Latest Championship Odds: Coventry Slip Over Christmas

After the final game of Matchday 26 took place on Monday, we can now take a look at the Championship and how it has fared after a massively busy Christmas period. 

A Third Strong Competitor

Diving straight in at the top, Coventry City still have the lead of the division, but it does not look as solid as it once may have. In fact, after this weekend’s game, they actually look somewhat vulnerable at the top, which feels strange to say after their start.

Losing to a Birmingham side, who have been hit and miss all season, is another blow and their second defeat in their last three games. Of course, they will not lose too much confidence after managing to overturn a 2-0 deficit. However, the end result is still problematic. 

Whilst they sit in third, the strongest competitor for the title has to be Ipswich Town, who have won three of their last four games in the Championship. They are eight points off the top, which certainly is a gap to overturn. 

Nevertheless, they have a game in hand, and that deficit could be shortened to only five points. Still, this is a lot to make up for, but it is certainly not impossible. In fact, the bookmakers do have some belief, given they are 9/4 for the title. 

Middlesbrough, who sit in second, are not out of it either. However, they do not have the boost of a game in hand, and are six points off of Coventry in top spot. 

Thanks to their hammering of Southampton at the weekend, they are still very much in the discussion, and recent results have potentially been slightly undeserved. Nevertheless, you get punished quickly in the Championship and Boro have been victim to that.

If it needs to be said, the biggest winners of the festive period, in my view is Ipswich; they had a solid run through the past few weeks, whilst Boro and the Sky Blues fell a little. Had either not slipped up, the title picture may look much different. 

Massively Competitive

The play-off scene is also very interesting, given that six points separate fourth and 12th. In other words, it is close enough for anything to happen still. 

Taking that spot in fourth is Preston North End, who are massively outperforming where many thought they would be this season. At the weekend, the Lilywhites grabbed a huge three points against their play-off rivals Bristol City away from home. Like many of the top teams, they certainly hit a bit of a wall over the festive period, but they are still on track.

Millwall could also fit in the category of stumbling a little over Christmas, but they are unbeaten in their last four games, winning two, including this weekend’s game against Swansea. A big result considering the Swans’ recent form. 

Rounding off the top six is Watford, who are unbeaten since the start of December. With five wins and two draws in the past month, they are flying since Javi Gracia returned, and they look like a very credible play-off candidate, and / could be a nice price.

Hull City are certainly still in the mix, despite their loss at the weekend, and Stoke can also be put in the same category, despite their tough month. I have doubts about QPR and Leicester, certainly, but it is impossible to rule them out.

Finally, a word has to go to Wrexham, who have won their last four games on the bounce. At one point, it seemed like they would not be able to reach the heights expected of them in pre-season.

However, things are turning around, and they could well make a late play-off push, but the price of 4/1 with Ladbrokes is somewhat appealing.

Two Spots To Go

No miracles occurred over the Christmas period for Sheffield Wednesday, so they still remain at the foot of the table and are almost nailed on for relegation to League One. 

Then, taking the second spot in the bottom three is Oxford United. In fairness, they have had a lot of difficult fixtures over the past month, but failing to beat fellow strugglers Charlton has also curbed any major hopes of them escaping for now. 

They have gotten some difficult games out of the way, and their 2-1 win against Southampton proves that they are not completely doomed. There is only a three-point gap to safety, so things can certainly change quickly, more so with them having a game in hand. 

Without a game in hand, yet still in the bottom three, is Norwich City, who could be in real danger shortly. Whilst they are only a point away from Portsmouth, Pompey have two games in hand, so that gap could extend. 

Past them, the gap remains increased, but Blackburn and Charlton - who have a four and five-point gap, respectively - to the Canaries, also have games in hand. It is reliant on ifs and buts, but the gap could become seven points and the price of 7/4 for them to go down may not be a terrible one…