Championship: How prepared are the top six to seal the promotion deal?

1. Leeds United

Over the last few seasons Leeds have looked like they’d battle for promotion but have faded away. This season could well be the season that changes. With Marcelo Bielsa in charge, a man who Pep Guardiola described as “the best coach in the world” Leeds have attacked the championship with an energetic, free flowing style of play.

They seem to have gained a never say die attitude in the first half of this season that they perhaps didn’t have in recent seasons. Leeds have scored five goals on or after the 88th minute, and have picked up nine points from losing positions with goals scored after the 80th minute.

Leeds have lost an important player in Samuel Saiz, who joined Getafe on loan at the beginning of January, however they still have enough quality in their side to cause teams lots of problems.

They have the best home record at this stage of the campaign, winning eight, drawing three and losing two and with the backing of over 30,000 fans at each of their remaining ten fixtures they’ll sure look to make Elland Road a fortress.

Leeds United may finally be marching on to the Premier League, together.

2. Norwich City

Norwich City have probably been the most entertaining team in the Championship this season, as they’ve scored ten goals after the 80th minute so far this season, earning them an impressive 13 points from a losing position. Whilst this shows their grit, determination and never say die attitude similar to promotion rivals Leeds United, it also shows a weakness at the back. Norwich have conceded 34 goals after 26 games, the joint worst record in the top six, alongside West Brom.

That being said, Norwich do have the ability to score plenty of goals, having scored 48 to date.  The Canaries signed striker Teemu Pukki on a free-transfer in the summer and it has been one of the best pieces of business this season. The Finnish striker has scored an impressive 15 goals this season and has assisted his teammates on four occasions. Only Neal Maupay of Brentford has been directly involved in more goals this season.

If Norwich can solidify themselves at the back whilst maintaining their attaching threat, they’ll be fighting for one of those top two spots in May.

3. Sheffield United

What a job Chris Wilder is doing at Sheffield United. He took over the side in May 2016 and won the third tier league in his first season in some style. United topped the table with 100 points and scored an impressive 92 goals in the process.

Sheffield United had a solid first season back in the Championship finishing tenth, they never quite gained enough momentum to challenge for promotion however this season they’ve stepped it up another gear.

The Blades sit third, two points behind second place Norwich and four points off leaders Leeds. Sheffield United will certainly be looking up at the top two rather than behind them at the chasing back.

Strikers David McGoldrick and Billy Sharp have been key to their success so far this season. The experienced strikers, who have played for 17 league sides combined, have scored 27 goals so far this season between them and have been key to the sides success so far.

Some may see this Sheffield United team as the weakest out of the promotion contenders and they clearly haven’t spent as much as the teams around them. United are a vastly experienced side, with a high number of players taking part in over 300 games each. This experience could prove vital at the business end of the season where level heads are required.

4. West Brom

If I were to give my own prediction, I’d have West Brom as the favourite for promotion. Darren Moore’s side are the leagues leading scores with 54 goals in 26 games. It’s easy to see why they’ve scored so many goals, Jay Rodriguez and Dwight Gayle have so far proved they’ve got what it takes In the championship, and will certainly want to continue firing in the goals to take their side back to the Premier League.

A player who most didn’t predict to have such an impact this season is midfielder Harvey Barnes, a 21 year old striker on loan from Leicester City. Barnes has scored 9 goals and has shown his eye for a pass, with six assists to his name.

His performances so far this season may actually prove a problem for West Brom, as it appears Leicester boss Claude Puel is considering recalling the 21 year old.

West Brom are a very experienced side with plenty of Championship, Premier League and even Champions League experience. Players such as Gareth Barry, Craig Dawson, Kieran Gibbs, Chris Brunt and Jake Livermore all know how to perform under pressure and know how to grind out a game to pick up a vital win.

West Brom face Norwich, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and Leeds all before the international break in March, their results in these games will likely determine whether they are challenging for the automatic promotion places.

5. Middlesbrough

Middlesbrough have looked like a typical Tony Pulis side so far this season, hardworking, compact, solid but compared to some of the other sides in the league, a bit bit too defensive. This approach has been effective- Boro have conceded only 18 goals so far this season, ten fewer than any other side and they’ve only conceded two or more goals in four out of 26 league games.

The team is set up with the primary focus being not to concede and the balance of defence and attack may need to be altered if they are to mount a challenge for automatic promotion. Boro have only scored 28 goals this season, only four teams have scored fewer, all of which are occupying positions in the bottom five.

Pulis will be looking to bring in some attack minded players in this months transfer window. Boro have already competed the signing of winger Rajiv van La Parra from Premier League strugglers Huddersfield Town, but Pulis in his own words is “hoping and praying” that their transfer business isn’t finished there as he looks to add more goals to the side.

6. Derby County

Derby County have been pushing for promotion for a number of seasons now but seem to fade away towards the end of the season. Nobody really knew how Derby would perform this season under new manager Frank Lampard. Lampard has done an impressive job to date and will be happy with the teams current league position, 6th place. Lampard has changed the style of play at the club and oversaw a large amount of change in the summer, bringing in his own staff and nine new players.

Derby have dipped into the loan market this season and it has proven successful, with Harry Wilson, Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori all regularly featuring in the side.

The former Chelsea and West Ham midfielder will be looking to improve his team in the January transfer window however appears to be restricted financially-

”I am looking, because we do need strengthening in areas, particularly at centre-back, where we have two fit out-and-out centre-backs, but we don’t have much to work with.”

This season feels like a transitional season for Derby- a new manager, new players and a new style of play. They aren’t quite the finished article yet and this can be seen by their inconsistent results. There’s a common saying that “anyone can beat anyone” in the Championship and with this being the case it is difficult for teams to string together a good run of results, if Derby can hit a good run of form, they may be able to make up points on the current top two sides.

http://prostinternational.com2019/01/11/championship-the-race-for-automatic-promotion/

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