Championship: Mid-Season Review

And we roll on to the Sky Bet Championship as we look at our mid-season review of the English leagues.

Blackburn Rovers have managed to put their troubles to one side and they are just four points off the play-offs, although they’ll be desperate to keep hold of Jordan Rhodes in January. Mid-table is tight in the Championship, with anyone from Reading, who should arguably be doing better under Nigel Adkins down to Bournemouth, having a solid season under Eddie Howe, surely believing they have a shot at the play-offs.

Down at the bottom of the table, Barnsley will be hoping that Danny Wilson’s second spell at the club can lift them out of the bottom three where they are accompanied by a stout Yeovil Town and a poor Doncaster Rovers side. Rovers have just re-signed Billy Sharp, which will give them confidence and Charlton Athletic will be worried looking over their shoulders as they struggle for points.

Up at the top of the division, moneybags Leicester City and QPR lead the way but the story of the season so far must be Lancashire side Burnley. With Danny Ings and Sam Vokes almost unplayable for the majority of the season, The Clarets must fancy a shot at the top two. The dark horses of the promotion race as things stands looks to be Nottingham Forest. With a squad deep in quality, they’ll expect to bridge the game to QPR and Burnley and challenge for an automatic promotion spot. Derby, with the influential Will Hughes in midfield, can expect to find themselves in the mix come the end of the season too.

The under-achievers of the Championship this season must surely be Bolton Wanderers who, after a great end to the season under Dougie Freedman, have failed to replicate that form and must be worried about the resurgent sides below them. Millwall have had a torrid season but will be hoping Ian Holloway can revive their fortunes and despite a recent good run, Birmingham City must be wary of being sucked into the battle at the bottom.

Our dark horses for the play-offs are Middlesbrough. Aitor Karanka, using his contacts to good effect, has quickly turned round Boro’s fortunes and they are only five points off the play-offs. Ipswich Town look a threat with the same amount of points whilst Wigan, also hugely under-achieving given their squad, have improved under Uwe Rosler. How many manager changes have we discussed here? That’s ridiculous. 8. Including Blackpool and Sheffield Wednesday who are currently managerless and Udin…Watford who’ve just pronounced some Italian we’ve never heard of. Huddersfield a Town are building a good squad and last but not least, sleeping giants Leeds United are struggling for consistency under Brian McDermott.

So, who for promotion? We have to go with the obvious for the top two with QPR just pipping Leicester to the title. Nottingham Forest’s strong squad will see them beat Burnley in the play-off final.

Going down is proving a difficult choice. The Couch Pundit are going for Charlton Athletic, Barnsley and Yeovil Town. What a great division.

The Couch Pundit team.