The Championship is one of the most unpredictable and exciting leagues in the world.
The promotion race is hotting up with just 14 games to go of the regular season, with West Brom currently leading the way with a six-point lead at the top.
Incredibly, only nine points separate the leaders West Bromwich Albion and seventh place Bristol City in the standings.
Two teams will secure automatic promotion, with the Baggies and fellow pre-season favourites Leeds – who are hoping to end a 15-year exodus from the top flight – currently occupying those positions.
The Whites are without a win in their last three league matches and face the Robins in a crunch encounter at Elland Road on Saturday – a game which is LIVE on talkSPORT.
We’ll have to wait until May 25 to find out the third and final team to reach the promised land, but with the help of Soccer Stats, we can begin to speculate who exactly is going to get there at the end of the regular 46-game season.
Soccer Stats adds up the points per game (differentiating between home and away records) of all remaining opponents and averages it out to give a score.
The higher the number, the more difficult the remaining fixtures.
What’s more, it distinguishes between home and away points, to give a more accurate reflection on the remaining matches.
Sometimes all you need is a kind run of fixtures to string together a couple of wins and suddenly everything looks a little rosier.
We’ve ranked the run-ins of the Championship sides in the promotion race based on the difficulty of their remaining fixtures, which helps paint a clearer picture of the task at hand for each team.
So, who has the most difficult remaining fixtures? talkSPORT.com has ranked ‘7’ as being the easiest and ‘1’ the hardest.
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.28
Fixtures: Bristol City (H), Reading (H), Middlesbrough (A), Hull City (A), Huddersfield (H), Cardiff (A), Fulham (H), Luton (H), Blackburn (A), Stoke (H), Swansea (A), Barnsley (H), Derby (A), Charlton (H)
“There are 14 games left to the end of the season, so approximately a third of the season is left to play.
“On paper Tuesday night [against Brentford] was our toughest game left and when you look at our remaining fixtures they are all winnable.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see us going on a run of seven wins – like we did earlier in the season. If only games were played on paper!
“Leeds and West Brom did not have the best of January’s and the pack have managed to claw their way back.
“Over a season everyone has a bad spell and hopefully that is ours finished.
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“We have possibly the best coach in the league [Marcelo Bielsa] and as soon as we start hitting the back of the net more consistently then I am sure that we have the players to give us a top-two finish.
“The rest of the top six seem to have a harder run-in and will inevitably take points off each other.
“It will be a fight to the end and probably not for the faint-hearted, but we will not have a better chance to reach the promised land of the Premier League.
“As fans it is important that we remain confident and positive so that a feel good atmosphere from the terraces is relayed to the players.
“It is in our own hands and failure is not an option.”
Key man: Kalvin Phillips
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.34
Fixtures: Birmingham (A), Blackburn (H), Luton (A), Cardiff (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H), Fulham (A), West Brom (H), Reading (A), Wigan (H), Charlton (H), Derby (A), Preston (H), Stoke (A), Barnsley (H)
“Brentford’s exciting strike force, coupled with a strong defence, mean the Bees have all the ingredients to be a force to be reckoned with in the promotion race.
“The BMW (Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo, Ollie Watkins) have rightly drawn praise, but Mathias Jensen has calmly become the engine room going forward with his range of passing.
“The only question mark is whether they have the nous to deal with more cynical teams.
“This has been an issue in recent defeats to Millwall and Nottingham Forest.
“West Bromwich Albion appear to have the ingredients, including humility, to win the league.
“Leeds are an excellent side but, as a club, their attitude may cost them automatic promotion like it has in the past few seasons.
“Nottingham Forest, despite a loss to Charlton, offer something different and will be a threat.
“Fulham are on a good run of form at the moment and will be determined to put right their disastrous campaign last year where their points return, in relation to money spent, was worse than the Derby side of 2007/08. Preston can’t be counted out either in a very tight division.
“It would be a very Brentford thing to do for the last league game at Griffin Park to not actually be the last first team game there.
“Everyone knows that promotion would be the perfect way to say goodbye. I believe a fairytale finish may be on the cards.”
Key man: Ollie Watkins
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.34
Fixtures: Nottingham Forest (H), Bristol City (A), Preston (H), Wigan (A), Swansea (A), Birmingham (H),
Brentford (A), Sheffield Wednesday (A), Hull (H), Derby (H), Blackburn (A), Fulham (H), Huddersfield (A), QPR (H).
“After a tricky couple of months, West Brom seem to be on an upward curve again.
“Playing Luton came at a very opportune time and the points were very welcome. Millwall away was a very encouraging performance; a tricky game and a bit of a bogey team. We played very well and everyone stepped up and the win was well deserved.
“I think it sent a statement to the rest of the Championship.
“As far as the run-in is concerned, we’ve got a strong squad with healthy competition for places due to some promising January signings. Aside from the Nathan Ferguson issue, team spirit appears to be good and confidence buoyant.
“Teams dropping points everywhere but the run-in looks good. Nothing can be taken for granted but on our day we are capable of beating anyone in this league.
“Main challengers? Probably Brentford (who played very well at our place) and Fulham who are coming into form.
“Leeds seem to be imploding and Bristol City will be close at the finish. I think we will go up as champions.”
Key man: Mattheus Pereira
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.39
Fixtures: Millwall (H), Hull (H), West Brom (A), Fulham (A), QPR (H), Luton (A), Cardiff (H), Derby (H), Huddersfield (A), Sheffield Wednesday (A), Nottingham Forest (H), Brentford (A), Birmingham (H), Bristol City (A)
“Every team goes through really good spells and bad spells.
“We are going through a good spell at the moment and we need to make sure that lasts as long as possible.
“If we can continue that between now and the end of the season, we will give ourselves a really good chance.”
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.41
Fixtures: Barnsley (H), Derby (A), Swansea (H), Preston (H), Bristol City (A), Brentford (H), Leeds (A), QPR (A), Birmingham (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Cardiff (H), West Brom (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H), Wigan (A)
“With Leeds drawing at Brentford and Nottingham Forest losing against Charlton, the draw at Millwall definitely feels like an opportunity missed for Fulham.
“From a Fulham point of view, I think it is fair to say it has been a bit disappointing, that might sound strange to say for a side sitting in third, but at no point have Fulham really looked like the third-best side in the Championship.
“Yet somehow, they are and not only that, they are level on points with second place Leeds.
With the players that Fulham kept hold of in the summer – most notably Aleksandar Mitrovic – and the ones they brought in like Ivan Cavaleiro, Anthony Knockaert and Bobby Decordova-Reid that there was a very strong squad, on paper at least, that should challenge for automatic promotion.
“In terms of the rest of the season, Fulham look to have a tough run-in. They still have to go to West Brom, Leeds, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City and also face Brentford and Preston at home, so it will not be easy.
“My gut feeling is that if Fulham are to be promoted then they will have to get into the top two to do so.
“Level on points with Leeds in second and Mitrovic with 21 goals already this season then that is very possible.
“It will be a nervy run-in as Fulham have not beaten a side by more than one goal since the end of November and while on a good run of results at the moment – six unbeaten in the league – it has not looked convincing.
“I wouldn’t fancy Fulham over two legs against many of the teams in and around the top six at the moment.
“As for the other teams, West Brom look the strongest side, despite their recent wobble and should go up automatically.
“Leeds look like they are missing some firepower upfront, in the times I have seen him this season Patrick Bamford has looked unconvincing.
“And their end of season dip in form seems to have come earlier than normal, and so if they can address that then they may be able to cling onto second place.
“Brentford look really impressive going forward. The front three of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo and Ollie Watkins – or the BMW – look like the strongest attack in the division.
“It would not surprise me if they made a real push for second place, but they are a young team and that inexperience could cost them at the business end of the season.
“Sabri Lamouchi really looks to have got something going at the City Ground and Nottingham Forest really look like they are on the charge.
“Defeat by Charlton in midweek is a setback but with Lewis Grabban upfront and Sammy Ameobi and the returning Tyler Walker supporting him, they look strong.
“Preston seem to be the quite side of the top six, not really being talked about but consistent and around the top six for much of the season and could be the dark horse of the play-off race.
Behind them, Bristol City and Cardiff are lurking, ready to pounce on any slip-ups.
“If I were to give a prediction now, I would go with: automatic: West Brom and Brentford, play-offs: Leeds, Fulham, Nottingham Forest and Bristol City.
Key man: Aleksandar Mitrovic
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.46
Fixtures: Leeds (A), West Brom (H), Huddersfield (A), Millwall (A), Fulham (H), Blackburn (A), Sheffield Wednesday (H), Nottingham Forest (A), Cardiff (H), Hull (H), Middlesbrough (A), Stoke (H), Swansea (A), Preston (H)
“Lee Johnson, again, he’s been there quite a few years and has been close to the play-offs.
“He’s been under pressure at times but they’ve stuck by him and he’s done a great job.
“He always seems to get results, and again tonight [against Derby].
“He has done a wonderful job and it wouldn’t surprise me if they do secure a play-off spot.”
Key man: Niclas Eliasson
Average points per game of remaining opponents = 1.48
Fixtures: West Brom (A), QPR (H), Cardiff (A), Middlesbrough (A), Millwall (H), Sheffield Wednesday (A), Huddersfield (H), Bristol City (H), Derby (A), Fulham (H), Preston (A), Swansea (H), Barnsley (A), Stoke (H)
“When I signed here for one year, I knew the background of the old manager [Martin O’Neill], but my first goal was to finish the season.
“I will probably finish the season and that is a good sign. Now, I just want to compete. We are working hard every day for the best result.
“Fourteen games is not too many, but after 32 games you are physically tired, mentally tired, we need to refresh some players, put some fresh legs in the squad and the team. Keep going, keep working.”
Key man: Lewis Grabban
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