Championship promotion odds: Forest 7/4 after Cherries setback
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Championship promotion odds and contenders
Bournemouth joined Fulham in the Premier League for next season with a 1-0 victory over Nottingham Forest but there are still six teams in the running for promotion via the play-offs.
Forest, 7/4 favourites in the Championship promotion odds, and Huddersfield have already guaranteed a top-six spot, with Sheffield United, Luton, Middlesbrough and Millwall hoping to book their places in the play-offs on Saturday, the final day of the regular season.
We look at the contenders to be playing in the English top flight in the first week of August.
Nottingham Forest – points 79, goal difference 33
Forest were bottom of the table with one point from seven games in the week before they appointed Steve Cooper as manager, but 23 wins and nine draws later they find themselves in the play-offs with a chance of playing in the Premier League for the first time this century.
Nine wins in their last 11 outings, including a 1-0 victory at champions Fulham, have propelled Forest up to third place and having beaten two high-profile Premier League teams in the FA Cup, they look worthy favourites to reach the promised land.
Huddersfield – points 79, goal difference 15
Town sealed a play-off spot with a 2-1 win against Barnsley which they followed with a 2-1 victory at Coventry over the weekend to make it just two defeats in their last 25, and they can still finish in third by bettering Forest’s result on Saturday.
Only Danny Ward has hit double figures this season but although they lack household names, their togetherness has taken them a long way under Carlos Corberan, whose side are 7/2 in the Championship promotion odds despite being one of the pre-season favourites for relegation.
Sheffield United – points 72, goal difference 14
The Blades occupy fifth spot and need a win against champions Fulham at Bramall Lane to guarantee a top-six spot, although a draw may be enough as long as Middlesbrough and Luton drop points this weekend.
New week, same goal. A big game coming up at the Lane on Saturday. 🔴#SHUFUL 🔜 pic.twitter.com/DGOhpb06MO
— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) May 2, 2022
United’s recent form has been patchy, especially away from home where they have won just one of their last seven, but they are 5/2 to make an immediate return to the Premier League.
Luton – points 72, goal difference 7
Nathan Jones has done remarkably well to give Luton a shot at the big time and they are 9/2 to go up, but they must dust themselves down for Saturday’s clash with Reading following Monday’s 7-0 drubbing by Fulham.
🗣️ "It boils down to one giant, mammoth, unbelievable game and we would all have taken that at the beginning of the season."#COYH
— Luton Town FC (@LutonTown) May 2, 2022
The Hatters took four points off Forest this season and a win will seal their place in the top six, although a draw would be enough if Boro fail to win at Preston.
Middlesbrough – points 70, goal difference 12
Boro’s hopes of a top-six finish were dented by a five-match winless run in April during which they scored just once, but back-to-back wins against Cardiff and Stoke mean they can still sneak into the play-offs on the final day.
👊 #UTB https://t.co/n6cYMwDdLO pic.twitter.com/Gyfq7H2FRt
— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) May 4, 2022
A win at Deepdale coupled with defeat for either Sheffield United or Luton will get the job done, although a draw for the Hatters would also send Chris Wilder’s men into the play-offs.
Wilder says seventh-placed Boro are in “decent nick” going into their final game, but they need results to go their way and are 8/1 in the Championship promotion odds.
Millwall – points 69, goal difference 9
The Lions are the 50/1 outsiders in eighth spot and not only do they have one of the toughest games on Saturday – a trip to Bouremouth – but even a win may not be enough to seal a top-six spot.
Millwall have struggled for goals this season, so even if two of the three results go their way, they will be viewed as underdogs to play in the top flight for the first time in 32 years.
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
