This season has been one of the most unpredictable Championship seasons in years, with big guns struggling and less flashy clubs challenging for a place near the top.
Boxing Day marks the halfway point of the campaign, and with a busy schedule ahead of Christmas, we’ll likely learn more about the promotion’s revamp come January 5, when each team has played four games.
But will anyone be able to capture Coventry? Could Middlesbrough be the favorites for second place? Or will players from even lower ranks be able to compete for a place in the Premier League?
On the Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast, expert pundits Andy Hinchcliffe and Don Goodman discuss everything…
Can someone catch Coventry?
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast looks at whether someone can catch Coventry City in the Championship promotion race.
With six points clear of the leaders and 11 points clear of third, Coventry City are in an incredible position to return to the Premier League for the first time in 25 years.
Andy Hinchcliffe: “They’re showing everything they need to be promoted. They’ve played some brilliant attacking football, but they’ve also been solid defensively. Even after losing a game, they reacted quickly and got back to winning ways straight away.”
“Coventry are the best team in this division, both home and away. They are the top scorers and the second best defensive team. The balance of the team is great. There is no sign that things are going to break down. The only way for them to catch up with Coventry is to win in an unbelievable way.”
“Every time Coventry have been challenged they have met it. When allowed to play they have simply outplayed their opponents. They have everything they need to win the game.”
“The challenge now is expectations. Everyone expects them to win the title. That pressure comes with it being clear that they are at the top, especially when the season is less than halfway through.”
“Things can always change, but there are no weaknesses in their game that would suggest teams will catch them.”
Don Goodman: “They’re not looking at Middlesbrough who are second, they’re looking at the 11-point difference to Ipswich who are third.
“The biggest improvement since Frank Lampard came in has been resilience. They have the best defensive record now. Having Karl Rushworth in goal helps tremendously. He’s the best goalkeeper in the league.”
“What happened at the end of last season drove them. That pain either drives you crazy or turns you on. It obviously motivated this group. The disappointment at the Stadium of Light was a big motivator.”
“I don’t think either team will overtake Coventry. They will get promoted and take a step towards the Premier League, which they have wanted for years.”
Will Middlesbrough be able to hold off the chase?
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast looks at Middlesbrough’s prospects in the Championship promotion race.
Heading into Boxing Day, second-placed Middlesbrough are six points behind Coventry and five points ahead of the chasing pack.
Despite suffering their first defeat under manager Kim Helberg on Saturday against Bristol City, they remain in a good position having picked up their first four wins under the Swedish manager.
DG: “I’m really impressed with how Helberg has changed the way they play. He’s getting much more out of his offensive players than before.”
“Rob Edwards’ job was to make the team solid, resilient and difficult to play against, and he did that. They had the best defensive record, but he was still searching for balance and was unable to fully find it until his departure.”
“Ever since Kim Helberg came in, you can immediately see the difference. Look at the number of shots, the chances they’re creating and the goals they’re scoring. Even in defeat they played well. There was relentless pressure in the second half against Bristol City. On another day, Middlesbrough could have easily won.”
“That’s why they’re probably ahead of Ipswich at the moment from what I’ve seen.”
AH: “Middlesbrough’s recruitment is also worth praising. There would have been plenty of coaches keen to take the job after Rob Edwards left. Boro took their time and appointed the right person.”
“If you watch Kim Helberg’s Hammarby team play, they were aggressive and dominated the ball with their front foot.
“That’s exactly what he brought to Middlesbrough. There was a clear development from the previous setup and that was what they needed from their attacking players. They needed more goals and more aggression going forward and that’s what we’re looking at.”
“Oddly enough, the change in coach seems to have given them a boost. Instead of things drifting, we’ve seen an improvement. There’s strong character in the team. These players care. They’ve got experience and leadership, and you’ve got players like Luke Ayling and Hayden Hackney. There seems to be a lot of cohesiveness in the dressing room.”
“Helberg recognized that and embraced it. The combination of the right coach, the right style and the right group of players looks to be spot on.”
Will Ipswich be able to keep up the pressure and close in on the top two?
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast looks at whether Ipswich can challenge the top two teams in the Championship promotion race.
Ipswich Town were favorites to win the title before the season, but this season they have shown only good form and an explosive performance under manager Kieran McKenna.
Still, they find themselves in third place heading into Boxing Day. The main challengers to the top two.
AH: “This is the best Championship team this season and definitely one of the strongest in recent years, especially in terms of depth. They have real attacking options on the bench. The goalkeeping situation has settled down and the back four looks more stable now.”
“I still believe what I believed at the beginning of the season: This team can win five or six games. They haven’t done it yet, but they clearly have the ability to do it.”
“The Championship is a tough league and no-one is going to roll into Ipswich. That expectation makes every game tense. I wouldn’t be surprised if Ipswich win more games than any other team between now and the end of the season. The key is to deal with the pressure and convert performances into results.”
“The game against Coventry on the 29th will be a big test, especially for Ipswich. If they want to finish in the top two, it’s a game they have to make a statement. They beat Coventry 3-0 earlier in the season, but that scoreline didn’t tell the whole story. Going to Coventry now will give them a chance to show exactly what they’re capable of.”
DG: “Player for player, pound for pound. Ipswich have the best team in the league and that’s not reflected in their performances or results. It’s about consistency. While other teams have been doing well, they haven’t been able to put together a winning streak. In such a crowded table, three wins in a row changes things completely, especially over the Christmas period.”
“The real concern is our away form. The loss at Oxford, the draw at Blackburn and the heavy defeat away at Leicester highlight the stark contrast to our home form. That must be frustrating for Kieran McKenna.
“They go to Millwall next and that’s another test. Ipswich need to show resilience. We’ve talked about Coventry’s resilience, but Ipswich don’t show any of the same characteristics.”
“There’s a sense that everyone recognizes the quality of their team, so they’re often the biggest games for their opponents. They’re no longer a surprise package. Everyone knows their players, their manager and their strengths. So every away game could be a cup final for their opponents, and Ipswich have struggled with that in the past.”
And can others try?
Ipswich Town remain very close to the teams below them, but in a surprise season that saw the likes of Hull, Preston and Millwall all claim play-off places, it remains to be seen whether other teams can maintain enough consistency to close in on the top two.
General Manager: “At this stage I can’t think of a scenario in which any team other than Ipswich could close the gap on Middlesbrough and Coventry. Southampton, Leicester and Sheffield United are far too far behind.
“When it comes to surprise packages like Hull, Preston, Millwall, QPR and Stoke, I don’t see the level of consistency needed to close that gap.
“This league is incredibly even. In 19 years of covering it, I have never seen a team so inconsistent. I don’t mean that in a negative way. It was widely expected that Hull would struggle given the transfer ban and a new manager new to the league, but they still performed very well.”
“Preston are another team that many expected to be near the bottom of the table. Stoke have never finished in the top half since being relegated, but they are still right there.”
AH: “We always describe the championship as “unpredictable,” but this season it took it to the next level. If you look at the composition of the league, if Leicester, Southampton and Sheffield United don’t make the play-offs, we’ll criticize them.
“Leicester have mitigating circumstances, but Southampton and Sheffield United are different. I still expect both teams to make the play-offs. If they don’t make the play-offs, we’ll have serious doubts.”
“Given the unpredictability and the way everyone beats the other clubs, these clubs should still finish in the top six. The teams currently above them, such as Preston, Hull, Millwall and Bristol City, still have a lot of work to do.”
All Championship matches will be broadcast live on Sky on Boxing Day
Kick-off at 3pm unless otherwise noted
Birmingham vs Derby, 12.30pm Millwall vs Ipswich, 1pm Coventry vs Swansea Leicester vs Watford Middlesbrough vs Blackburn Norwich vs Charlton Oxford vs Southampton Portsmouth vs QPR Sheffield Wednesday vs Hullstoke vs PrestonWest Brom vs Bristol City Wrexham vs Sheffield United (5.30pm)
