The race for promotion to the Premier League may prove to be a whole lot tighter than first thought after a series of unpredictable results in the Championship.
Only a matter of weeks ago it seemed that West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United were going to fight it between them to determine who would be Championship champions come May, whilst a host of other clubs were going to be left scrapping it out behind them to make up the top six.
But after a dramatic period of unforeseen results and dips in form from both the Baggies and Leeds, the promotion chase could go right down to the wire.
Right now, just six points separate West Brom, who moved back to the top of the table with a 2-0 win over Luton Town on Saturday, and Bristol City in sixth, meaning it truly is anybody’s guess as to how the table will look come the first weekend in May.
Nate Silver’s FiveThirtyEight website is often crunching the second-tier’s numbers in a bid to figure out how the Championship table will look come the end of the season.
Right now, he is backing Leeds, despite their recent woes, to win the Championship title on 85 points.
Silver believes that the Whites have a 44% chance of winning the title, but a 77% chance of going up in the automatic promotion places.
The other automatic promotion place has been handed to Brentford, with the Bees tipped to end the campaign with a points tally of 81.
Thomas Frank’s side, though, will be pushed to the very maximum, with West Brom also tipped to end the campaign on 81 points. But FiveThirtyEight believes the Bees will just get their noses in front on goal-difference, boasting a record of plus 15.
Fulham are being backed to secure a top six finish fairly comfortably, with Scott Parker’s charges being tipped to end the campaign with 76 points to their name, meaning they would finish 4th.
Just behind the Cottagers are Nottingham Forest, who are predicted to end the season on 73 points.
The final play-off place, right now, according to Silver’s website, will go to Bristol City, as they are being backed to have 71 points to their name by the end of the season.
Just behind Bristol City are Preston North End and Millwall, with the pair being tipped to finish just three points short of the Robins, ending the campaign with 68.
Swansea City, Cardiff City, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield Wednesday are also considered to be in the mix, with Swansea tipped to finish the season on 67 points, whilst the other three teams are being backed to end the campaign with 65 points attached to their name.
Down at the bottom of the table, it is looking like proving to be a close-run battle for who will suffer the heartache of claiming the final relegation place.
At the moment, it is Wigan Athletic who are being predicted to finish in 22nd position on 49 points, with Charlton Athletic, who will survive by the skin of their teeth, directly above them on 50 points.
Luton Town are being backed to finish the campaign bottom of the ladder on 39 points, with Barnsley marginally ahead of them on 42.
Predicted Championship table
- Leeds United - 85 points
- Brentford - 81 points
- West Brom - 81 points
- Fulham - 76 points
- Nottingham Forest - 73 points
- Bristol City - 71 points
- Preston North End - 68 points
- Millwall - 68 points
- Swansea City - 67 points
- Blackburn Rovers - 65 points
- Cardiff City - 65 points
- Sheffield Wednesday - 65 points
- Hull City - 61 points
- QPR - 60 points
- Derby County - 59 points
- Reading - 59 points
- Birmingham City - 57 points
- Middlesbrough - 57 points
- Stoke City - 55 points
- Huddersfield Town - 53 points
- Charlton Athletic - 50 points
- Wigan Athletic - 49 points
- Barnsley - 42 points
- Luton Town - 39 points
