clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Championship Promotion Watch: Feb 13-19

Another week and another point for the Royals but how do we look in the race for promotion?

Reading v Queens Park Rangers Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images

Not a fantastic week in the promotion race for Reading who saw the top two earn maximum points and the gap to seventh shrink from 10 points to seven. Here's how the main contenders got on and who they've got to face over the next seven days.

*****

(1) Newcastle - 8 Points Ahead - 16 Games Left

Result last week: Wolves 0-1 Newcastle

Promotion Odds: This Week: 1/19 - Last Week: 1/14

Another week and another tricky away game navigated by Rafa Benitez's side. While they've had the odd wobble this season there's a reason they're 1/19 to go up with the bookmakers. At the moment they're on track for around 100 points, but if momentum stays with them, that 106 record might just come under threat.

Games This Week: TUES: Norwich (7th) (A) – MON: Aston Villa (16th) (H)

Whoever wins Tuesday’s game at Carrow Road, Reading stand to benefit so we can watch this one with a fairly relaxed attitude. Even so, a win here for Newcastle surely shows they're above a late season wobble and out of our reach.

*****

(2) Brighton - 7 Points Ahead - 16 Games Left

Result last week: Brighton 4-1 Burton

Promotion Odds: This Week: 2/13 - Last Week: 1/6

Brighton earned the win we all expected against Burton, with a 4-1 hammering doing their goal difference no harm at all. Their goal difference is 21 better than Reading's something that makes their lead eight points in all but name. If we lose at the Amex in a fortnight and it's almost certainly game over.

Games This Week: TUES: Ipswich (13th) (H) - SAT: Barnsley (10th)(A)

Mick McCarthy's side can be stubborn so there's an outside chance they can cause an upset at the Amex in midweek, while as we saw on Saturday, Barnsley aren't giving up the play-off ghost themselves just yet.

*****

(3) Huddersfield - 1 Point Ahead - 16 Games Left

Result last week: QPR 1-2 Huddersfield

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 5/2 - Last Week: 11/4

If there is to be a challenger for the top two than you could do worse than stick a cheeky tenner on Huddersfield (#gambleaware). David Wagner's side have now rattled off four wins in a row as part of a run of nine wins in their last 11.

Game This Week: TUES: Rotherham (24th) (A)

There are no easy away games in the Championship, but if you had to pick one then you'd probably fancy it at Rotherham. Rock bottom of the Championship with just four wins all season, this has to be a banker for Huddersfield although anything can happen in a derby game.... Then it's back to FA Cup action, meaning our game at the John Smith's Stadium has been pushed back to the following Tuesday.

*****

(4) Reading - 57 Points - 15 Games Left

Result Last Week: Reading 0-0 Barnsley

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 5/1 - Last Week: 5/1

The fact that our promotion odds remain unchanged despite falling further behind the top two shows how little faith the bookies had in our automatic odds to begin with. It wasn't a performance of Champions but it kept the momentum ticking over and moved us one point closer to a play-off place.

Game This Week: TUES: Brentford (15th) (H)

Brentford are a streaky and unpredictable side. We saw how good they can be when they thumped us 4-1 at Griffin Park but away from home they've struggled with Saturday's 4-2 defeat at Preston a ninth away defeat in 15 trips. No doubt the South Stand will be rocking on Tuesday night to make it that bit trickier. As mentioned, Huddersfield's FA Cup involvement means it's a nice full week for Jaap to prepare for a big game at the John Smith's.

*****

(5) Leeds - 3 Points Behind - 15 Games Left

Result Last Week: Leeds 0-2 Cardiff

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 5/1 - Last Week: 3/1

Ho ho ho, Colin returning to Elland Road to take all three points was one of the few highlights from Saturday's results. That's back-to-back defeats now for Garry Monk and three in their last five games to pretty much kill off any faint automatic promotion hopes.

Games This Week: TUES: Bristol City (20th) (H)

Bristol City at home should give Leeds the chance to get back on track, but City's 3-3 draw at Derby shows they've still got a a few surprises up their sleeve, especially if Matty Taylor continues his goal scoring form.

*****

(6) Sheffield Wednesday - 5 Points Behind - 16 Games Left

Result Last Week: Sheffield Wednesday 3-0 Birmingham

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 4/1 - Last Week: 5/1

A comprehensive win over Birmingham on the telly included Jordan Rhodes getting back to goalscoring form. The Owls gained two points on us this week and with a game in hand plus a meeting between us at Hillsborough in March, they now control their own destiny in the beat Reading race.

Games This Week: TUES: Blackburn (22nd) (H) - SAT: Nott'm Forest (17th) (A)

Blackburn should be a simple three points on Tuesday night but Forest have something about them after winning three in a row at home.

*****

The Chasing Pack

(7) Norwich - 7 Points Behind - 15 Games Left

Points Last Week: 4/6 - Current Promotion Odds: 7/1

Games This Week: TUES: Newcastle (1st) (H) - SAT: Burton (21st) (A)

*****

(8) Derby - 10 Points Behind - 16 Games Left

Points Last Week: 1/3 - Current Promotion Odds: 7/1

Games This Week: TUES: Cardiff (14th) (H)

*****

Outsiders

(9) Fulham - 11 points behind

(10) Barnsley - 11 points behind