As we rapidly enter the busy festive period, the picture in the Championship is starting to take shape although there is still plenty of football to be played.
However, despite the challenge, data analysts FiveThirtyEight have predicted the final standings for England’s second-tier in the 2019-20 and there is a lot to take from their predictions.
At the top of the standings, the big news is Leeds United are tipped to final end their exile from the Premier League as Marcelo Bielsa is backed to lead the club back to the top-flight, finishing five points above West Bromwich Albion and nine ahead of Fulham.
As mentioned, the Baggies earn promotion to the top-flight and Fulham, six points behind, have to settle for a spot in the playoffs where they are joined by Brentford, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.
It is therefore an agonising end to the campaign for Preston North End, Sheffield Wednesday, Swansea City and Cardiff City, all of whom are tipped to finish within three points of sixth place.
At the bottom, Barnsley and Luton Town are backed to suffer an immediate return to League One, but Charlton Athletic will remain in the division, finishing 20th, and it is Wigan Athletic who are backed to suffer the drop.
That means it’s good news for Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough, who finish two points ahead of the relegation spots to preserve their Championship status.
Predicted table
1. Leeds United - 92 points
2. West Brom - 87 points
3. Fulham - 81 points
4. Brentford - 77 points
5. Nottingham Forest - 72 points
6. Bristol City - 69 points
7. Preston - 68 points
8. Sheffield Wednesday - 67 points
9. Swansea City - 67 points
10. Cardiff City - 66 points
11. Hull City - 64 points
12. Millwall - 62 points
13. Blackburn - 62 points
14. QPR - 60 points
15. Birmingham - 60 points
16. Derby County - 59 points
17. Reading - 57 points
18. Huddersfield - 53 points
19. Stoke City - 52 points
20. Charlton - 51 points
21. Middlesbrough - 49 points
22. Wigan - 47 points
23. Luton Town - 44 points
24. Barnsley - 40 points
