David Harding
Gippy
Kristy lee
Cain RiveraCoca Cola Championship Title Race
February 5th 2010 14:38
It's really hotting up down in the Coca Cola Championship for the automatic promotion spot, and the playoff spots as well, Newcastle has managed to keep themselves on top after a disappointing nil-nil result against Leicester City last week. The Magpies blew a chance of going 6 points clear from a rather disappointing effort, I thought the Leicester boys early had the game by the throat really to get in there and win the game. With Nottingham Forest losing to Derby County the boys from Newcastle could have seen a great chance to keep one hand on the trophy and the league, but they and West Bromwich-Albion have a game in hand, so if they both can keep winning and have no more loses, or draws it could make the title race very interesting.
Nottingham Forest are going to make a surprising challenge too, I had thought that maybe Middlesbrough would have been challenging for an automatic promotion, but if they can get a win this week against Ipswitch Town they couls get themselves above Leicester City, and Blackpool, both sides are facing each other this weekend, so if it's a draw Middlesbrough will be smiling if they do win this week.
Cardiff City and Swansea City have a chance of getting into the Premier League themselves they are both hanging onto Playoff Spots there, and Cardiff has Newcastle this weekend, this is a massive massive challenge for them. Swansea City are going to be facing 11th placed Preston in a game that could see Swansea bridge the gap on Cardiff, if they lose to Newcastle later today. There is a possibility of a very tight battle to get into a playoff spot for the 3rd promotion place into the Premier League, I would imagine West Bromwich Albion will be able to get themselves back into automatic promotion battling relegation plagued Plymouth whereas Nottingham Forest do have Sheffield Wednesday who are lying in 19th spot 5 points away from the drop zone so it will be a tough weekend for them.
One relegation spot is pretty much already decided with Peterborough sitting on the bottom of the table with 18 points, and poor goal difference, unless they can pick up some wins they are doomed this season. Crystal Palace is in a spot of bother as well, they were challenging for promotion now they are fighting to avoid relegation after their points deduction.
I would bet that Plymouth are close to gone as well, I am not sold on them being able to survive the drop this season, I had thought maybe Scunthorpe was too so maybe I am wrong again here since some teams have clawed their way back out. One tem I am surprised at is Reading, a team that eliminated Liverpool in the FA Cup,and now they are facing relegation, it'd be amusing for them to win the FA Cup, as well as being relegated, well, it's not amusing if they are relegated, but winning the FA Cup and being relegated could be the strangest thing to have ever happened.
Who do I think will end up winning the title? I think that Newcastle United, this is not a biased view, but they have been looking the better side most of the season, and have one of the strongest defences in the league, they need to get the attacking side of their game firing more often, Andy Carroll has hit a bit of a goal draught of late, and last week none of the strikers could find the back of the net last weekend, hopefully for them this week is the week to fire off a few goals, get them back into a firing mood and to have them able to win the league as I have predicted.
I see West Bromwich Albion as being the side that will challenge Newcastle, they are sitting back and they are just waiting to pounce, Nottingham Forest will be there abouts I would think but I do not see them winning automatic promotion, I have West Bromwich Albion and Newcastle.
I am not sure about the playoff game though, I have a feeling that maybe Middlesbrough will make a very late run at that and match clinch it but I am hoping that either Swansea, or Cardiff do. I would like to see a non-English side in the top flight of the EPL next season.
This is my first time trying to write about the Coca Cola Championship, and the sport of football I am a very big fan of the sport, and I am Newcastle United fan, so that would have eventually become evident in my later blogs. But the finish to the Coca Cola Championship will be a very tight, interesting battle.
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