It’s time for another guest article now as Reading fan Oliver Walsh – who you can follow on Twitter here returns. This week Oliver gives us his view on the battle to beat the drop in The Championship. As always Oliver it’s over to you.
Relegation Battle:
With only a month and a half remaining in the Championship season, the battle to retain championship status is really hotting up. Relegation is becoming a real possibility for six clubs at the foot of the table, two of which look long gone with the remaining four teams separated by only four points.
At the bottom of the table, 14 points from safety and winless since the turn of the year are perennial demotion candidates Rotherham. The Millers escaped relegation from the championship by the skin of their teeth in the past two seasons; finishing 21st in both campaigns following their back to back promotions in the 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons. This season the size of their club in comparison to the rest of the Championship has been apparent, and after picking up just 17 points in 38 games and with a woeful -54 goal difference the Yorkshire based club are nailed on to return to League 1.
In 23rd and just above Rotherham are recent Premier League regulars Wigan Athletic. Unlike Rotherham, the Latics still have a glimmer of hope of staying in the Championship: needing seven points to climb out of the relegation zone. Their fall from grace seemed to have reversed last season, after they won League One and lost just 7 games, with viral hit Will Grigg leading the line with consummate ease. However this season the Mancunian club have capitulated, failing to impress in the big games, losing crucial matches against fellow strugglers Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers in march alone. Following the sacking of Warren Joyce earlier this month, interim manager Graham Barrow has been handed the top job until the end of the season, with a gargantuan task of keeping the Latics up ahead of the Englishman.
Between 22nd and 19th place are four clubs separated by only one point, with Bristol City, Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest on 41 points and Blackburn one point below them.
Bristol City exceeded expectations at the start of the season with talismanic forward Tammy Abraham propelling them into the top half of the table, however they struggled through the winter period: losing 5 of their 6 games in December.
After dropping into the relegation places, the Robins have experienced resurgence in form recently and are unbeaten in their last four games, including an astonishing 4-0 thrashing over 3rd place Huddersfield, and with Abraham appearing to hit a good run of form again, the 19 year old could be the deciding factor in Bristol’s end of season finish.
Similar to Bristol, Blackburn Rovers have encountered an upturn in form recently and are unbeaten in 7, despite drawing 5, these positive results have coincided and come as a result of Tony Mowbray being promoted to head coach with the Englishman insuring the Rovers have a fighting chance come the end of the season, something which seemed improbable under Owen Coyle. Their squad will be tested in two tough upcoming games against high-flying Brighton and Reading, however if they can continue their good run of form until the end of the season they will almost certainly be safe from relegation.
Finally there are Burton Albion and Nottingham Forest, two clubs with vastly contrasting histories and club sizes yet similar performances.
On the one hand Forest’s home ground is the City ground with an impressive capacity of 30,445 compared to Burton Albion’s Pirelli Stadium, which can only hold 6912, with just over 2000 seated.
Nottingham Forest have an impressive history with two European cups to their name, whereas Burton’s most renowned title is League 1.
The Reds’ fans have had little to cheer about in recent times with their club remaining in mid table or bottom half of the Championship in the past 5 seasons, in contrast the Brewers’ fans have witnessed back to back promotions in the last two seasons.
The Yellows got the better of Forest in their recent fixture, winning the crucial game 1-0. However both sides have had mixed results recently and will need to turn their losses into draws and draws into wins if they are to stay in the second division next season.
Thanks Oliver and as always I look forward to your next installment
If you would like to give a view from your club on a weekly basis then please get in touch – you can email me at – realfootballmanwordpress@gmail.com