Which Championship sides will be promoted?

(Written by Gareth Johnson, edited by Oliver Cooper)

The Sky Bet Championship is without a doubt the most competitive second division in the world. No game is ever an easy one and all 24 teams vigorously compete for promotion into England’s elite. Desperate to get there, owners throw the cash to bolster their squads and bring in big-name managers to achieve promotion dream. This has resulted in a cracking, energetic, intense second division in English football where quality, passion and luck can all lead hopeful football clubs into the topflight.

The 2020/21 season is no different to past seasons in those respects. Only three points separate 2nd place from 5th, and 6th to 8th are only a few wins from re-entering the race. In this post, I shall try and shed some light as to which teams currently in the race will make it across the line, and what each club needs to do to achieve promotion.

Norwich City

The logical starting point is with the league leaders, Norwich City. Sat in 1st place, the Canaries are looking to bounce straight back to the top-flight after a devastating relegation last season.

Norwich had a remarkable summer. Despite losing Jamal Lewis to Newcastle, they managed to keep high profile players such as Finnish marksman Timo Pukki, Argentine playmaker Emiliano Buendia and highly rated youngsters Max Aarons and Tod Cantwell.

Pukki and Buendia have been key to the Canaries this season. Pukki has 11 goals and Buendia has made six, joint 2nd in the leagues assist charts. The board also made the wise choice of sticking with German manager Daniel Farke, who guided the Canaries to the Championship title back in 2019.

Whilst it didn't quite work out for him in the Premier League last season, Farke’s style is formidable in the Championship. Possession is key to the German's style of play(average of 58% this season), but the Canaries have proven more than capable of scoring goals, netting 31 so far in this campaign.

The key to the Canaries success this season will be holding on to as many of these top players as possible. With reports of Arsenal and Valencia’s interest in Buendia, it looks like Norwich may need to start looking at alternative options.

Emiliano Buendía has had seen his name enter the mix for solving Arsenal's creativity problem.

Buendia has made it clear that he feels he owes Norwich City for giving him the chance to play in the Premier League, so he may well stay. Keeping hold of him, or adequately replacing him would see City back in the topflight.

Swansea City

Brushing off the play-off semi-final heart ache of last season, Swansea city have looked to go one better this season. The Liberty Stadium has become Swansea’s fortress, having only lost one home game this season.

Like Norwich, Swansea have managed to keep many of their star players, most impressively Ghanaian winger Andre Ayew, who has bagged eight times so far this season. Moreover, the addition of pacey forward Jamal Lowe seems to be money well spent for Swansea. Arriving from deteriorating Wigan Athletic in the summer transfer window, Lowe has also scored eight goals for Swansea, including two against Watford in a crucial top of the table six pointer.

Andre Ayew has been on scintillating form this season for Swansea City.

Steve Cooper’s side have shown that they are made of tough stuff, having only conceded 13 goals this season (the least in the league). However, one concern will be the injuries the Jack’s face. Backup centre half Brenden Cooper recently picked up a nasty injury, with highly rated Zimbabwean Tivonge Rushesha also being sidelined for a few months after a bad knee injury. Swansea will be hoping for a couple of new signings to add strength to one of the thinner squads in this race this January. If they achieve this, I can see Swansea attaining promotion.

Reading

The 2020/21 season has seen Reading end several years of mid-table mediocracy. This time last season, The Royals only had 15 points, now they have over double that on 40. Goals have been the main trade in Readings game this term, being the 3rd top scorers in the league.

Portuguese striker Lucas Joao has been a different player this season, already scoring 13 goals after a disappointing seven last campaign. Reading have creative quality in the likes of Ovie Ejaria, who has four assists and an 88% passing accuracy this campaign. Not to mention Michael Olise, the leagues top assister so far, creating eight goals.

To gain promotion, Reading will have to sure up the defence, conceding 28 goals this season (the most in the top eight). Signing a new centre-half would do them plenty of good and they will still have the services of highly rated full back Omar Richards, who will depart to German giants Bayern Munich at the season’s expiry.

Bournemouth

Stepping into the shoes of Eddie Howe was never going to be an easy job for Jason Tindall, but he has done a great job at sustaining Bournemouth’s interests of an instant top-flight return.

Bournemouth are the leagues top scorers on 38, even Dominic Solanke has hit form, proving that he can indeed find the net, with 10 this season. Bournemouth also boast an impressive defensive record, conceding 19 this season (second only Swansea in goals against in the top four).

Former Liverpool and Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke endured a tough couple of seasons in the Premier League, but has adjusted well to life in the Championship.

Bournemouth will need to keep key man David Brooks, who has seen interest from Aston Villa, to sustain a promotion fight. Despite that, Bournemouth have bags of talent in the ranks. To get promoted they need to galvanise the talent of Joshua King, Jefferson Lerma and Junior Stanislas to ensure they can be back playing in the big time.

Bournemouth are one of a handful of Championship clubs linked to bright Charlton Athletic winger Alfie Doughty. Winning the race for Doughty would add flare to an already deep squad, making Bournemouth a prime candidate for promotion.

Bournemouth are one of a host of clubs interested in Alfie Doughty.

Brentford

The last candidate for automatic promotion is Brentford. The Bee’s have sustained their place in the top six and appear to have completely forgotten last season's Wembley heartache. So close to a place in the topflight, Thomas Frank’s men were pipped by Fulham in extra-time to remain in the Second Division.

Moving into a new stadium, Brentford have made a fresh start and the loss of two key players (Ollie Watkins and Said Benrahma) in the summer has surprisingly not phased them at all. Second only to Bournemouth in the goals tally, Brentford also boast the league's top joint top goal scorer in Ivan Toney (16 goals).

They have replaced key men and are currently on a 15-match unbeaten run. Momentum is so key in this league and that momentum could prove pivotal for promotion-pushing Brentford.

The loss of highly-rated striker Ollie Watkins saw many doubt Brentford as promotion candidates this season.

Furthermore, should the Bees win the race for exciting Peterborough winger Sirika Dembele, they will have a formidable attacking force. A couple more additions will do Brentford plenty of good.

In a league where the fixtures come thick and fast, Brentford’s fast style of play will naturally bring tired legs. Having quality back up would inspire much needed competition and lose the risk of tired bodies taking their tole.

Anyone else?

The Sky Bet Championship is one of the most unpredictable, exciting leagues in the world. Anyone of these teams could go up, anyone could come down with the Christmas decorations.

Other teams not mentioned are certainly waiting to pounce; the likes of Watford and Stoke have incredible squads that certainly would fill the gaps should any of these teams slip up. However, I think all these teams will be in the race come April.

For me, the quality and goals of both Norwich and Bournemouth should see them get automatic promotion to the Premier League and I expect them to return to England's top-flight.