Four teams who could win the Championship title

Image: “newcastle united vs middlesbrough” (CC BY 2.0) by nyaa_birdies_perch

The Championship is a notoriously competitive domestic league. The Premier League may have all the glitz and the glamour, but the second tier of English football is very tough and things change every week.

The 2016-17 Championship campaign is proving to be hugely exciting and entertaining. Newcastle United were expected to run away with the title following their relegation from the Premier League at the end of last season, but they could still be caught.

Brighton & Hove Albion gave regrouped themselves after playoff disappointment last season and are aiming to finish in the top two. Huddersfield Town are exceeding expectations and are refusing to move out of the playoff positions. West Yorkshire neighbours Leeds United are also doing extremely well and are in genuine contention of finishing in the top six.

Reading under Jaap Stam have been the surprise package of the season so far, while Sheffield Wednesday, Derby County and Norwich City all are eyeing a top-six finish. But which teams have a realistic chance of getting promoted to the Premier League as Championship winners? Below we look at four contenders:

Newcastle United

Odds on 888sport have Newcastle as favourites to win the Championship this season, and it is not hard to understand why. After all, the Magpies have the best squad in the Championship.

Jamaal Lascelles, Matt Ritchie, Jonjo Shelvey and DeAndre Yedlin are just four of the Newcastle players who have proved themselves in the Premier League and are key figures for the North-East club. Then there is Dwight Gayle. The former Crystal Palace striker could end the season as the division’s top scorer.

Benitez is one of the best managers in the world. The Spaniard has shown that he understands the Championship and can adapt his playing style to suit the demands of the division.

Brighton & Hove Albion

“Chris Hughton” (CC BY 2.0) by blenky64

Brighton are Newcastle’s main challengers for the title, although one suspects that the Seagulls will be happy to finish second and get automatic promotion. Chris Hughton’s side have been consistent and the fans will be expecting the team to maintain the momentum until the end of the season. However, results such as the defeat to Preston North End in January and the 3-3 draw with Brentford in February suggest that the Seagulls could still be caught by teams who are aiming to end up in the top two.

Huddersfield Town

Huddersfield are perhaps the most likeable contender of the lot for various reasons: firstly, head coach David Wagner is working with one of the divisions’ lower budget. Secondly, the board offered generous season ticket prices to loyal fans, which has promoted a sense of unity throughout the club. Thirdly, while other teams have won games by being compact and clinical, Huddersfield play arguably the Championship’s best football. They have attacking full-backs in Tommy Smith and Chris Loewe who stretch the pitch to create space for an attacking quartet which often includes Izzy Brown, an inspired loan signing. Aaron Mooy dictates play from the middle of the park and is well protected by the more combative Jonathan Hogg, who has improved endlessly under Wagner. The German said that while Huddersfield Town reaching the Premier League might not be realistic, it is possible – 13 wins in 17 games only adds to the growing sense of belief within the group.

Leeds United

The campaign did not start well for Leeds United, who lost to Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City in their opening league fixtures. However, things started to pick up from September and now there can be no denial that the Whites are strong contenders for the playoffs. Successive defeats to Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City would raise some concerns, but there is a chance that Garry Monk’s side could break into the top two and perhaps even finish first in the Championship.

If defender Pontus Jansson is able to control himself and stop getting yellow cards, Monk plays attacking midfielder Pablo Hernandez to his strengths and striker Chris Wood continues to bang in the goals, then the Elland Road faithful could find the team pushing for the top spot in the final weeks of the season.

By Matt Blanchard