The Championship: Latest Odds

The battle to reach the promised land resumes on Saturday with Championship leaders Southampton eagerly pursuing back-to-back promotions. Nigel Adkins’s high-flyers are 13/8 (Boylesports) for the title having opened up a five point cushion at the top. Pre-season favourites West Ham (2/1 Ladbrokes) are still hot on their heels in second. Already, a winner outside of these two would constitute a surprise; Middlesbrough, just one point behind the Hammers are 16/1 (StanJames) to emerge as champions with Cardiff 20/1 (Boylesports) after a fine run under Malky Mackay.

Leicester City are the same price (20/1 VictorChandler) despite making such a sluggish start to the campaign that Sven-Goran Eriksson paid with his job. Down in 12th, 14 points behind Southampton, Nigel Pearson has been handed the task of taking the Foxes back to the big time in his second stint in charge.

As always, the tight nature of the second tier and the play-off system means that more than half the division still have realistic dreams of going up. Birmingham City could still be one to watch at 6/1 (StanJames) for promotion despite sitting down in 13th. The Blues have actually picked up points well in the last two months; four points behind the play-off zone doesn’t look too bad when you factor in three games in hand.

Leeds United are outside of the top six on goal difference and also rate as a 6/1 (Boylesports) prospect to make a long awaited return to the Premier League. However, a few alarm bells will have been ringing after the last outing at Elland Road which saw Simon Grayson’s side trounced 5-0 by Blackpool. Ian Holloway’s boys may have finally recovered from their relegation hangover, sitting as they do in fifth spot; at 8/1 (Bet365) for promotion the Tangerines continue to be somewhat underestimated. The same could be said of Crystal Palace (12/1 PaddyPower); Dougie Freedman has transformed the Eagles from relegation candidates into a side currently occupying the top six.

With all the promoted teams sat in the top half of the table, several more established Championship sides are feeling the threat of League One football looming on the horizon. Doncaster Rovers are bottom with 12 points despite Dean Saunders improving results since arriving at the Keepmoat Stadium; the Yorkshire side and Coventry, also on 12 points, are joint 13/8 (Boylesports) favourites for the drop. Bristol City have revived considerably under new boss Derek McInnes, taking seven points from their last three outings. That form has dragged the Robins off the foot of the table, but they still sit third bottom and are 11/8 (Coral) for relegation.

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