Features

Championship on the boil

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 23/10/2009
Football betting

The Championship as ever proves to be a highly entertaining league and this season is seemingly no different.

After 13 games of the current campaign, just three points separate the top nine teams with all to play for and anyone of these should fancy their chances to be in the final reckoning in May.

Middlesbrough supremo Steve Gibson has relieved Gareth Southgate of his duties despite guiding the side to just one point from the top of the table.

However, crowds at the Riverside have plummeted in recent times and following Tuesday nights 2-0 success against Derby County, a paltry crowd of 17,459 - the lowest ever at the stadium for a league game - was the final blow for the former England defender.

Gordon Strachan is now the overwhelming online betting favourite to take the vacated position.

Roy Keane continues to struggle and his Ipswich Town side remain rooted at the foot of the table without a win from 13 games.

Can Roy Keane's Ipswich get their first win this season when they face Plymouth Argyle this weekend? - Latest Football Betting

West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle United continue to lead the way, as was to be expected before the start of the season, as they both look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

Cardiff City have clearly been buoyed by moving to a new stadium, they sit third and continue to make forward strides. Their Welsh rivals Swansea City continue to improve and they are in 11th place.

Ian Holloway has guided Blackpool magnificently so far. He has propelled them to a lofty fifth place - one place ahead of local rivals Preston North End who themselves are looking good under the fine stewardship of Alan Irvine.

The three newly promoted sides are having mixed fortunes.

Leicester City are occupying a top eight position and continue to look strong, Scunthorpe United sit in 14th place and have recently put Sheffield United and Newcastle United to the sword while Peterborough United languish inside the relegation zone with just one win to their name.

Reading boss Brendan Rodgers is having a dreadful time of it at the Madjeski Stadium.

Following his switch from Watford, his team have won just twice and have yet to win at home as they are perched just one place outside the drop zone while his former employers are well ahead in 12th position.

Nottingham Forest have hit a fine five game winning streak as they push towards the play-off positions.

Bristol City are so strong at home but their winless away record hinders them and QPR are also prominent while Sheffield United, who occupy 13th place, should be doing better.

A whole host of clubs, including Sheffield Wednesday, Crystal Palace, Coventry City, Doncaster Rovers, Derby County, Barnsley and Plymouth are all struggling towards the bottom of the table and the pressure is on for all to escape the trap door this term.

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