Neil Warnock is to leave Huddersfield after Wednesday’s match at home to Stoke, bringing to an end another chapter in the incredible career of one of English football’s greatest ever managers. The 74-year-old signed a one-year contract in the summer having saved them from Championship relegation.
New stoppage time rules saw playing time increase by around seven minutes on average compared to last season across the EFL’s opening weekend and Sunday’s Community Shield. Arsenal and Manchester City’s clash at Wembley lasted longer than all but seven of last season’s Premier League games
Leicester are the 5/1 favourites in bwin’s Championship winner odds as they look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking. The 2021 FA Cup winners are back in the second tier for the first time since the 2013-14 season, having been relegated seven years on from their remarkable Premier League title triumph.
A place in the Premier League is the ultimate prize up for grabs when Coventry do battle with Luton at Wembley on Saturday. Each team is aiming to cap off a remarkable upturn in fortunes by returning to England’s elite level – securing a £100million-plus windfall in the process.
Middlesbrough are the 7/4 favourites to join Burnley and Sheffield United in next season’s Premier League, according to bwin’s Championship promotion odds ahead of the play-offs. Boro ended the regular season in fourth place, which was impressive considering they failed to win any of their first five matches and were just a point outside the relegation zone when Michael Carrick was appointed as head coach in October.
Burnley are blazing a trail at the top of the Championship table and are unbeaten at home, so they are worthy favourites to see off Birmingham. However, the Clarets have only kept four clean sheets from 12 outings at Turf Moor and City are coming off a 3-2 victory over Reading.
There is plenty of evidence to suggest TV viewers will be treated to an entertaining encounter when Reading host Swansea. The Royals are coming off a 3-2 loss at Birmingham, while the Swans drew 3-3 at Coventry, plus it was 3-2 to City when these teams met in mid-October.
Luton have been draw specialists at Kenilworth Road this season and another stalemate could be on the cards when they entertain Norwich. The Hatters have shared the spoils in a Championship-high seven home matches, including the last three fixtures played at this venue.
QPR returned to form last time out and have a great record against Cardiff, so they look a value bet. Rangers beat the Bluebirds 3-0 on home turf in October to make it five wins from six head-to-head meetings, including two straight victories when visiting Wales.
Sunderland versus Blackburn should be a close contest on paper, with the Black Cats eight points adrift in the Championship but buoyed by home advantage. However, it is hard to go for a draw, as Rovers have gone 23 league games without sharing the spoils this season.
Wigan and Sheffield United are currently on course to exit the Championship via opposite ends ahead of their meeting on Monday evening. The Latics are languishing in the relegation zone but United are on course for a return to the Premier League in second place.
Fourth-placed Norwich can jump above faltering Blackburn in third if they secure back-to-back wins since returning from the World Cup break. Rovers will travel to Norfolk reeling from a 4-1 defeat to Preston in the Lancashire derby at Ewood Park and without a win at Carrow Road since 1999.
Birmingham can leapfrog Reading with a victory in Friday night’s televised Championship match and are fancied to seize the opportunity. Blues are three points behind their visitors with a better goal difference and will be looking to climb into the top half of the table during the second half of the season.
Rob Edwards will take charge of Luton at Kenilworth Road for the first time with a rare morning kick-off against Millwall on Sunday. His first match in charge ended in a last-gasp defeat at Middlesbrough while Millwall have failed to win either of their two games since the World Cup break.