Norwich remain the most likely runners-up
The battle for the second automatic promotion spot in the Championship - QPR still appear nailed on to be crowned champions despite their shock 4-1 loss at Scunthorpe - was blown wide open at the weekend after Swansea thumped current occupants Norwich 3-0 at the Liberty Stadium.
The result leaves the Swans and their south Wales rivals Cardiff just a point behind Paul Lambert's side with six games to go, while Reading can't be dismissed either having swept to within four points of the Canaries courtesy of a superb six-match winning streak, while Leeds are just two further back.
Despite the narrowing of the gap, it's the East Anglian club that remain the most fancied of the quartet to gain a place in the Premier League just 12 months after finding themselves in the third tier at [2.16] to either finish second or negotiate their way through the play-offs.
It's a position that is justified after Norwich showcased their ability to hold their nerve in the run-in to take the League One title last season, keeping their cool more admirably than Leeds, while Cardiff, Swansea and Reading all eventually ran out of steam in the Championship last term.
A glance at each contender's final six fixtures also offers reason to believe that the Canaries are capable of collecting as many points as any of the chasing pack, with at least a dozen very much obtainable by our estimation and no encounters in which they should genuinely fear defeat.
Their remaining home ties are against Nottingham Forest, Derby and Coventry teams that are all badly struggling for form, while trips to Watford, neighbours Ipswich and Portsmouth could be labelled potential banana skins, but they will be targeting at least a draw in all three outings.
Can Norwich be caught? If so, who by? Offer a prediction below...
Published: 11 Apr 2011
Leave a comment