Newcastle, Brighton, Sheffield Wednesday, Leeds? Championship promotion race assessed

By Peter Beagrie, Football League Expert & Columnist

Will leaders Newcastle hold off Brighton to win the Sky Bet Championship? Who'll make the play-offs? Sky Sports' EFL expert Peter Beagrie assesses the race for promotion to the Premier League...

Just a point separates Rafa Benitez's Magpies and Chris Hughton's Seagulls at the top of the table, with Reading, Huddersfield, Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday currently completing the top six.

Can the likes of Norwich and Derby force their way into contention? Who'll be crowned come May? Beagrie gives his verdict...

Championship Table

Position Team Games Played Goal Difference Points
1 Newcastle 29 34 62
2 Brighton 29 23 61
3 Reading 30 5 56
4 Huddersfield 29 5 55
5 Leeds 30 12 54
6 Sheffield Wednesday 29 6 49
7 Norwich 30 8 47
8 Derby 29 8 46
9 Barnsley 30 4 45
10 Fulham 29 13 43
Image: Brighton are a point behind Newcastle but have dropped points in their last two games

Who has the edge in the title race?

I think recent results show how intense the Championship is because both Newcastle and Brighton have been beaten several times this season.

But after Brighton's last two results, Newcastle have the edge in the title race. Beating Derby was a massive result, especially after dropping points at home to QPR, and Benitez's side are the favourites for me.

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Image: Newcastle have the edge in the Championship title race, says Sky Sports' EFL expert Peter Beagrie

Can anyone challenge the top two?

At the start of the season I went for Newcastle and Brighton to get the automatic promotion spots and I don't see a reason to change that.

Reading have been amazing. For Jaap Stam to change the dynamic, the shape of the team, the way that they are playing - out from the back, despite the natives being restless - was very brave. They needed a centre-forward and they got one in Yann Kermorgant but I just think the top two have so much quality, so much strength in depth and they've proved they can bounce back from disappointments.

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Image: Reading currently sit third and Beagrie is full of praise for Jaap Stam

Every time they have a set-back Newcastle and Brighton have proved they can win their next game and then go on a run. I think with the points deficit that's already there, the squads and the experience of the managers, they are signed and sealed - but it is the Championship, so we shouldn't be surprised by anything.

Championship top 10 - league form

Team Last six results
Newcastle WLWWDW
Brighton WLWWLD
Reading LLWWWD
Huddersfield DWLWWW
Leeds WWLWWL
Sheff Wed DDWLDW
Norwich WLWWWD
Derby DLLWWL
Barnsley WLWWLD
Fulham LWDLWL

How do you see the race for the play-offs?

I look at the chasing pack and it's absolutely brilliant, especially when you look at the points difference.

The last play-off position is really up for grabs and anyone down to 10th has a chance. I feel sorry taking Preston out of the equation because when you look at what they've got, Simon Grayson is doing an absolutely amazing job.

Image: Fulham are currently 10th in the Championship, six points off the play-offs

It was a disappointing result for Leeds at Huddersfield and they've got another Yorkshire derby coming up at the end of the month. I made the point at a live game a few weeks back that, looking down the list of fixtures coming up for the Leeds, the two derbies against Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday would be pivotal. The Yorkshire teams are doing so well and derbies can be counterproductive.

The emotion really came to the fore with Garry Monk and David Wagner at the end of Huddersfield's win over Leeds and I can understand it from both sides. Wagner's got to try and keep a lid on it but it's hard to do against your arch-rivals, especially at that late stage in the game.

Both Garry Monk and David Wagner were sent off after a touchline clash after the German ran the length of the pitch to celebrate

I can also understand Monk standing out there and standing up for his team. He felt a sense of injustice and made his feelings known and if I'm a fan of either one of those sides I'm looking at the reaction of both managers, whether they are right or wrong, and thinking it shows a passion for the football club. It gives both teams and their sets of supporters something to cling onto as we reach the business end of the season.

Huddersfield's late win keeps the momentum going for them but after wins against Reading and Ipswich, Derby lost the opportunity to keep the pressure up. A determined Newcastle found a way to win; at this stage of the season the 3-0 and 4-0 results are nice if you can get them but the scrappy 1-0 wins are the ones that leave the dressing room buzzing.

Image: Derby striker Darren Bent has scored two goals in his last three league matches

Sheffield Wednesday were struggling for goals but with Jordan Rhodes signing for big money and the win against Wigan straight afterwards there's a feelgood factor now.

I look at the players they've been without and they've overcome that. Kieran Lee - one of the best players in the Championship, for me - has been injured, as has Gary Hooper, while Steven Fletcher and Sam Hutchinson - who have both been pivotal players - have been banned.

Image: Jordan Rhodes joined Sheffield Wednesday in a deal worth around £10m

But players are coming back at the right time and in Rhodes, they've got a forward who will take chances consistently if they are created for him. The likes of Ross Wallace, Adam Reach and Will Buckley can get the best out of him and at the other end they are defensively very sound so they have an excellent chance.

Which side is best equipped to make a late charge?

If we are looking at squads, I'd probably take Fulham out of the equation. They are the equivalent of Tottenham in the Championship. On their day they can football teams to death but although they've improved it's the goals against that will cost them during the course of the season.

I feel terrible counting Barnsley out just because they've done incredibly well. Like Preston, you look at the job Paul Heckingbottom's doing and it's just brilliant. It was a really difficult transfer window for them losing all those players but on the back of that they're still winning games.

It speaks volumes for the dressing room and the job that the manager is doing and the way he's handled those departures. I just think there are teams better equipped for the challenge and, let's be fair, they've spent millions.

Yanic Wildschut could be the ace in the pack for Norwich because they needed more pace just in case Cameron Jerome got injured. He keeps scoring goals and with Wes Hoolahan back and creating, they have a great chance.

Image: Yanic Wildschut moved from Wigan Athletic to Norwich in the January transfer window

I can make a case for a lot of these teams so it will certainly come down to who handles the pressure best. It's about their mentality more than talent; we all know they've got ability. What's certain it's that it's going to be an amazing battle until the end of the season.

Who do you think will finish in the top six and which sides are you tipping for promotion? Leave a comment if you're reading on skysports.com or tweet us @SkySportsEFL

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