Is it now a three-horse race for two Championship promotion spots?
Coventry City looked like runaway leaders a few weeks ago, but a two-game deficit from eight games has opened the door to a chase.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough also suffered a Christmas slump as they failed to score in four consecutive games, but then bounced back by going past Southampton four times in the second half of their last league match.
Then there’s Ipswich Town, a looming threat, who trail Boro by a point with a game in hand after their trip to Portsmouth was postponed. They have beaten Coventry twice since the start of December and are a big reason why the Premier League race is closed.
Conventional wisdom says it’s now two out of three for automatics. But that would do a disservice to the hordes of unlikely challengers queuing up behind Ipswich.
Preston and Millwall are just a point back, while Watford, Hull, Stoke and Wrexham are also within striking distance.
Should Coventry be worried?
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast panel looks at Coventry’s recent slight change in form
There must have been a feeling that Coventry’s squad was too thin to cope with the intensity of the December schedule, and Frank Lampard had already moved to strengthen his squad.
The additions, plus a relative break over the FA Cup weekend, should do his side good, and it’s worth remembering that they are still six points clear at the top.
“This is a moment for Coventry to look at the big picture,” said Joby McAnuff Ski Sports Essential EFL podcast. “Anyone at the football club would have taken this position at the turn of the year. Now the question is what they need to do to finish the job.
“Strengths in key areas could give the club a real boost and a sense of freshness at this stage of the season. They need to be smart and make sure whoever comes in really improves the group. I fully expect them to shake off this spell and push on in the second half of the season.”
Even despite their recent form, Coventry are still heavy favorites to win the title according to the predicted Opta Championship table.
Middlesbrough are back
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast looks at how Middlesbrough reignited their promotion challenge with an emphatic win over Southampton
It was such a crucial win for Middlesbrough to announce themselves again against Southampton. The four games before that produced just one point and no goals, allowing Ipswich to return to the very top of the race.
Whether they can stay the course with the Tractor Boys remains to be seen.
“Just like Coventry, if you look at Middlesbrough’s position in the league and how well they’ve played throughout the season, there’s a lot to be positive about,” said Tommy Smith.
“The manager came in, got off to a great start, scored goals and played attractive football. Then there were three or four games where the results didn’t come. That happens during the season.
“The key thing at times like this is not to panic. In some matches they were unlucky not to score, but the overall level remained strong.
“That was backed up by the 4-0 win over Southampton. It was a big win against a strong team with good individual players and the way they won was convincing.
“It was only a matter of time before the chances turned into goals. That should set Middlesbrough up well for the second half of the season.”
Is Ipswich now the favorite for growth?
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL Podcast looks at how Ipswich Town finally made it in the Championship promotion race
Perhaps the only real surprise about Ipswich’s recent form is how long it took them to get there. The win at Coventry between Christmas and New Year was a statement of intent.
Since beating them at home in December, it has been five wins from seven games. By the time the first two stumbled, it was more than enough to get them into the fight.
According to Opta, they it should be top notch.
“They’ve certainly stepped up and are doing what many expected,” added McAnuff. “The biggest challenge for Kieran McKenna during that incredible rise has been managing such a settled team. The team has picked itself for a long time, with several players contributing along the way.”
“Promotion was followed by significant investment and then a disappointing season with relegation. Now he has a full squad, with real depth and competition for places.
“As the series has developed, there has been a greater buy-in from the group. Everyone understands that the manager has a tough job and every player has to deliver when called upon. That approach is clearly working.
“The depth and options across the squad are as strong as anyone in the Championship, if not stronger. This run was always going to come, and it’s easy to see them carrying it into the second half of the season.”
“Getting Coventry will take work, but they’ve given themselves a great chance. For automatic promotion, they’d be my pick alongside Coventry.”
And what about the chase pack?
Preston North End anyone? They narrowly avoided relegation last season, but that seems to have given them the upper hand after 10 years in the Championship without finishing in the top six or bottom three.
But is staying in the race for the top two achievable? Smith believes the playoffs are more likely.
“We’ve had a good half-way through the season and Preston are where credit is due,” Smith said. “What they do does not depend on luck or chance.”
“They have a very efficient way of playing and they execute it extremely well. A lot of credit goes to the manager and the work he has done since coming to the football club. He has turned them into real contenders for the play-offs. They have a very efficient way of playing.
“I fully expect them to be in and around him at the end of the season because of the way they are managed.”
Then there’s Watford, who have come from nowhere under Javi Gracia to break into the top six. They are currently the top team in the league, and their run of four wins could have been five had their match with Hull not been postponed a few minutes before kick-off last week.
“What the manager has instilled is consistency, which is something that Watford have lacked for a long time,” McNuff said. “It has eluded the club in terms of politics, with managers and players constantly changing.”
“His understanding of the football club and how it works is very helpful, and he is getting a more consistent level of performance from the group.”
Meanwhile, the race for the play-offs goes to Sheffield United in 16th place, according to McAnuff.
“The difference is significant at nine points, but teams can put together a run of three or four consecutive wins,” he said. “Sheffield United are capable of that.
“Their form under Chris Wilder has improved and they are among the strongest in the league for a long stretch of games.”
Needless to say, this is going to be a fascinating second half of the season.
Championship games this weekend
All Saturdays start at 15:00 unless stated
- West Brom v Middlesbrough (Fri 8pm) – Live on Sky
- Coventry v Leicester (Saturday 12.30pm) – live on Sky
- Ipswich v Blackburn (Saturday 12.30pm) – Live on Sky
- Watford v Millwall (Saturday 12.30pm) – Live on Sky
- Charlton v Chiefs United
- Oxford v Bristol City
- Preston v Derby
- Chief Wade v Portsmouth
- Southampton v Hull
- Stoke v QPR
- Rackham vs Norwich
- Swansea v Birmingham (Saturday 5.30pm) – live on Sky