Championship promotion battle is hotting up nicely

Cardiff, Aston Villa, Fulham and Derby in the mix

While it’s a near-guarantee that Wolverhampton Wanderers will win the Championship this season, the race for second is reaching a thrilling climax.

Just six points separate Cardiff City in second with Fulham in fifth.

But with 14 games still to go and 42 points up for grabs, anyone in the top half could put a run together and make a move.

Cardiff

Neil Warnock’s Cardiff have spent 18 gameweeks in the top two. The Bluebirds have been largely solid this season, barring a four-game losing streak over Christmas.

But their chances will largely rest on a crucial eight-day period in April.

They’ll travel to Sheffield United on the second, host Wolves on the seventh before a potentially huge game away at Aston Villa on the 10^th.

Coral make Cardiff 11/10 third-favourites to go up.

Aston Villa

Third in the table, two points behind Cardiff but ahead of them in the betting, are Aston Villa.

A slow start to the season had many bemoaning boss Steve Bruce. They’ve spent just one gameweek in the automatic promotion spots.

But 16 wins from their last 25 games has thrust the Villans into the mix. They’re evens in the betting to go up.

Derby County