(1) Newcastle - 11 Points Ahead - 8 Games Left

Results last week: Birmingham 0-0 Newcastle

Promotion Odds: This Week: 1/33 - Last Week: 1/33

Rafa and Newcastle had a bit of a hiccup away at Birmingham before the break but it was another point that moves them closer to the title. They're still seven points clear of Huddersfield, although David Wagner's side do have a game in hand.

Games This Week: SAT: Wigan (23rd) (H)

Second from bottom Wigan are giving it all they've got, but they're seven points adrift of safety for a reason and it's hard to see them pulling off a result here.

*****

(2) Brighton - 10 Points Ahead - 8 Games Left

Results last week: Leeds 2-0 Brighton

Promotion Odds: This Week: 2/17 - Last Week: 1/9

Not a great weekend for Brighton, who saw Leeds reclaim fourth spot with a solid win at Elland Road. Still, that was one of the few 'tricky' games left on their schedule and they still hold a six point gap over third, though again Huddersfield do have a game extra.

Games This Week: SAT: Blackburn (22nd) (H)

Tony Mowbray has got Blackburn into some form and as their recent draw at Fulham showed, they're no pushovers. All signs still point to an Albion win but will the pressure play some tricks on Chris Hughton's side?

*****

(3) Huddersfield - 4 Points Ahead - 9 Games Left

Result last week: Bristol City 4-0 Huddersfield

Current Promotion Odds: This Week 6/4 - Last Week: 5/4

Their last outing couldn't have gone much worse for David Wagner. Not only did he watch his side ripped apart by struggling Bristol City but he also lost midfielder Jonathan Hogg for the season with a neck fracture. Fingers crossed he comes back strongly.

Games This Week: SAT: Burton (21st)

The time for slip ups are over and given who the top two play this week, there's no way Huddersfield can afford anything other than three points at home to Burton.

*****

(4) Leeds - 2 Points Ahead - 8 Games Left

Result Last Week: Leeds 2-0 Brighton

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 3/1 - Last Week: 4/1

Like Reading, Leeds aren't going away and they once again brushed off a top side at Elland Road to push Reading back down to fifth. As long as Chris Wood is fit, Leeds have that genuine matchwinner and the bookies fancy them strongly to make it back to the Premier League.

Games This Week: SAT: Reading (5th) (A)

Of course, we'll be hoping to derail the Leeds express on Saturday evening in front of the Sky TV cameras. Leeds earned a 2-0 win at the Madejski on a Tuesday night in 2015 but they've never won a weekend fixture at the stadium, with their last weekend victory at Elm Park coming on their last visit in 1987.

*****

(5) Reading - 67 Points - 8 Games Left

Result Last Week: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 11/2 - Last Week: 9/1

Our win at Sheffield Wednesday sent our promotion odds tumbling, going from a position where £10 would earn £90 profit, to the point where £10 would net just £55 now. That win gave us some valuable breathing room, especially with Fulham fluffing their lines twice in a week.

Games This Week: SAT: Leeds (4th) (H)

Stam v Monk v2.0 should be cracking game. I'm fairly sure both teams would take a point from this, but the winner can just about start plotting that play-off plan.

*****

(6) Sheffield Wednesday - 5 Points Behind - 8 Games Left

Result Last Week: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Reading

Current Promotion Odds: This Week: 6/1 - Last Week: 9/2

Our win at Hillsborough has further weakened confidence in Yorkshire and bookmakers will now give you 6 to 1 on Carlos Carvalhal leading the Owls to promotion. They've won just once in six and still have Newcastle, Derby and Fulham to play.

Games This Week: SAT: Barnsley (11th) (A)

When you're out of form, the last thing you need is a tricky Yorkshire Derby to navigate but that's what's facing Wednesday as they head to a Barnsley side still clinging to the faintest play-off hopes themselves.

*****

The Chasing Pack

(7) Fulham - 6 Points Behind - 8 Games Left

Points Last Week: 1/6 - Current Promotion Odds: 9/2

Fulham endured a real downer of a week, failing to beat either Blackburn or Wolves at home, wrecking their chances of going into the break inside the top six. Suddenly that unstoppable momentum seems to have been halted but they're still very much in the hunt, especially with a +19 goal difference that dwarfs Reading (+2) and Wednesday (+9).

Games This Week: SAT: Rotherham (24th) (A)

The old cliche of 'there's no easy games in the Championship' is noted but Rotherham are already relegated baring a mathematical miracle and have taken just 17 points from 38 games so far. This SHOULD be easy points for Fulham but then we said the same about their two games last week....

*****

(8) Norwich - 10 Points Behind - 8 Games Left

Points Last Week: 3/3 - Current Promotion Odds: 33/1

Games This Week: SAT: Aston Villa (12th) (A)

*****

Outsiders

(9) Preston - 10 points behind

(10) Derby - 14 points behind