By Paula Marcus
There always seems to be a slight lull just after Christmas, where you know the end of the season is nearer than the start, but it still seems so far away. Well here we are, just nine games left in the season and lots still to decide. For some, it also means they have just nine more games in this division before moving onto pastures new.
The really happy fans
After their impressive win against a pretty terrible Reading side last night, Wolverhampton Wanderers opened up a ten point lead over third place Aston Villa, making it almost certain they will be one of the two promoted teams in May. Whilst they may sit just three points above Cardiff City, based on their form and ability this season, it would be unwise to bet on anyone else lifting the trophy.
Whilst everyone wants to finish on top, no one is going to turn down second place and Cardiff fans will be no exception. It seems hard to believe the transformation that has happened since Warnock took over 17 months ago, but Cardiff have been strong this year and, like Wolves, their chance of gaining automatic promotion is very high.
The happy fans
It’s hard to judge how happy Aston Villa fans would be if the season finished tomorrow. After the past two seasons, finishing with more wins than losses should obviously be seen as a major plus. But, having spent so much of the season within touching distance of the top two, finishing in third could be seen as a disappointment to some. It is an incredible turnaround on last year’s performance, and regardless of where they finish, it should finally give the team something to build on.
For some teams, finishing outside the promotion race can still be seen as a win. Millwall’s last spell in the Championship was anything but a success, as they spent three years trying not to get relegated, before failing in 2015. Three years later, however, they have surprised everyone and they currently sit just six points outside the playoff places. This is a team that many had down as almost certain relegation contenders at the start of the season but they are undefeated since New year’s day and are one of the form teams in the division.
The indifferent fans
Sadly, at this point in the season not everyone has something to play for. Leeds United, Norwich City, QPR and Nottingham Forest are currently just playing out their games trying to finish as high as they can. All four teams are about as near to the playoff places as they are to relegation, and would need the strangest end to the season to not be playing Championship football next year.
For Leeds and Norwich fans, this is probably not what they were hoping for. Leeds had a strong start to the season, but poor form and a manager change means the only thing left to do is plan for next season. In the case of Norwich, the division was just a little too strong for them, but they should still have the honor of being the highest placed of the relegated teams (which isn’t much consolation). QPR and Forest spent most of last season trying to not get relegated, so I’m sure a mid-table stress-free finish will do their fans some good.
The worried fans
Just 12 months ago, Reading and Sheffield Wednesday were competing for two of the four playoff places and things were going pretty well. What a difference a year makes. The only teams with worse form over the past six games sit in the bottom three and, if things continue, Reading and Wednesday could be joining them. Wednesday’s issue has been four defeats in the last six games that has left them eight points above relegation.
For Reading, the issue has been too many draws. With no wins in their last six games they have managed four draws, which is probably the only thing keeping them out of the bottom three. Reading are just six points ahead of Birmingham City (one of those two teams on worse form) and may be thankful for their superior goal difference come the end of the season.
The really worried fans
At the bottom, it really seems that some teams just want to get relegated. Given the poor form of Reading and Sheffield Wednesday over the past six games, it is somewhat baffling that the positions haven’t really changed much in the past couple of weeks. Sunderland still sit bottom and, despite a little rally a few months ago, look certain to be playing in League One next season.
Birmingham’s run of seven straight league losses has probably given their fans a sense of impending doom and slight acceptance that they might not be playing Championship football next season. City have had little to smile about since their relegation from the Premier League in 2011 and it seems they might be about to say goodbye after seven years.
Of course where there are goodbyes, there are also hellos and we will have six new teams to welcome next season.
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