The Championship at Christmas

Undeniably, we focus on the Premiership. It’s what people want to watch and read about, and its what we want to watch and write about. But for once, let’s look at the other divisions – and the next best thing is the Championship…

The Title Challengers

There are three clear leaders at the top – Reading and Birmingham, tied on 50 points in second and third, and then Wolves, perhaps the surprise of the season, seven points clear at the top. After these three there are another seven points to the team in fourth (currently Burnley).

Reading and Birmingham could have been predicted – both relegated last season, and able to keep most of their squad intact, they were always likely to challenge. Wolves are more of a shock – usually there or thereabouts, but this season free scoring and winning consistently. They are (joint with Reading) the top scorers in the division, and have lost only four games so far. Mick McCarthy must take great credit for the way they are playing and the results they are getting.

Reading have scored bucketloads all season, particularly at home, with the Hunt brothers combining, along with Kevin Doyle, to score 32 goals in just 13 games at the Madejski. Equal to Wolves at home, its their away form that is keeping them off the top – a 5-4-3 record comparing unfavourably with Wolves’ 8-1-3.

Birmingham have kept pace with Reading but in very different style – dour and efficient, their effectiveness was perfectly exemplified in yesterday’s 1-0 win over Ipswich. Tight and well organised, they lack the flair of the other two challengers but are very hard to beat.

With two automatic promotion places, one these three sides is going to be hugely disappointed – and the play-offs are a mile away from guaranteed promotion.

Pushing for the Playoffs

The other three play-off places are currently occupied by Burnley, perhaps the success story of the season (excellent Championship form and through to the semi-finals of the Carling Cup – Owen Coyle has done a fantastic job there over the last 13 months), Cardiff City, spurred on by the excellent Joe Ledley and the returning Michael Chopra, and then the intensely dis-likable Neil Warnock’s Crystal Palace. Only out on goal difference are Preston, with Sheffield Utd and the billionaires at QPR not far behind.

Mid-table Obscurity

A further three points back, tied on 34 points (six off the playoffs), are Swansea in 10th and Sheffield Wednesday in 11th. Only four points separate 10th and 17th, where Blackpool are still reeling from the defection of Simon Grayson to Leeds. in between, from 12th to 16th, you have Plymouth, Ipswich, Bristol City, Barnsley and Coventry. Derby, failing to produce the expected renaissance after their Annus horribilis of 2007/8, are a further point back in 18th. Paul Jewell is on borrowed time.

With a good run, any of these sides could push themselves into play-off contention – but likewise, a bad run of results could see them dragged into a relegation battle.

Hovering Above the Drop Zone

There are two sides on 26 points – three behind the group above, and four clear of trouble – but certainly looking anxiously downward rather than hopefully upward. They are Watford and Norwich – two sides who have tasted Premiership football (Watford only a couple of seasons ago) – but now struggling in the Championship. Aidy Boothroyd has already gone (incidentally heavily linked with the now vacant Forest job) – and Glenn Roeder needs to put up a more convincing case for his retention.

A consistent run of results is needed for either of these sides to propel themselves up the table – but that eventuality for one of the bottom four sides could see them in relegation mire.

In Deep Trouble

There are four sides slugging it out at the bottom, four points adrift of Norwich and in clear and present danger. Propping them up are Charlton – also recently playing Premiership football – they have already sacked Alan Pardew, and Phil Parkinson has done little to convince that he’s the man for the job with four defeats and three draws in the seven matches he has presided over.

Second bottom are Doncaster – admirably attempting to play proper ‘football’, but not getting results from it. It was a huge win for them yesterday, 4-2 against fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest, a defeat that proved to be Colin Calderwood’s last game in charge. The former European Champions are in desperate trouble, sitting in 22nd place, struggling for goals and form, and off the back of the aforementioned morale sapping defeat to Doncaster.

The bottom quartet is completed by Southampton, who are a precarious one place and one point above the relegation zone. Another former Premiership stalwart, their 6-3 defeat of Man Utd must seem – and in fact is – a world away.

So, the Championship at Christmas – three teams clear at the top, four teams adrift at the bottom, and seventeen teams who could still finish anywhere – roll on the second half of the season.