Saturday 18 April 2015 12:33, UK
With just 10 points separating the top eight teams in the Sky Bet Championship it's the tightest promotion race in years. We asked former Charlton, Newcastle and Derby midfielder Rob Lee to predict how things will finish up at the end of the season...
Middlesbrough
Current position: 2nd
Goals scored: 59
Goals conceded: 27
Top scorer: Patrick Bamford (14)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 11/4
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 4/7
LEE PREDICTS: 1st - "I think Middlesbrough will finish top. They’ve done very well. I think Bamford been a huge plus for them. I’ve watched him since he was a kid as my boys played against him and wherever he’s been he’s scored goals – MK Dons, Derby. Boro have also got a lot of pace in their team. It is very tight though. They are very well organised too. If you score goals and are organised at the back, you’ve always got a chance. Leicester were the outstanding team last season but there hasn’t been one this season."
Watford
Current position: 1st
Goals scored: 78
Goals conceded: 45
Top scorer: Troy Deeney (19)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 11/4
Sky Bet odds to win To win promotion: 4/7
LEE PREDICTS: 4th - “I think a couple of other teams are stronger than Watford. Although, Troy Deeney is a player I’ve admired for a long time. He’s the most prolific centre forward in that division. I would like to see if he could do it in the Premier League."
Bournemouth
Current position: 3rd
Goals scored: 73
Goals conceded: 42
Top scorer: Callum Wilson (19)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 3/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 8/11
LEE PREDICTS: 3rd “They are the best footballing team I’ve seen. They let goals in but I really enjoy watching them. Everybody has been surprised how well they’ve done and Eddie Howe is a perfect match for them. He’s got them playing very well. I think they will be up there but they might just miss out on automatic promotion. However, I think they will be the ones to beat in the play-offs. If they get to Wembley, they will win and that’s down to the pitch. It’s a big pitch and they play good football.”
Norwich City
Current position: 4th
Goals scored: 73
Goals conceded: 42
Top scorer: Cameron Jerome (17)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 6/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 11/10
LEE PREDICTS: 2nd “I fancy Norwich for second place. I think they’ll come through strong. Alex Neil has done a fantastic job, winning nine of his 14 games in charge. Honestly, I didn’t know much about him and I thought it was a strange decision but it’s proven to be a very, very good one. Goals gets you up. You can let two in, but if you’ve scored four you’ve won. I’ve always maintained if you have goal scorers in your team you’ll be successful. They’ve got good players, like Jonny Howson, Bradley Johnson and Cameron Jerome.”
Derby County
Current position: 5th
Goals scored: 69
Goals conceded: 41
Top scorer: Chris Martin (16)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 6/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 11/10
LEE PREDICTS: 5th “My old club have lost their strikers to injury at the wrong time. Chris Martin has always done very well for them, he’s their focal point, and Darren Bent was a great signing by Steve McClaren. I just think when you lose your strikers, you’re always going to struggle. If they can’t get them fit, then it will affect them in the play-offs too."
Brentford
Current position: 6th
Goals scored: 62
Goals conceded: 50
Top scorer: Andre Gray (14)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 50/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 11/2
LEE PREDICTS: 8th “I do hope they get up but I think they might fall away. I think they have done brilliant and I’m a huge admirer of Mark Warburton. It’s an amazing situation that he’s leaving. He’ll be snapped up and would be a huge loss to Brentford.”
Ipswich Town
Current position: 7th
Goals scored: 62
Goals conceded: 50
Top scorer: Daryl Murphy (23)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 66/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 8/1
LEE PREDICTS: 7th “They lack consistency. When you expect them to win, they lose, and when you expect them to lose, they win. Mick McCarthy has done great to get them where they are. People would have expected them to be mid-table.”
Wolverhampton Wanderers
Current position: 8th
Goals scored: 54
Goals conceded: 45
Top scorer: Bakary Sako (12)
Sky Bet odds to win the Championship: 100/1
Sky Bet odds to win promotion: 10/1
LEE PREDICTS: 6th “I think Wolves might squeak into the final spot. They score a lot of goals but defensively they’re not great. Bringing Benik Afobe in has made a difference; he’s scored a great amount of goals. Kenny Jackett has put together a team of strong boys. I think they’ll just pip Ipswich to the final place.”
