Latest Championship Odds: Boro Untouchable Before Break

Matchday four of the Championship delivered some more excitement, and there has been a bit of reshuffling across the league. However, some remain in similar positions. It's never boring, is it?

No Sign of Slowing

Normally, we'd start with the odds here, but it would be wrong to ignore the only team who are without any points dropped: Middlesbrough. After years of being close to promotion, this looks like it may be the year.

A comfortable 1-0 win at the Riverside was the latest step in Rob Edwards' road to the Premier League, and beating Sheffield United still has to be considered a big thing, even despite their struggles so far.

Sky and Paddy Power, somehow, are still offering 17/2 on the North East outfit, and it would be difficult not to consider that price right now, especially with three places of E/W on offer.

Following them on 10 points is West Brom, who picked up a big three points against Stoke City away from home. Before then, the Potters had picked up nine points from the nine available and looked solid.

However, Ryan Mason was able to get the better of Mark Robins, even if it was just narrowly, and the Baggies now sit in second.

Following them are the aforementioned Potters and Leicester City, both sit on nine points and look rather solid. Though neither side is backable at odds of 10/1 or less. Instead, you will find 11/1 for Leicester or 25s for Stoke.

Of the top three favourites for the title, only Birmingham are in the top 10, and that is by the skin of their teeth. Right now, they sit in 10th, with this weekend's defeat to Leicester halting their fantastic start.

However, there are going to be games like that, and getting one out of the way early on is not a bad thing at all.

Southampton and Ipswich are certainly yet to take off; the former are sitting in 13th, failing to win any of their last three games. Then, Ipswich sit in 20th, yet to get a win so far this season. Things need to improve, certainly.

Coventry Stall a Bit

Considering where some other teams are in this post, it feels a little harsh to be putting Coventry in a play-off summary, rather than a title challenge. However, they are four points off the top, and there is still good value in the 'Top Six' markets.

Nevertheless, they were given a bit of a return to reality this weekend, with Oxford United holding them to a draw. The U's are one of the favourites for relegation this season, so after a 7-1 thrashing, many would have hoped that another would follow. But it wasn't to be.

Following them is Leicester, who have shot up the market after the win against Birmingham at the weekend. The Foxes looked convincing in almost every aspect, and keeping a clean sheet against such an attacking team is a good result.

However, fears of a potential point deduction still loom, and this is what is holding me from actually looking at backing them just yet. Without that, the lure would be a lot higher, but the odds would also be lower.

Bristol City also returned to winning ways, joining Coventry with two wins and two draws. That said, their defensive record is more impressive, only conceding four goals in their opening four.

This weekend's result is a perfect example of what City can do. They scored four goals, which is a really good start. Nevertheless, conceding two against a side who are probably going to be at the lower end of the table is not fantastic.

Not a worry, but something to watch.

Questionable Weekend

At what point do we genuinely start worrying about Sheffield United? The Blades have not started this season well at all, and the South Yorkshire outfit are in a state of peril. Most expected this season to be a tale of two splits.

However, it could be a season spent together. This weekend's loss to Boro is better than some that have come before. However, Ruben Selles is under serious pressure, and at some point, there needs to be some change.

Just above them are their fiercest rivals Sheffield Wednesday. The Owls are in a slightly better position, solely because they have a point on the board already. However, their own situation looks near impossible to exit.

With United, you have some feeling that they will, eventually, probably get better. However, that is not felt on the blue side thanks to the club's ownership.

Oxford United got their own lift-off on Saturday, with a draw against Coventry at home. It is a big point considering how Cov have been this season, even last weekend. So, it could well be a building block towards something better.

The teams above them all had decent results, or decent enough; however, there is not enough of a gap yet that teams are safe, far from it. In other words, the bottom three will change between now and the end of the season, surely.