Championship Antepost Tips: To win - Bolton

Last season Bolton Wanderers were hovering around the relegation zone with over half the season gone, yet ended up very nearly gate-crashing the play-offs after a storming finish. Based on 2013 form they look like strong contenders to win the Championship at best odds of 9/1 with WilliamHill.

Between 23 February and the end of the campaign the Trotters won nine matches - more victories than any other team in the division during the run-in. That sequence included a notable 4-1 success over Hull City, who went on to gain automatic promotion.

The Lancashire outfit agonisingly missed out on a top-six spot on goal difference after drawing 2-2 with Blackpool on the final day. That result and outcome would have been hugely disappointing, but they have every reason to be more confident than most regarding 2013-14.

Dougie Freedman has now made it ‘his team’ with the potentially shrewd signings of Jermaine Beckford, Alex Baptiste and Andre Moritz, but just as important is who remains. Chris Eagles was named Player of the Month by the fans three times in a row last term and ended up top scorer with 12 goals as well as claiming the most assists (12). The 27-year-old is pivotal to the club’s success but he should be well supported by the likes of Medo Kamara,  Darren Pratley and Keith Andrews.

Bolton look better poised for a title bid than perhaps any of the other perceived challengers. QPR, Reading and Wigan must adapt to that difficult first season after relegation while Watford, Leicester and Brighton may find that their best chance came and went in last season’s play-offs. So perhaps the Reebok Stadium will be hosting top flight football again this time next year.