FantasySports.co.uk takes its regular look at the latest double header round of games from the Championship, as the race for the Premier League hots up – via automatic promotion or the dreaded PlayOffs.
WOLVES RACE AHEAD OF PACK
The surge from Wolverhampton Wanderers continues, as they recorded their fourth win in succession and seventh in the last eight Championship games with a comprehensive 4-1 win over Leeds United on Wednesday, putting them 5 points clear of Sheffield United in third place and 12 clear of Derby County in seventh. Wolves are looking every inch the best team in the division – scoring goals for fun whilst keeping it tight at the back. With their next three games all against teams in the bottom four of the Division, Wolves could have a real grip on promotion as they go into the Christmas/New Year set of games.
CHASING PACK GATHER BUT STRUGGLE FOR CONSISTENCY
Below the league leaders lie a throng of teams all chasing hard, but struggling to put together a truly meaningful run that puts any sort of pressure on not just Wolves, but each other. Pre season favourites Aston Villa and Middlesbrough have both got themselves back in the mix after indifferent starts, whilst Cardiff, Sheffield United and Bristol City remain in the van, but suffer from indignant losses after good wins.
MID TABLE IS AS CHAOTIC AS EVER
Just eleven points separate Derby (7th) and Hull City (20th). Sheer madness that so many clubs can be separated by so few points. But that is the beauty of the Championship – one minute you can be riding high harbouring dreams of the Premier League or Wembley….and a few weeks later you can be looking over your shoulder anxiously and fearing trips to Gillingham and Walsall next season. No such thing as being safely in mid table in the Championship…there is always something to play for, or guard against!
BOTTOM FOUR LOOK IN REAL TROUBLE
Its only a small gap (3 points) but it is developing, and the clubs south of Hull City will be desperate to cling on to their coat tails, as they risk getting cut adrift and battling out relegation between them. Scarily enough, Bolton are actually unbeaten in seven games (W2 D5) but remain second bottom propped up only by Sunderland. Burton and Birmingham have had important wins recently which give them a sniff – but individual wins will not be enough to clamber away from this fight….and all have tough upcoming fixtures, including some real six pointers between this less than fab four.
STRIKERS IN HOT FORM AS JANUARY APPROACHES
Sheffield United’s Leon Clarke heads the top scorers list (12) of the Championship, and has been in sensational form – grabbing 8 goals in his last three games, after not scoring in his previous five games. Middlesbrough’s Britt Asombalonga is averaging a goal a game across his last five, whilst leaders Wolves’ Brazilian starlet Leo Bonatini has 7 goals in his last 8 Championship games. Lets also spare a thought for Sunderland forward Lewis Grabban, whom is on 10 for the season, having scored nearly half his teams goals, and has hit 7 goals in his last 6 games….yet hasn’t been on the winning side once. All these players though will no doubt be catching the eye of Premier League teams as the January transfer window approaches….and we wouldn’t be surprised to see one or two of them taken either.
Join us again next week for our next review of the Championship!
