Burnley and even Hull in 10th spot have an outside chance.

Nottingham Forest

Billy Davies’ side (9/2 Promotion) looked certain for an automatic promotion spot at one stage, before embarking on a disastrous run which saw them slip out of the top-six.

However, they seem to have found some form at the right time to take back the final play-off spot with a two-point cushion thanks to three wins in their last four games, including successive 3-2 victories.

A City Ground date against a Scunthorpe side that is virtually relegated and a trip to a Crystal Palace side that is virtually safe from the drop should also boost Forest’s hopes.

Millwall

Kenny Jackett’s seventh-placed side (9/1 Promotion) are the dark horses in the race for a play-off place as they have ‘done a Blackpool’ by storming from nowhere to become real contenders thanks to six wins and only one defeat in their last nine league games.

They welcome Swansea to the intimidating Den before travelling to face a mid-table Barnsley side that could well have the deck chairs out on the final day.

Plus, if the Lions do roar into the play-offs, the fact they came up from League One by the same route last season will no doubt stand them in good stead.

Burnley

Eddie Howe has impressed since taking over the Clarets (9/1 Promotion) from Brian Laws earlier in the season as he has reversed their flagging fortunes to put them back into the play-off picture.

They sit in eighth spot, level on 67 points with Millwall, following a run of three wins and a draw from their previous four matches which ended a damaging run of four straight defeats.

However, they face a much tougher run-in with a trip to play-off chasing rivals Leeds before a visit of promotion-chasing Cardiff which will not help their cause.

Leeds United

Simon Grayson’s Whites (12/1 Promotion) looked certainties for the play-offs but they have pressed the self-destruct button in recent games. Just one win in eight games has left them in ninth spot and three points off Forest in sixth spot.

Therefore they need to win their final two matches – against Burnley one place above them at Elland Road and at champions-elect QPR on the final day – and hope their rivals slip-up.

It looks a tall order and it seems that Leeds will still be in the Championship next season.

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Canaries primed for promotion

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The heat is on in the Championship this week, and not just because of the weather. With four games left to go for each club, there is plenty up for grabs for the majority of the teams – none more so than Norwich, who are looking to complete back-to-back promotions and face local rivals Ipswich on Thursday.

The Tractor Boys will be desperate for revenge after a 4-1 drubbing at Carrow Road earlier in the season. Paul Jewell has got Ipswich flying, could they be about to throw a giant spanner in the works for Norwich?

Not many would have picked Norwich to go up this year, given their recent financial struggles and the fact they only got out of League One last season. However, the Canaries are now evens to be promoted after a fantastic season.

Paul Lambert has worked wonders, developing Grant Holt into the goal-machine he has always threatened to be. The 30-year-old was given the recognition his season has deserved on Sunday, when he was included in the PFA Team of the Year. Ipswich know all about Holt’s power after he ripped their backline to shreds in the corresponding fixture, bagging a hat-trick on home soil.

The Canaries are not a one man team though, with Wes Hoolahan, Korey Smith and Chris Martin all catching the eye this season. Simeon Jackson has also come into his own recently after taking the place of Martin and might be worth a look to score anytime at 7/4, with Holt at 6/5.

Norwich’s fantastic season has been down in large part to their form away from home, losing just four times on their travels all season. They have also been able to dig deep when it counts, scoring 16 goals in the last ten minutes of matches.

Since Roy Keane’s disastrous reign was brought to an end, Ipswich have been on the march – winning nine of their 18 games since Jewell took over. Town are still in with a mathematical chance of reaching the play-offs, currently sitting six points outside the top six. While they would have to win all their remaining games, a victory over their local rivals could be just the tonic they need to go on a winning run.

Ipswich have won four of the last five, although it is their form away from Portman Road that has been more impressive than recent victories over perennial strugglers. The Tractor Boys revival has been spurred on by loan star Jimmy Bullard and 17-year-old Josh Carson, who has scored three goals in his last three appearances.

Thursday’s clash between two of the league’s in-form teams is probably one of the hardest to call of the Easter weekend Championship bonanza. For that reason, the safe bet seems to be the draw at 23/10.

Ipswich will be desperate to avoid being turned over again and Norwich would probably take a point, despite the tight nature of the race for the second automatic promotion spot. For those brave few who fancy one side to win outright, Norwich are 17/10 and Ipswich are 8/5.

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Whites v Reds in promotion clash

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We are really getting into the business end of the season in the Championship, with points vital for teams at both ends of the table.

Two clubs that are desperate to get back to the Premier League are Leeds United and Nottingham Forest and the two sides meet in the early kick-off at Elland Road on Saturday (Leeds 6/5, draw 11/5, Forest 11/5).

The Whites managed to pick up a point at the City Ground in just their second game of the campaign after winning automatic promotion from League One last season. Leeds were lucky to draw against Forest who dominated much of the game.

However, the West Yorkshire side have surprised many teams in their first season back in the Championship and find themselves in fifth place in the table, just above Forest.

Tottenham Hotspur loan man Jake Livermore could make his first appearance for the Whites as manager Simon Grayson has looked to bolster his option in the middle of the park, with Aston Villa’s Barry Bannan also in on a loan deal.

Forest have failed to win in their last seven outings in the Championship and should be battling with QPR and Norwich for the automatic places. Now Bill Davies‘ side are struggling to keep their place in the playoffs with Reading and Burnley hot on their heels.

Saturday’s game at Elland Road will be a tight contest with both teams desperate to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Leeds have not been beaten at home since October and should just edge this one in front of a packed Elland Road.

Promotion chasing Norwich City take on Scunthorpe United at Carrow Road, as the Canaries look to strengthen their hold on second place in the Championship (Norwich 1/5, draw 7/2, Scunthorpe 8/1).

Norwich continue to be very difficult to beat as they have not tasted defeat in their last eight games.

The Irons on the other hand are fighting for their lives in the relegation zone with five points between themselves and safety.

Scunthorpe have appointed Alan Knill as their new boss ahead of the away trip to Norwich and he will have to settle in fast to his new club as they are desperate for points. The manager factor may give the United players a boost but it’s hard to see them getting anything out of the game at Carrow Road.

Preston are also fighting for their lives as they sit rock bottom of the Championship and they will have to raise their game when they take on Swansea at Deepdale on Saturday (Preston 13/5, draw 23/10, Swansea Evs).

North End currently sit eight points off safety with a game in hand and manager Phil Brown is running out of time if he wants his side to avoid the drop.

Swansea have been outstanding this season and they will be full of confidence after their 3-2 victory over Forest in their last outing. The Welsh club have a great opportunity to earn promotion to the Premier League this season and it’s unlikely that Preston will get in their way.

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Championship promotion race reaching boiling point

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Bet on the ChampionshipWith most teams in the Championship having just 10 games to go before the end of the season, who will win the race for promotion and be playing Premier League football next season?

Queens Park Rangers (1/12 to win promotion) are still leading the way as they have done for much of the season. Neil Warnock’s men are seven points clear of the playoffs and have the best goal difference in the league by some way.

It’s hard to see them throwing their position away and they should go on to lift the Championship trophy come the end of the season.

The race for the second automatic spot, however, appears less clear-cut as all the top clubs vying for it have slipped up recently.

Swansea (6/5 to win promotion) dropped two points on Tuesday night as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Watford at the Liberty Stadium as the Welsh side missed a chance to consolidate their position in the top two but they are still ahead of Norwich City on goal difference.

Norwich (9/4 to win promotion) managed to secure all three points in their tough away trip to the Walkers Stadium in a 3-2 victory over Leicester, who look like they are going to struggle to make the play-offs despite investment in the side and a fine recent record under Sven Goran Eriksson.

With striker Grant Holt continuing to find the back of the net for the Canaries and their never-say-die attitude, it looks like Norwich will push the Swans all the way for that second automatic spot.

Cardiff City (5/4 to win promotion) have hit a blip at a bad time in the season as the Bluebirds suffered their third consecutive defeat on Tuesday at the hands of struggling Crystal Palace.

After being comfortably clear of the play-off places just a couple of months ago, Cardiff will have to be careful that they don’t fall completely out of the top six before the end of the season.

Leeds United (7/2 to win promotion) suffered a setback to their promotion hopes when they were comprehensively beaten 3-0 by Swansea last month but the Whites bounced back and produced successive victories over Doncaster Rovers and Preston.

Leeds will be desperate to avoid the drama of the play-offs if they can, due to their poor record in them in previous attempts in the Championship and League One.

With the likes of Max Gradel, Robert Snodgrass and Luciano Becchio in good form, though, they remain lively outsiders to bag automatic promotion.

Nottingham Forest (2/1 to win promotion) will be kicking themselves they did not make a goal lead count against Sheffield United, as they lost 2-1 at Bramall Lane and Billy Davies’ side are now on the verge of dropping out of the top six with Burnley in a strong position with two games in hand.

Forest and Burnley will be battling out for that final play-off place with Reading, Hull and Leicester, at this stage anyway, off the pace in the race for that crucial sixth spot.

It is still not clear who will be playing against the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool next season but what is is that there will be plenty more drama, considering what is at stake, before the season is over.

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Foxes promotion bid gaining pace

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Sven Goran Eriksson’s arrival at Leicester City back in October was greeted with some raised eyebrows as the former England boss’ return to club management in this country came on the back of short-lived and unsuccessful stints in charge of Mexico, Notts County and Ivory Coast. But the Swede has quietly overseen a real change in the Foxes’ fortunes and a charge up the Championship table. Ahead of Friday’s key home game with Bristol City, we look ahead to what could lie in store at the Walkers Stadium when the Robins visit.

If form is anything to go by then, surely, there is only one winner here when looking at the match odds. Leicester, at 2/5, are predictably short favourites such is their fine recent record. Eriksson’s side are on an 11-match unbeaten run in front of their own fans and we can’t see anything other than another three points for the home side in this one. Don’t be tempted by the visitors’ price of 15/2 to cause a surprise.

Such has been Eriksson’s impact at the club that Leicester have not lost at the Walkers since he took charge. They are now seeking their seventh win in eight Championship games and their fifth straight victory as they chase down Leeds in sixth place.

The Foxes remain four points off a play-off spot at the minute but are looking in great shape to challenge as we begin the countdown to the end of the season.

It is with that in mind that a bold prediction of 4-1 in the correct score market (16/1) is made as we envisage Eriksson’s men racing into an early lead, roared on by an expectant home crowd.

The Foxes’ boss has no fresh injury worries either ahead of the game, although Yuki Abe could be recalled in place of Matt Oakley. On-loan striker Yakubu has spoken about how much he is enjoying his time under Eriksson and he has clearly benefited from the drop down in a division, scoring three times so far. A good bet, then, at 4/1 to score first in this game.

Bristol City are aiming for their first league double over Leicester since 1915 but the 2-0 win at Ashton Gate earlier in the campaign seems extremely unlikely to be repeated here.

The 4-0 rout of Preston aside, Keith Millen’s men have bore all the hallmarks of a side lacking confidence in the past few months and have slipped further down the table as a run of just two wins in 11 has left the Robins, who could have striker Nicky Maynard back after a lengthy absence, staring worryingly at a relegation scrap.

Even a draw, on offer at 10/3, looks beyond them but Maynard to score at any time (9/4) could be worth a punt, even if it is only a consolation.

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