Latest Championship Odds: Five-Point Gap as Break Returns

There are a few gaps across the Championship at the moment, and as we head into the latest international break, there are a few teams that need to return ready to kick on.

Edwards Departs, Boro March On

We'd normally start this section with the top of the league. However, there was some bigger news this weekend, as Rob Edwards has left Middlesbrough to take the vacant Wolves job, for which he was well-backed.

Edwards' side had been fluctuating in recent weeks, and it offers a chance for them to reset now moving forward. So, Adi Viveash took the reins for this weekend's fixture against a Birmingham side who have been fantastic recently, and they delivered.

Three first-half goals saw Boro take a 2-1 lead, which they held onto for the rest of the game, securing their first three points at the Riverside since October 17th.

Putting the Boro boys first could certainly have waited too, considering the other result at the top. Good things come to those who wait, though, and this was certainly the case for Coventry, who beat Stoke in the 86th minute.

A phenomenal acrobatic strike from Ephron Mason-Clark secured another three points for the Sky Blues, who look truly unstoppable at the moment. The price of 4/5 for them to win the league is more than justified.

Separated A Little Now

Coventry's win against Stoke City has certainly helped some other teams in the division, and it is understandable why. Stoke City were the leaders of the chasing pack before the weekend, and it remains the case. However, a four-point gap to the top has now become a seven-point one.

Their loss to Cov is not really too worrying. Few teams will beat Frank Lampard's side this season, and they were close to getting a solid point. In other words, they are still the best team to follow the top two, I think.

Sitting below them is Preston, who played out a 1-1 draw against Millwall this weekend, who are also one of the most notable play-off contenders so far this season. It was another case of all the action happening in the first half, with Michael Smith and Mihailo Ivanovic both getting goals.

It is the first draw at the Den this season, so Preston can certainly take some pride in this result. Nevertheless, both teams remain in contention for a top-six spot, but they are certainly not safe.

Hull then take the final (well, fourth place ahead of Millwall) spot in the play-offs. A win for them this weekend against Portsmouth was their third in five games, and the Tigers are really on a roll currently.

It was not the prettiest win. However, three points are all that matter sometimes, and they got them.

Looking down the table, four teams are sitting on 23 points, with Ipswich the favourites to sneak their way into the play-offs, according to the bookmakers at 3/13. However, you have to also take a look at Derby, who have won their last five games in a row.

Even then, four teams sit below that group on 21 points. In other words, it is far too close to call currently. So, there is certainly value there for the top six places, with Derby currently 8/1 and even 6th-placed Millwall at 10/3.

Not a Pretty Sight

As we look to the bottom, nothing has changed... will it ever?! Sheffield Wednesday look doomed, and barring a miracle, they will go down bottom of the league. They are 1/1000 to go down in some places. Does 1/100 look like value?

Norwich City lost again this weekend, this time against Leicester, and it was enough for the Canaries to sack Liam Manning, and it has certainly been coming. With nine points in 15 games, it is certainly strange he lasted as long.

Sheffield United then take the final spot in the bottom three, with a draw this weekend against QPR. Perhaps you could say this is an improvement. However, four points in their last five games tell a pretty damning story.

The first win above them went to Southampton, who rose to 17th with three points. Oxford, Portsmouth, Blackburn and Swansea all lost. Perhaps the first two or three are the most in danger.

With a three-point gap to U's, the Blades have to start fighting. Especially with a -15 goal difference to contend with.