Latest Championship Odds: London Curse for Leeds as Derby Eye Salvation

A draw on the road has now firmly widened the Championship title race, and we are in for a fantastic final eight games of the season it seems.

London Curse Haunts Leeds

I've said it for a few weeks now, but I am adamant that the title race will be between three teams between now and the end of the season, rather than one team running away with it, and this weekend has proved me right.

We start in London, where Leeds United have famously struggled in recent years, and this weekend, the curse proved too much once again, with the Whites dropping points to Queen's Park Rangers.

It is not a season-ending result, far from it. However, the inability to pick up three points has now invited pressure that before was not as intense - certainly not a good weekend for them, and that is before looking at results elsewhere.

Heading to Sheffield next, where the Blades took on Sheffield Wednesday in the Steel City Derby, and Chris Wilder's side picked up three points once again. It is a huge result for the fans, and therefore, the club, so you have to be positive about the side's momentum.

Post-game Wilder was clearly overjoyed with the result, and you have to feel that there is a lot of momentum running around the club now. Level on points with another rival in Leeds United, there are going to be some huge points to play for in the next few games.

Last, and in this case least, we have Burnley, who sit two points behind the division leaders. A 2-0 win against Swansea certainly is not the biggest result of their campaign, far from it. However, it is another result that Scott Parker will be delighted with.

The former midfielder has now seen his side win four of their last five games, and they are firmly in the title discussion, even if they are at a slight disadvantage.

We're certainly in for a good ending to the season at the top of the division, that much is for sure.

Eight Points, Eight Games

Picking a few teams to reach the play-offs is a task that I'd happily do without, to be fully honest. Just eight points are separating fifth and 12th, which just shows how much can be changed in the next few weeks if allowed to. With the Championship, we can never expect it to be simple.

Sunderland, who were previously in the title race, somewhat, now sit in fourth and are probably the only secure option within the play-off places. Sitting 10 points clear of Coventry, they are in a really good place, and despite losing to the Sky Blues this weekend, I cannot see them dropping out of the top six.

However, they have been much worse in the past few weeks than they have been all year, so it would be very fair if you had doubts about their chances in the play-offs...

Sitting a place below them is the Sky Blues, who again, have recorded another win this weekend, and it was a dominant one at that. Scoring three goals against a Sunderland team who have been phenomenal for much of this season is, again, a huge credit to Frank Lampard.

The Englishman has completely revitalised a squad that looked to be done for this season, and he deserves all the praise that he is getting currently. Even if he has not got the side firmly into the play-offs just yet.

West Brom sit in the last spot of the six, and I must admit that they are doing a better job than I expected when Tony Mowbray was appointed. Unbeaten in their last five games, they have recorded some big wins, however, a draw against Hull this weekend has left them vulnerable in my eyes.

As much as I bigged up the closeness of teams in the race, I only think there are two that have a chance of getting into the play-offs, who currently sit seventh or below.

Obvious, yes, but those two are Middlesbrough and Bristol City. The duo have 54 and 57 points respectively, and I think that they are the only two teams who could credibly challenge for a top-six spot.

John Eustace - the Saviour of Derby?

If the relegation scene was previously looking quite boring, we have been thrown a saving grace, and few people expected it.

Starting with the bottom of the division, Plymouth Argyle were, once again, unable to pick up three points, which has not been too rare of a sentence this season. However, they failed to get anything against a Derby County side who are desperately trying to escape the bottom three.

The Pilgrims have certainly had a slight drop-off in form in the past month, perhaps suggesting it as a return to form would be better. For this reason, I cannot really see them avoiding the drop this season.

Luton then picked up a draw this weekend against play-off hopefuls Middlesbrough, and whilst it is a decent result against a strong team, they failed to make anything of their home advantage, a poor result considering everything.

Finally, we have Derby County, who have now won three games on the bounce, with the latest against Argyle. Every point is huge at the bottom, but more so coming away from home against a relegation rival.

I'd questioned John Eustace's choice to leave Blackburn, but the chances of him keeping the Rams up is only rising, perhaps he knew all along that he could be the saviour.

Hoping to stay outside the relegation zone are Cardiff City and Stoke City. Admittedly, I do not hold great confidence about their chances. More with Cardiff than Stoke, however, both hold the same points tally.

Both teams just look really poor and look mentally out of this season, and whilst the odd point here and there has been claimed, they are certainly not in a safe position, and everyone else is catching up.