With just two games to go in the Championship season, I thought now would be as good a time as any to review the past eight months in the second tier.
With just 2nd place, the final play-off position and the final relegation place to play for, the season is pretty much tied up. My Championship awards for the season follow.
Player of the Season – Sylvan Ebanks Blake – The ex- Manchester United man claimed the Championship player of the season and his 25 goals for the season have powered Wolves to promotion. The England Under-21 cap has already stated his anticipation for the season ahead and will surely relish the prospect of facing Premier League opposition week in week out.
Performance of the Season – Sheffield United 2 Burnley 3 – Burnley have had a less than perfect record at Bramall Lane in recent years and this December win established them as true play-off contenders. An almost perfect performance from Chris Eagles helped claim the three points and a significant scalp for the season.
Overachievers of the Season – Swansea City – Just four years ago, Roberto Martinez’s men were promoted from League Two. Now they still have an outside shot of a place in the Championship play-offs. 20 draws have proved to be the difference between outsiders and promotion contenders, however their style of play will surely have the Swans challenging for promotion next season.
Underachievers of the Season – Charlton Athletic – A side that have proved to have the exact opposite effect of Swansea City. As Swansea were promoted from League Two, The Addicks were finishing 11th in the Premier League. Shocking mismanagement and an inability to replace Alan Curbishley has sent Athletic towards League One at a shocking pace. Just seven wins all season has forced Charlton to be relegated by a long way at the foot of the table.
Manager of the Year – Owen Coyle – The Burnley manager took over from Steve Cotterill with a side plummeting towards League One. A new style of play and some top quality signings have given the Clarets their best season since 2002. A fantastic Carling Cup run coupled with occupying 6th place in the Championship with two games to go surely puts Coyle on the list for Manager of the Year.
Thursday 23 April 2009
Friday 10 April 2009
April Showers - The Battle For Promotion and Relegation in The Championship
April always tends to be a defining month as far as football seasons go. With less than a month to go in the Championship, this Easter weekend could turn out to be especially defining for several teams.
As I write, Wolves have defeated League One bound Southampton 3-0 in devastating fashion. In doing so, Wolves guaranteed themselves at least a play-off place with four games to spare. However, with an eight point gap on 3rd placed Sheffield United, surely Wolves are favourites for the title.
Beyond that, we see a two horse race for second place. Birmingham City currently hold second place, with a three point advantage on Sheffield United. The Blades’ victory over Reading today puts them level with Brum and cranks up the pressure on Alex McLeish’s side for their huge clash with Charlton Athletic tomorrow.
Reading and Cardiff both appear dead certs for the play-offs. Reading, fresh from the Premier League were many people’s favourites for the title this year, and despite often being a delight to watch, they have often dropped points in a sloppy fashion against lesser sides in the division. As for Cardiff, their last season at the excuse for a Championship ground that is Ninian Park could result in a successful one. They hold the advantage of being within the realms of the Welsh F.A, thus being able to rewrite the rule books to their advantage in order to have red cards rescinded on more than one occasion in recent times. Penalty king Ross McCormack has netted the goals that have helped them into a strong position and their home clash with Burnley is undoubtedly one of the biggest games of the weekend.
Below this, we see what is undoubtedly the biggest late season battle in the Championship.
As I write, Wolves have defeated League One bound Southampton 3-0 in devastating fashion. In doing so, Wolves guaranteed themselves at least a play-off place with four games to spare. However, with an eight point gap on 3rd placed Sheffield United, surely Wolves are favourites for the title.
Beyond that, we see a two horse race for second place. Birmingham City currently hold second place, with a three point advantage on Sheffield United. The Blades’ victory over Reading today puts them level with Brum and cranks up the pressure on Alex McLeish’s side for their huge clash with Charlton Athletic tomorrow.
Reading and Cardiff both appear dead certs for the play-offs. Reading, fresh from the Premier League were many people’s favourites for the title this year, and despite often being a delight to watch, they have often dropped points in a sloppy fashion against lesser sides in the division. As for Cardiff, their last season at the excuse for a Championship ground that is Ninian Park could result in a successful one. They hold the advantage of being within the realms of the Welsh F.A, thus being able to rewrite the rule books to their advantage in order to have red cards rescinded on more than one occasion in recent times. Penalty king Ross McCormack has netted the goals that have helped them into a strong position and their home clash with Burnley is undoubtedly one of the biggest games of the weekend.
Below this, we see what is undoubtedly the biggest late season battle in the Championship.
6th Burnley 41 played 66 pts
7th Preston 41 played 62 points
As the table above shows, the race for the final play-off place is extremely tight with Burnley and Preston North End both showing signs they could deserve a play-off place. From a Burnley supporters’ perspective, it is easy to look at points this season where we could have finished games off or held on for points and gone on to not do so.
However, 1pm tomorrow is a huge time for the season. The Lancashire derby between Preston and Blackpool at Deepdale holds the answers to so many unanswered questions for this season. If North End win, they close to within just one point of the Clarets and then the pressure will surely be on Owen Coyle’s men against managerless Q.P.R in the 3pm kick off. A North End draw would see a three point gap which could become six points by tomorrow tea time. The ideal result for all Clarets is a North End defeat and a Burnley win, thus opening up a seven point gap with just seven games to go.
In theory, a Burnley win tomorrow against Q.P.R and away at Cardiff on Monday, coupled with North End defeats to Blackpool and Doncaster would see the Clarets guaranteed a play-off place. This is guaranteed to be an exciting, but nerve jangling weekend for supporters of both clubs.
As we look to the bottom end of the Championship, it appears to be any two of five sides joining hapless Charlton Athletic in League One next season. Two defeats for the Addicks tomorrow will see them relegated in what is a shocking tale of a side who were comfortable in the Premier Leag
ue just three years ago playing in the third tier of English football.
Southampton appear to be ready to join them in League One. Their 3-0 capitulation today leaves them two points adrift with just four games left with a home tie against Crystal Palace waiting on Monday. The club has been run atrociously since relegation from the Premier League, and they will surely be missed in the Championship, but a teenage side in a big boys league will never last at this level and they look certain for the drop. Will they ever bounce back? Will we see them next season? Both questions we will see answered in the next few years if they do last the summer.
The remaining four relegation candidates can be seen below:
19th Plymouth Argyle (46)
20th Barnsley (45) Game in hand
21st Norwich City (43)
22nd Nottingham Forest (42)
As the table shows, Nottingham Forest currently occupy the final relegation spot. With Barnsley still having six to play, I would back them to survive, along with Norwich City.
This would leave a straight head to head between Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest. Argyle have missed the presence of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake this season and without replacing him, they have struggled. Forest are an unusual side, in the F.A. Cup they destroyed Manchester City 3-0. However, they have failed to replicate this form in the league. Forest still have to face tough ties with Bristol City and Sheffield United, a home tie with Coventry City, aswell as two potentially huge games against Blackpool and Southampton. From this, I can only see them drawing with Coventry and Blackpool ahead of a final day defeat in what potentially could be Southampton’s last ever game.
Argyle have a similarly difficult run in, however, what stands out to me is both have home advantage in their last game of the season. I personally can see a bottom three of Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Charlton Athletic. Whether this prediction becomes reality we wait to see!
Whatever happens, this weekend and the weeks ahead are sure to be key in the multi million pound battle to win promotion and avoid relegation and become champions, just like Kevin Phillips last season (below).
As the table above shows, the race for the final play-off place is extremely tight with Burnley and Preston North End both showing signs they could deserve a play-off place. From a Burnley supporters’ perspective, it is easy to look at points this season where we could have finished games off or held on for points and gone on to not do so.
However, 1pm tomorrow is a huge time for the season. The Lancashire derby between Preston and Blackpool at Deepdale holds the answers to so many unanswered questions for this season. If North End win, they close to within just one point of the Clarets and then the pressure will surely be on Owen Coyle’s men against managerless Q.P.R in the 3pm kick off. A North End draw would see a three point gap which could become six points by tomorrow tea time. The ideal result for all Clarets is a North End defeat and a Burnley win, thus opening up a seven point gap with just seven games to go.
In theory, a Burnley win tomorrow against Q.P.R and away at Cardiff on Monday, coupled with North End defeats to Blackpool and Doncaster would see the Clarets guaranteed a play-off place. This is guaranteed to be an exciting, but nerve jangling weekend for supporters of both clubs.
As we look to the bottom end of the Championship, it appears to be any two of five sides joining hapless Charlton Athletic in League One next season. Two defeats for the Addicks tomorrow will see them relegated in what is a shocking tale of a side who were comfortable in the Premier Leag
ue just three years ago playing in the third tier of English football.Southampton appear to be ready to join them in League One. Their 3-0 capitulation today leaves them two points adrift with just four games left with a home tie against Crystal Palace waiting on Monday. The club has been run atrociously since relegation from the Premier League, and they will surely be missed in the Championship, but a teenage side in a big boys league will never last at this level and they look certain for the drop. Will they ever bounce back? Will we see them next season? Both questions we will see answered in the next few years if they do last the summer.
The remaining four relegation candidates can be seen below:
19th Plymouth Argyle (46)
20th Barnsley (45) Game in hand
21st Norwich City (43)
22nd Nottingham Forest (42)
As the table shows, Nottingham Forest currently occupy the final relegation spot. With Barnsley still having six to play, I would back them to survive, along with Norwich City.
This would leave a straight head to head between Plymouth Argyle and Nottingham Forest. Argyle have missed the presence of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake this season and without replacing him, they have struggled. Forest are an unusual side, in the F.A. Cup they destroyed Manchester City 3-0. However, they have failed to replicate this form in the league. Forest still have to face tough ties with Bristol City and Sheffield United, a home tie with Coventry City, aswell as two potentially huge games against Blackpool and Southampton. From this, I can only see them drawing with Coventry and Blackpool ahead of a final day defeat in what potentially could be Southampton’s last ever game.
Argyle have a similarly difficult run in, however, what stands out to me is both have home advantage in their last game of the season. I personally can see a bottom three of Nottingham Forest, Southampton and Charlton Athletic. Whether this prediction becomes reality we wait to see!
Whatever happens, this weekend and the weeks ahead are sure to be key in the multi million pound battle to win promotion and avoid relegation and become champions, just like Kevin Phillips last season (below).
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