We’ve had a look at the top end of the Championship and who will score the most goals in the new 2020-21 season, and before things get underway there is just enough time to take a look at the bottom end of the table and the relegation market.
The obvious thing when looking at the potential for relegation in this league is to start with the three teams that come up, but interestingly only one of the promoted teams went straight back down last season so it might not be as straightforward as that.
Points Deduction
One of the reasons why it may not be as easy as that is because we already know that Sheffield Wednesday will be beginning the season 12 points behind the rest of the division after losing their case against the EFL towards the end of last term. That is going to make it very difficult for them to stay up when you consider if it was awarded last season (like it should have been) they would have finished bottom of the table.
When betting on the relegation market always be wary that we are in a global pandemic and the aftermath when we eventually come out of it is setup to be a financial bloodbath and even football clubs are not immune to difficulty so have that in mind as if anyone falls into administration at any time that is going to have a major effect on who goes down, as we saw with Wigan Athletic last term.
Promoted Teams
Even if Sheffield Wednesday are relegated, two other spots will be up for grabs so the promoted teams head the betting to go down. Wycombe Wanderers are playing at this level for the first time in their history so they would look prime candidates to go straight back down, even more so when you consider they came up through the play-offs, a postseason they probably wouldn’t have been in had the season reached a natural conclusion. They are hoping the element of surprise works in their favour.
Rotherham United have been here before but whenever they have been in the Championship they have tended to disappear at the first opportunity. It remains to be seen if Paul Warne’s men have learned anything from the past. If they have they would have a chance but if not then it is difficult to see them staying up without some help from others falling into difficulty. I’m not massively keen on 5/2 shots over nine months but if I was Rotherham would be high up on my list this season.
Coventry City were the best side in League 1 last season but as Luton Town showed at this level last year that doesn’t automatically equate to safety with plenty to spare. The big issue with Coventry when fans are back is that they are still playing at Birmingham which can’t possibly help them. I’ve been an admirer of Coventry for a while though. They play nice football and Mark Robins is an underrated manager. This will be a tough ask and their own financial issues are never to be taken for granted but if a promoted side do stay up it might well be them.
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Best of the Rest
Of those who were in the division last season, Reading and Luton Town are the shortest prices to go down to League One. I admit I’m biased with the latter but I’m expecting the Hatters to improve on last season not get worse. Nathan Jones fits the club perfectly and they were showing play-off form in the last nine games. He has strengthened in areas that were needed so the Hatters should be fine.
Reading are an interesting case having changed their manager yet again. That is a ploy that is going to kill them eventually but they look to have enough to survive although it would be a surprise if they are not looking behind them for much of the season rather than in front of them which they were beginning to do when Mark Bowen was at the helm. It might not be straightforward but I think Reading will stay up.
Betting
Regular readers will know that I like looking for value in these season long markets and thinking outside the box a little so I’ll take the chance that Sheffield Wednesday escape and open up a relegation spot for QPR. QPR were strugglers when the season restarted, winning just two of their last nine matches and in the end they only finished 10 points above the drop but they look like they have the potential to struggle this season.
One of those wins were over Middlesbrough who were a mess at the time so they won’t be taking a lot of form into the season and a defeat to Plymouth in the Carabao Cup last week can’t have helped morale very much. QPR conceded 76 goals last season which was worsened by only Luton Town (who tightened up significantly under Nathan Jones) and Hull City who aren’t in the division anymore. Rangers did as well as they did based on the goals they scored but they have lost Ebere Eze while successful strikers like Jordan Hugill and Nakhi Wells aren’t around. I wouldn’t say QPR are in freefall or anything like that but it wouldn’t take a huge amount for them to really struggle.
Tips
Back QPR to be relegated for a 2/10 stake at 6.00 with William Hill
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