Championship Season Preview: Promotion challenge beckons from Boro and Blades

Picking the winner of the ultra-competitive Championship is normally a thankless task. But could the tide be turning?

In 2020/21, the top three in the ante-post betting all achieved promotion - the first time such a scenario has played out in the EFL - whilst the pre-season jollies have dotted up in each of the past three campaigns with Leeds (6.00) taking top spot in 2020, Norwich (7.50) earning gold in 2021 before Fulham (6.50) in May.

The Cottagers' recent success means 12 (50%) of the past 24 favourites or joint-favourites this century has foraged a way to the promised land, suggesting the likes of recently-relegated Norwich 6.005/1, Watford 7.4013/2 and Burnley 12.0011/1 command maximum respect ahead of their returns to the second-tier.

Middlesbrough, Sheffield United and West Brom have each been chalked up as 9/1 shouts, and such is the quality at the aforementioned sextet's disposal, it's very difficult to disagree with the market's forecast with everyone else likely to be playing catch-up in 2022/23.

Outright Winner: Canaries too short

Norwich 6.005/1 understandably take the honours at top of the Outright Winner market. The Canaries resisted the urge to splurge following their latest title triumph and return to the Championship with a talented and settled squad that's proven itself capable of collecting the coveted champions' crown.

However, the Norfolk outfit will be without the exceptional Emi Buendia on their latest second-tier quest - the Argentine ace enjoyed a remarkable 30 goal involvements during City's 2020/21 stroll to top spot. Following a disappointing debut campaign, Milot Rashica must step-up in a similar creative role.

There appears to be a presumption that Norwich will simply plug-in and go again. Yet the Championship is an unforgiving battleground and Dean Smith's charges are simply too short to support in a competitive field.

Watford 7.4013/2 went through three managers in a forgettable latest foray into the big time but have opted for a change of approach this term with Rob Edwards arriving in the hot-seat. If the League Two title winner is given the necessary time and support, the Hornets have serious potential to challenge.

The Hertfordshire giants boast a frightening array of seasoned second-tier options with enormous ability. Watford have reinforced their squad with a couple of eye-catching attacking acquisitions and there's no evidence to suggest chairman Gino Pozzo is walking away from his commitments anytime soon.

Meanwhile, Burnley 12.0011/1 are back at this level for the first time in seven seasons and the Clarets are undertaking enough changes to be considered a watching brief at this stage. Key defensive personnel departed in the summer and new boss Vincent Kompany has a remit to overhaul the playing style.

Last term West Brom 9/110.00 finished outside the top-six for the first time in their past nine Championship campaigns. Experienced boss Steve Bruce steadied the ship after arriving in winter and has recruited wisely with the eye-catching arrivals of Jed Wallace and John Swift providing much-needed invention.

The Baggies faithful demand a significant improvement and Albion are bound to be in the conversation for promotion.

Top-Six Finish: A 7/2 double for promotion places

At the time of writing, Middlesbrough (11/10) are still looking to strengthen their roster ahead of the big kick-off, with the Teessiders particularly short of attacking outlets. Nevertheless, the Reds remain confident in picking up at least a couple of elite forwards to fire the side towards the top end of the table.

Distinguished manager Chris Wilder oversaw an almost instant uplift after taking charge of Boro last November. During his tenure, the Teessiders ranked fifth in terms of Expected Points (xP), boasting a formidable +0.50 Expected Goal Difference (xGD) per-game, suggesting a Top-Six position could be in the offing.

The arrivals of Darragh Lenihan, Ryan Giles and Zack Steffen strengthens the spine of Middlesbrough's squad, and the Reds should be more than capable of honouring 11/10 quotes on a play-off place, even before the expected arrivals of a few heavyweight offensive options.

Elsewhere, Sheffield United (11/10) command plenty of respect following an excellent mid-season transformation. Going nowhere before Slavisa Jokanovic's sacking, the Blades averaged 1.93 points per-game and were rated third for xP thereafter with current coach Paul Heckingbottom pulling the strings.

The loss of Morgan Gibbs-White is an undoubted blow but Sander Berge remains in situ and the continuity and consistency from avoiding a major overhaul should stand United in good stead ahead of another tilt towards the Top-Six at 11/10.

We can back both Middlesbrough and Sheffield United to table top-six finishes at 4.47/2.

Top-12 Finish: A 2/1+ double for a top half finish

In 17 of the last 22 Championship campaigns, a side priced up at 20/1 or larger has gate-crashed the top-three. Huddersfield were the surprise bolters last time out, whilst unheralded Luton continued their remarkable ascent with a place in the play-offs. The Hatters should again be targeting the top-six.

Kenilworth Road can be a real fortress for Luton and Nathan Jones has strengthened a capable squad with a number of shrewd additions, particularly Carlton Morris and Cauley Woodrow. Kal Naismith is the only major departee and the Hatters deserve plenty of respect towards the top end of the markets.

Millwall also start the season with intent. Influential Jed Wallace has departed The Den but big-money signing Zian Flemming arrives with a flourishing reputation from Dutch football, and safe-hands boss Gary Rowett has the tools to ensure the Lions continue to move in the right direction.

George Honeyman and Jamie Shackleton suit the Millwall system to a tee, and the framework is already in place to ensure the capital club are competitive. The Bermondsey boys have been criticised for their pragmatic nature in the past, yet the Lions have tabled three successive top-half finishes and a fourth beckons.

Luton and Millwall both to finish in the top-12 pays an attractive 3.211/5.

Relegation: Terriers to go out with a whimper

Financial uncertainty and points penalties have wreaked havoc with the Relegation market in recent seasons. Reading start the season under a soft transfer embargo - restricting the Royals to loans and freebies - and with key players leaving this summer, there's plenty of concern around Berkshire.

Takeover talk plagued Birmingham's off-season. The Blues have finished between 17th and 20th in each of their last six renewals and confidence in the St Andrew's club is hard to find. However, the appointment of highly-rated John Eustace could provide a much-needed spark and their relegation price is stale.

Rotherham are the understandable market leaders. The Millers have yo-yoed in recent times - too strong League One but not quite good enough to consolidate at Championship level. Paul Warne's outfit have lost important personnel following promotion and may find the step up too tough to handle.

But at a more appetising price, Huddersfield (5/1) have to be considered. The Terriers hugely overachieved last time out and six of Town's starting XI in the play-off final are no longer about, whilst the brains behind the operation - head coach Carlos Corberan - has also departed the John Smith's Stadium.

Rookie boss Danny Schofield picks up the pieces, and with Huddersfield operating under tight financial constraints, it's difficult to envisage a repeat of 2021/22. Instead, an anticipated downturn could easily descend into something more serious, and Town are the most eye-catching option at the odds on offer.

Top Goalscorer: Pukki has to be a pick

Fulham hitman Aleksandar Mitrovic was the runaway Top Goalscorer last season with an astonishing 43-goal haul. A more competitive betting heat is on the cards this time around, although Teemu Pukki appears a worthy favourite at 15/2, and offers plenty of each-way interest with four places on offer.

Norwich are short-priced jollies to bounce immediately back to the Premier League and the Finnish poacher has proven himself as the Canaries most fearsome forward option. Pukki topped the Championship charts in his debut season - bagging 29 goals - before finishing third with 26 goals in 2019/20.

Despite featuring in City's diabolical Premier League demotions, the 32-year-old still bagged 11 goals in each of his two top-flight terms, and his position as Norwich's first-choice penalty taker only adds to his attractive offering.

Elsewhere, Karlan Grant (17/1) could give punters a good run for their each-way money. The 24-year-old is moving into his prime and was awarded the Players' Player of the Year award at West Brom last term following an 18-goal campaign, the bulk of goals arriving following Steve Bruce's appointment in February.

Bruce now looks likely to partner Grant with powerful American striker Daryl Dike and the duo will be serviced by the creative talents of Jed Wallace and John Swift. It's an attractive set-up and adds further clout to a candidate that notched 19 goals in his other most previous Championship experience with Huddersfield.