Latest Championship Odds: Monday Night Blues

After another Monday Matchday, the latest round of the Sky Bet Championship is over, and there is now a greater focus on the top of the league than ever before.

Sky Blues Fall on Sky

This weekend, it feels like the Championship title race has taken its latest turn, and it would be tough to suggest that the seemingly previous guarantees about Coventry remain in place.

Throughout this year, they have looked to be the big dogs in the title fight, but this is no longer the case.

On Monday night, they were beaten by Norwich away from home, making it only two wins in their last six games. Of course, they still lead, but their grip is slipping quickly.

Considering results elsewhere, too, this is only more of the feeling.

Middlesbrough sit in second, only three points away now, and with four wins on the bounce, they are primed for a title challenge, which is already happening, perhaps.

This weekend, their ambitions were only cemented, thanks to the 4-0 win against Preston. For anyone who took the risk on a higher price for them, they are looking really strong currently...

Finally, Ipswich are probably the last title contenders at this moment in time. Despite being five points away from the top, they have a game in hand, and should they win that, they will be firmly in the conversation, if they are not already.

It could be worth taking a look at the 3/1 price for them to win the league, if not 4/6 for them to get a top two spot doesn't look terrible.

Put it this way, the title race is nowhere near as done as we may have thought it was before Christmas.

Harsh on Hull?

Looking to the play-offs, we start with a team that may actually feel a little hard done by, and that is Hull.

Despite sitting on 50 points and also having a game in hand, I think they are more likely to fight for the play-offs than the title at this moment - though, if you feel the other way, 66/1 is available for them to win the division - and they are in a solid position to do so.

Their win against a decent Swansea side was their fourth in the last five games, and it looks difficult to overlook them as a strong contender for a top-six spot.

Millwall follow them on 49 points, and without that game in hand, it seems almost guaranteed that they will only be fighting for a play-off spot this season.

This weekend's dismantling of Charlton could be huge for their season, given that they have not won a league game by four or more goals since November 2023.

It also helps that it was against a big rival in Charlton. The Den certainly was not complaining at that result!

Then, taking the final spot in the top six is Wrexham. However, they are certainly not as safe as the other two teams above them. Sitting on 44 points, they have certainly headed into a more stable place recently.

The win against QPR this weekend, who have also floated around the play-off spots, they grabbed two late goals to earn three points, and they cannot be written off at this stage.

Saying that, the R's now sit in 12th with 40 points, so they are not out of the picture. Nor are any of the teams sat above them. Perhaps, debates could even be made for one or two below...

Relegation Picture No Clearer

Despite their win at the weekend, Oxford United are not in a much better position than they were at the start of it. Sitting in 23rd, they are still three points away from safety.

However, beating Leicester City is a really strong result, and added to the two draws that came before it, they may be starting to get back in contention for safety.

Though they still have a long way to go.

Blackburn Rovers take the other spot in the bottom three, considering Sheffield Wednesday are already effectively down. Whilst there can be some praise for their draw against Watford, it is not enough.

They have not won a Championship game since before Christmas, but with them only being a point away, a lot must be done if they are to gain safety.

Portsmouth are the current team to catch, if anyone is to stay up this season, and they are only on 30 points. In other words, they are far from safe themselves.

A draw this weekend is nothing to really scream about, but picking up five points from their last nine available is rather nice.

Charlton and West Brom both sit above them on 32 points, and neither team is out of the race just yet. In fact, the Addicks are 3/1 to go down, whilst the Baggies are also in big trouble, so the 8/1 looks like it could get shorter.