The race for a place in the Premier League next season will resume after the international break, which gives teams a nice chance to catch themselves a breather. The race for the automatic promotion spots has really opened up now with Wolves and Cardiff both looking locked in to gain an automatic spot in the top flight next season. But there is a tight scrap beneath them though for the play off spots and between fifth place and 10th, there are the just the four points separating things. There could be a dramatic finish now for the teams who (mostly) have eight games left to play.
Wolves
Wolves seem to have recovered themselves after a bit of a dip in form. They have won three of their last four games now and have managed to hold a six-point lead over second placed Cardiff. They have been the quality side of the entire league all season and should have enough to get over the line. The only real question is whether or not they will be able to hold on to top spot ahead of Cardiff who have been surging and who do have a game in hand to make up still. Regardless, Wolves will be going up as they have a thirteen point lead over third-placed Fulham.
Cardiff
Pretty much in the same boat as Wolves really. Their form has been stunning since a four-match losing streak over the Christmas period. They have put together a seven-match winning streak and are unbeaten in eleven (W9 D2). They get an extra rest because their game against Derby last weekend was called off because of the weather. The hard thing though will be coming back and keeping that momentum going because they were on such a hot streak and a break can often throw a spanner in those works. Still, for a squad whose lack of depth has been questioned, they are doing pretty well.
Fulham
Arguably the Cottagers are the best side in the league. Throw away standings and look at quality and Fulham would fully deserve a place in the top flight. They are a positive side, full of goals and the have big form behind them as well, not having lost a single league game since a 1-0 loss out at Sunderland back in the middle of last December. They are one of the best home sides around and only Wolves have managed to score more goals than the Cottagers have done. Their best hope of automatic promotion is if Cardiff can’t pick up where they left off after the international break. They will be in the top six and right now they are the best side in the play-off positions and are worth a look at BetVictor to win the play offs.
Aston Villa
Just when Villa was coming on strongly, their momentum was thwarted by back to back defeats against side from the bottom half of the table (QPR and Bolton). So that will have left them scratching their heads and wondering where things have gone wrong. Really with that dip in form, their chances of getting into the top two have slipped away and are likely just going to have to hold down the play off spot. Which they should still do with no troubles at all, especially on the back of just how good they are at home.
Derby
The last time that Derby won a league game was back at the start of February and that is their only victory since mid-January as well. They are just struggling with form and maybe the break will do them good because they need to shake things up. They have almost gone from one of the stronger contenders for a play off spot to almost falling out of the top six because of their slump in form. The thing about this is that there are good enough teams behind them in form to knock them out of the play offs. They may be worth backing to miss out on a top six
Milddlesbrough
Boro have started to find some consistency, really for the first time this season and they are looking as if they can make a run at the play offs. They get a tough game back though from the international break as they face leaders Wolves, but Boro are in fine fettle at home and will be up for that. Just on the basis of current form and how well they are playing with confidence, Boro looks a stronger certainly at a top six finish than Derby does.
Bristol City, Preston, Sheffield United and Millwall
These are all in the chasing pack, although Millwall are the ones with the most work do to from this point, being four points out of the play off places. However, they are in fantastic form at the moment, more so than the likes of Derby and Bristol City above them. Bristol City’s season really came undone with their epic EFL Cup run and they haven’t looked the same since. They aren’t winning consistently enough to look strong, but if Derby keeps slipping the Robins can get in there.
Sheffield United’s season has come unravelled and like Bristol City, they don’t look as if they have the consistency left to get a good run together. Preston could be the surprise package of the lot. They have been so quietly consistent all season long that they have a good chance of making this a play off season. They look the best out of the chasing pack to hold their nerve and are 7/2 at BetVictor to make the play offs* (betting odds taken on March 18th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.).
Championship Promotion Odds*
Wolves 1/100, Cardiff 1/8, Fulham 6/5, Aston Villa 2/1, Middlesbrough 5/1, Derby 5/1, Bristol City 12/1, Preston 14/1, bar 16/1* (betting odds taken on March 18th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.).
Championship To Six Finish Odds*
Derby 9/20, Middlesbrough 4/6, Bristol City 15/8, Sheffield United 7/2, Preston 16/5, Millwall 14/1, bar 25/1* (betting odds taken on March 18th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.).
To Win Play Offs Odds*
Fulham 2/1, Aston Villa 10/3, Middlesbrough 9/2, Derby 6/1, Bristol City 12/1, Cardiff 16/1, Preston 16/1, bar 20/1* (betting odds taken on March 18th, 2018 at 10:33 p.m.).
Predictions
Wolves should go on to win the league from here, with Cardiff joining them in the top flight. It’s hard to see either of them slipping now from this position. Fulham and Aston Villa will continue to do enough to lock down play off places and then it’s the tough stuff of who fills the other two play off spots. Middlesbrough are the ones who are looking most assured really of them and Preston, who are a lower scoring side than anyone above, could win their place through consistency alone.
