The 2015/2016 Championship promotion race is shaping up to be just as close and exciting as last season, with no less than nine teams in serious contention to reach the Premier League. Gaining promotion carries huge significance, with broadcasting contracts totalling over £8 billion which come into play this summer set to provide top-flight clubs with a considerable cash windfall that could transform the fortunes of the three teams who prove they have the stomach to stay the distance amidst fierce competition.
Hitting form and remaining consistent are key ingredients behind any promotion push, and with the Championship entering the business stage of the season, every point matters in the grand scheme of securing an automatic promotion or play-off spot. Bookies.com will keep track of the many twists and turns that are still to come in the Championship, with their football betting odds likely to change during ever round of fixtures as the drama and pressure to succeed continues to intensify.
Watford and Bournemouth were undoubtedly the best teams in the Championship last season as their quality shone through, but while they are enduring contrasting fortunes in the Premier League, reaching the top flight is unquestionably the aim of the game for those who have given themselves a great chance of facing the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United next season. Hull and Burnley currently make up two of the top four, with both clubs hoping to bounce back up at the first attempt following relegation from the Premier League. They have both benefitted from keeping the same squad from last season, with the experience and quality they possess serving them well in recent months. Steve Bruce’s side have the honour of standing tall at the summit, with Abel Hernandez playing a big role in their success with 16 goals to his name. The Uruguayan will have to remain on his game if the Tigers are to retain top spot, with just one win in their last three games suggesting that Hull are starting to feel the pressure.
Burnley, on the other hand, appear to have hit form at just the right time, with the Clarets unbeaten in their last 13 league games. Sean Dyche has been critical of the considerable spending power that other teams in the Championship have this season, but he has still managed to put Burnley in a commanding position thanks to Andre Gray who is currently the league’s top scorer with 18 goals. The former Luton and Brentford star has became an instant fans favourite at Turf Moor, and with experienced 33-year-old Joey Barton pulling the strings in midfield, they have a squad capable of returning to the top flight. The Premier League is unquestionably the name of the game for Burnley, and while Betway provide the latest betting odds on the match for every top flight fixture, Dyche’s men will be in the equation next season if they remain consistent between now and May.
Middlesbrough narrowly missed out on promotion last season after losing out to Watford and Bournemouth in the automatic promotion race, and then in the play-off final against Norwich, but they have shown their true character by being in contention once again. Aitor Karanka’s side have made more headlines in domestic cup competitions after knocking out Manchester United on penalties at Old Trafford in the Capital One Cup, but it is their league form that has won many admirers. Their success has ultimately been based on a rock-solid defence that recently set a new Championship record for the number of consecutive clean sheets, with the £9 million acquisition of Jordan Rhodes in the January transfer window offering a big statement of intent that Middlesbrough can add more goals to their game. A disappointing run of just three points from a possible fifteen has allowed their closest rivals to claw back the significant deficit that Middlesbrough had established at the top, and they will need to rediscover their form quickly if they are to make amends for last season’s heartbreak.
A trio of teams below Middlesbrough also have their eyes firmly on gaining promotion, with Brighton, Derby and Sheffield Wednesday all proving they have the quality to make a real push. The latter have taken many by surprise, with Carlos Carvalhal bringing an attractive brand of football to Hillsborough with inspired signings such as Fernando Forestieri and Lucas Joao leading from the front. While the Owls may be in the top six on merit, the other two clubs have endured significant slumps in form which have cost them dearly; Brighton went unbeaten for the first eighteen games of the season to shoot straight to the summit before defeat at home to Middlesbrough sent them spiralling down the table, while losing against the same team also resulted in Derby losing momentum and the position of strength they had established under Paul Clement, who lost his job as a result of their demise.
