WHILST the vibrant EFL Championship offers fantastic promotion opportunities up to Premier League football riches, there is also a fiercely contested relegation battle each year.
Last season was no exception. The only real certainties for the drop were rock bottom Rotherham United. They finished 24 points adrift mustering merely five victories throughout 2023/24. Relegation was confirmed early on 5th April in losing 1-0 at home to Plymouth Argyle.
However, the remaining two relegation places weren’t settled until the last day where five teams were still in the frame. Betting activity was intense!
Blackburn Rovers, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth Argyle all consequently stayed above the dreaded dotted line by winning their concluding matches.
Alas the Championship said goodbye to Huddersfield Town - who lost 2-0 at Ipswich Town - and Birmingham City, in spite of the 1-0 home conquest of Norwich City.
So which clubs will go down in 2024/25? Here are the four main candidates in my opinion with pointers to assist your Championship betting…
Oxford United
- Final position 2023/24: 5th in League One
Oxford United’s 2-0 triumph past Bolton Wanderers in the League One Play-Off Final at Wembley Stadium propels them to the second tier for the first time since 1998/99 (then called Division One).
It is nice to see the U’s return at this level and don’t forget their spell in Non-League circles between 2006 and 2010. Going further back, I was present at Wembley Stadium when they won the Milk (League) Cup Final in 1986 convincingly beating Queens Park Rangers 3-0.
Constructing a new stadium seems distinctly possible at the Triangle in Kidlington, therefore it is vitally important Oxford United stabilise Championship status.
The acquisition of Poland international wide man Przemyslaw Placheta on a free transfer from Swansea City will definitely help matters.
Plymouth Argyle
- Final position 2023/24: 21st in the Championship
On escaping relegation by one point, Plymouth installed former England captain Wayne Rooney as their new head coach. He succeeds Ian Foster who was fired on 1st April in light of an unsatisfactory run of results.
Is this a good appointment for Argyle? Let’s analyse the situation objectively. Rooney got sacked from his last managerial job at Birmingham City on 2nd January after just 83 days in charge.
Blues were sixth in the Championship table when he initially took over on 11th October. But they drastically slipped to 20th once Rooney suffered nine defeats in a poor 15 game tenure.
Going forward now, much will depend on whether Plymouth can keep hold of star man Morgan Whittaker - a genuine contender in Championship top scorer odds - having notched 20 goals in League and Cup during 2023/24 and deservedly making our EFL Championship Team of the Season.
He is attracting interest involving Premier League duo Brentford and Wolves plus numerous overseas clubs. An £8.5 million bid for Whittaker featuring Italian giants Lazio was rebuffed towards the end of January’s transfer window.
Portsmouth
- Final position 2023/24: 1st in League One
Portsmouth were commendable League One champions amassing a strong 10 point cushion ahead of third spot.
Their most noteworthy close season newcomer is winger Josh Murphy. He was out of contract at Oxford United and rejected a new deal despite gloriously scoring both goals to single-handedly clinch promotion as they toppled Bolton Wanderers 2-0 in the League One Play-Off Final.
Sheffield Wednesday
- Final position 2023/24: 20th in the Championship
Wednesday evaded relegation by three points and will soon renew League rivalries against near neighbours Sheffield United for the first time in five years.
The Owls were Championship bottom side when unveiling former Germany assistant coach Danny Rohl on 13th October 2023. Quite a risky scenario!
At 34 years old, it was his inaugural managerial post and he became the EFL’s youngest boss. Wednesday hadn’t won any of the opening 10 League games at that juncture - their worst ever start to a season sitting seven points shy of safety.
But fortunes dramatically improved under Rohl including four wins in the last six unbeaten games which secured final day survival.
He subsequently agreed a new long-term contract on 24th May as well as pulling off nine summer signings. Attacking options have been spiced up considerably courtesy of striker Jamal Lowe’s arrival following release from Premier League outfit AFC Bournemouth.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Alamy*
