FantasySports.co.uk takes its regular weekly look at the Championship – and we start off by congratulating Wolverhampton Wanderers on their promotion from English football’s second tier into the Premier League – hugely deserved it cannot be denied. But lets take a look at the Division as a whole as we are now just a handful of games away from the exciting conclusion :
WONDERFUL WOLVES ARE PREMIER LEAGUE
By the time Wolves beat Birmingham City on Sunday lunchtime, their promotion had already been confirmed, by virtue of Fulham’s draw at Brentford. Although they are still a point or two short of being proclaimed Champions of the Championship, there is no doubt this is just a matter of time – but Wolves fans will not really care less. After a six year exile from the top flight, Wolves fans will be hugely excited to return to the top table – and will feel they can make a real impact there. The likes of Ruben Neves, Diego Jota and Leo Bonatini have Premier League class all over them – and coupled with a hugely talented squad, with more investment planned, who knows where this class of Molineux will take them. A great time to be a Wolves fan for sure.
DISMAL DERBY SLIP OUT OF PLAY OFF FRAME
Not long after suffering the humiliation of being beaten 1-4 by Sunderland at Pride Park, Derby fans suffered arguably an even worse loss, losing 3-1 at Burton Albion – a team who four days early were trounced 0-5 by Hull City at the Pirelli Stadium. Derby had seen their excellent form capitulate after the New Year – dropping initially out of the automatic promotion places and now out of the play off places as well. Four games remain for the Rams to recapture some form and make the end of season play offs – but with games against Middlebrough, Aston Villa and Cardiff City in there, Rams fans will fear more a further slide down the table than a climb back up it.
MILLWALL ROAR CONTINUES
It has been a run of epic proportions from Millwall – looking like falling into the relegation scramble before Christmas, they have embarked on an amazing run of form – taking 43 points from a possible 60 and only being behind Fulham in the form table across the last 20 games. Saturday’s draw at Sheffield United took them into the top 6 with just three games to go – but next up is the afore mentioned Fulham at home for the Lions. Can they keep it going? No matter what, it has been a superb run from Neil Harris’s pride.
RELEGATION LOOMS FOR BLACK CATS DESPITE IMPROVEMENT
Just a season after slipping out of the Premier League, Sunderland could well fall down a further division should they lose at home on Saturday to relegation haunted Burton Albion, and Birmingham/Bolton avoid losses in their respective home games. Despite only losing one game in their last five, Sunderland have failed to close the gap on their rivals and it seems inevitable that they will drop a division further – even should they prevail over Burton. It will be a huge issue for this proud club but – as Wolves have shown – they can come back bigger, stronger and better for taking this step back, however soul destroying it is for them now.
LANCASHIRE LADS LOOK LIKELY TO MAKE A SWIFT RETURN TO CHAMPIONSHIP
There looks like being a fast return to the Championship next season for Wigan Athletic and Blackburn Rovers – both of whom are five points clear of Shrewsbury Town in third place and primed to clinch auto promotion very shortly. Wigan look favourites to be promoted as Champions, having a game in hand on Blackburn and a far superior goal difference – but both look to be worthy additions to the Championship for next season, replacing whomever has the misfortune to be relegated this season.
Join us next week for our next review and feel free to leave your comments about anything to do with the Championship in our comments section below!