Bookies defy table standings with faith for Marcelo Bielsa's Leeds United

As we enter the hectic festive period in the Championship, we start to see how clubs can cope when the going gets tough - and there is plenty of battles taking place across the division.

The fight for the title and automatic promotion is the big one but beneath that there is also a fierce scrap at the bottom of the standings to avoid the dreaded drop to League One - and it’s a battle that involves a number of big clubs.

Now, The Pools has shared the latest odds for all those battles and, starting from the top, it is Leeds United backed to enjoy a campaign to remember - as Marcelo Bielsa’s side are 3/4 for the title, 1/7 for promotion and 1/200 for a playoff spot.

Beneath them, West Brom are the second side tipped to secure automatic promotion, given a 3/10 price to do so, while Fulham are evens to enjoy promotion under the leadership of Scott Parker.

In the battle for a spot in the playoffs, Fulham and Brentford are both odds-on to secure a top-six spot, with Nottingham Forest and Preston tipped to advance - with Swansea and Bristol City among those missing out.

At the bottom, Barnsley, Luton Town and Wigan are tipped to suffer relegation, with Middlesbrough, Huddersfield Town and Stoke City surviving by the skin of their teeth.

You can see a full list of selected odds below.

Championship title

Leeds United - 3/4

West Brom - 17/10

Fulham - 8/1

Brentford - 25/1

Nottingham Forest - 40/1

Preston - 66/1

Swansea - 80/1

Automatic promotion

Leeds United - 1/7

West Brom - 3/10

Fulham - Evens

Brentford - 3/1

Nottingham Forest - 11/2

Preston - 13/2

Bristol City - 8/1

Swansea City - 9/1

Sheffield Wednesday - 10/1

Playoffs

Leeds United - 1/200

West Brom - 1/66

Fulham - 1/7

Brentford - 4/7

Nottingham Forest - 17/20

Preston - 13/10

Swansea - 8/5

Bristol City - 9/5

Sheffield Wednesday - 9/5

Relegation

Barnsley - 1/4

Luton Town - 21/20

Wigan - 6/5

Middlesbrough - 15/8

Huddersfield - 9/4

Stoke City - 7/2

Charlton - 4/1

Reading - 15/2

Top goalscorer - courtesy of Sky Bet

Aleksandar Mitrovic - 4/5

Ollie Watkins - 6/1

Jarrod Bowen - 13/2

Karlan Grant 7/1

Lewis Grabban 20/1

Patrick Bamford 20/1

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