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The race to avoid relegation from the Championship is hotting up with as many as 8 teams fighting for survival. While we all know the excitement the top of the Championship as provided this season with number of unlikely teams claiming a piece of the pie

FA Championship: Relegation Struggle

by Salomon Gonzales (Senior Writer)

5

611 reads

Sports

April 05, 2008


The race to avoid relegation from the Championship is hotting up with as many as 8 teams fighting for survival. 

While we all know the excitement the top of the Championship as provided this season with  number of unlikely teams claiming a piece of the pie. Hull City,  Stoke City have both surprised everyone with their resiliance and determination. Bristol City are for me the biggest shock with their league position given they only got promoted to the Championship last season. Those 3 teams are currently occupying the top 3 places followed by Watford and West Brom ( who have surprisingly under performed in the 2nd half of the season).

Now to the bottum of the table we have some pretty decent teams who, by all means, shouldn't be there.There are some teams we expected to be down there at the beginning of the season through lack of resources and experience, but then there are also some surprises down there like Southampton. While Colchester and Scunthorpe are rooted to the foot of the table and are looking likely to drop down to league one. Barnsley at 22nd spot with 46pts and Blackpool at 17th spot wit 50pts, are only separated by 4 pts. In between the two teams we have, Coventry Fc, Leicester City, Southampton and Sheffield Wednesday. Teams who, in my opinion, should be fighting for play off places, bar sheffield Wed.

But I look at Coventry and I really think they can get out of this situation. They have experience on the pitch and in Chris Coleman, who managed Fulham in the premership and did a quite decent job, they have a very fine manager.

Todays games provided another twist in the story.     

Coventry lost 2-1 away at promotion chasers Watford. Leicester were well beaten at Bramall Lane 3-0 with a James beattie Hatrick. Southampton though, beat table-toppers Bristol City 2-0. 

My Prediction come the end of the seaon:

Barnsley or Sheffield Wed will follow Colchester and Scunthorpe down to league one. Coventry, Leicester and Southampton will all survive. Hopefully, they'll all challenge for play-off places because thats what teams like those are supposed to be doing.

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5 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment

  1. ...

    I thought only 3 teams went down but I could very well be wrong. Great to see more leagues and teams getting coverage.

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  2. ...

    4 teams go down every year and 4 get promoted to the championship. 3 automatic spots and one play-off spot..

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  3. ...

    Sorry Salomon but only three teams go down as I thought. Just checked it out on skysports.

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    It's crazy to think how far Southampton dropped off after they failed to get promoted in the Championship playoffs last year with all the talent they had. Andrew Surman's a decent player but without Rasiak (soon to be anyway), Gareth Bale, Kenwyne Jones, and Theo Walcott, it'll be a little while before Southampton will be back up in the Premier League.

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