By Paula Marcus
One of the great things about this point in the seasons is that in one day so much can change, especially when the games come thick and fast.
After the midweek round of games we have drama at the top, drama in the playoffs, despair at the bottom and a manager-less club.
It’s not over yet
Just when it looked like Wolverhampton Wanderers and Cardiff City had the two automatic places tied up, up came Fulham to shake things up. Two months ago Fulham were sat in 5th place, more concerned with the gap to 7th than the teams above. But a run of form that has seen them undefeated in 20 games, including eight wins in their last ten, has seen them mount a serious promotion challenge. Last nights 1-0 win over Reading moved them to the automatic places.
Cardiff City, on the other hand, have only won three of their last six games, and defeat last night, meant Fulham were able to move ahead into second place, although Cardiff do still have a game in hand. One of the greatest things about the Championship is that it is a highly competitive league. Whilst Wolves are just a win away from promotion following Wednesday’s 2-0 win over Derby, we are now left with an exciting battle for automatic promotion that is likely to go to the end of the season.
Playoff hunt
Cardiff’s loss to Aston Villa also had a large impact on the playoff picture. After three defeats in the last five games, Villa greatly needed a victory to help them seal a place in the playoffs come May. They still might not be mathematically confirmed in the top six, but they have opened up a ten point cushion, leaving them two draws or a win away from confirming their spot. They also achieved a much needed confidence boost against a team they could well face come in the final four.
At the other end of the playoffs there was another huge change as Millwall’s amazing form was rewarded with their first foray into the playoff places at the expense of Middlesbrough. Like Fulham, Millwall are on an impressive run, having not lost in 16 games that has resulted in them climbing nine places since New Year’s day. Should they manage to maintain their form till the last day, they could be a good outside bet to make it to the top flight for the first time since 1990 (and a first trip to the Premier League).
No change at the bottom
At this point in the season, sometimes no movement is just as important as a change in position, especially when you are at the wrong end of the table. Burton Albion may still have a slim chance of playing in the Championship next year, but a 5-0 thumping by Hull City has made it highly unlikely. With a goal difference of -47 (17 worse than Bolton in 21st place) and 7 points to make up it really is looking like the best they can hope for this season is not finishing at the foot of the table.
Sunderland are also in a very similar position after drawing at home to Norwich City. The black cats were leading for over 30 minutes before finally conceding in the 89th minute. A failure to beat their relegation rivals Reading and Burton Albion in the next two games could see their double relegation confirmed with games to spare, not a position they saw themselves in at the start of the season.
Ipswich Town in unfamiliar position
It had already been announced that for the first time in five years, Ipswich Town would start next season with a new man in charge after the decision was made not to renew Mick McCarthy’s contract after it expired at the end of the season. In a move few saw coming, McCarthy dramatically announced he was ‘out of here’ in a post-match press conference last night. Apparently the decision that was made after Saturday’s game was a reaction to negative comments directed by fans, among other things. It’s a sad way for one of the longest serving managers in the country, and the division’s longest serving manager, to end his time in Ipswich.
Where Town go from here is also unclear. They really are in uncharted territory and who they bring in to replace McCarthy will shape the club over the next few years. Often when lower league clubs replace long serving managers they undergo a period of instability as they struggle to find the right person for the job. There is also the issue of Town’s transfer policy over the last few years and how a change in manager will alter their philosophy.
Despite spending more or less nothing over the past few years, they have remained one of the more competitive teams in the division, even managing a playoff place in 2015. With so much pressure on managers now, they may find it hard to find a manager who is either willing or able to work with such tight financial constraints. It would be a loss to the division if they turned into another club gambling big money for promotion after years of being a model for other clubs to copy.
But then nothing lasts forever, especially in football.
Listen to Paula’s latest Championship podcast at Premier Punditry.