The Top Flight
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EFL Championship Update: Race for promotion heats up

By Orri Benatar

WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Matt Doherty (c) of Wolverhampton Wanders is congratulated on scoring the opening goal by Ruben Neves and Ivan Cavaleiro during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Reading at Molineux on March 13, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
WOLVERHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MARCH 13: Matt Doherty (c) of Wolverhampton Wanders is congratulated on scoring the opening goal by Ruben Neves and Ivan Cavaleiro during the Sky Bet Championship match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Reading at Molineux on March 13, 2018 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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With the Premier League getting a weekend off, now is the best time to take a look at what’s happening in the best second division league.

Just cause there is no Premier League doesn’t mean there is no football to watch. This weekend, international friendlies will get the most attention. How about the EFL Championship? The race for promotion is beginning to heat up as some old EPL faces could make a triumphant return for the 2018-19 season. Here is everything you should know about the Championship right now.

The contenders for promotion 

With around 8 matches to play, Wolverhampton Wanderers have a firm grasp at the top of the table. Wolves have won 25 of their 38 matches and sit six points ahead of second place Cardiff City. Cardiff has a game in hand, but Wolves form has been good enough all season to likely earn the club a spot in the Premier League for the first time since 2011-12.

The race for the playoff is even closer with the clubs in 3rd through 9th place all on at least 60 points. The heads of the playoff pack are Fulham (3rd, 69 points) and Aston Villa (4th, 69 points). Both of these clubs were regulars in the top flight. The playoff at Wembley will be an epic showdown once again.

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How are last season’s relegated teams doing?

Last season, the Premier League’s relegated sides were Middlesbrough, Hull City, and Sunderland. The Boro have had a positive season thus far in the Championship and are currently on a six-match unbeaten run. Boro’s Congolese striker Britt Assombalonga (freaking awesome name) leads the squad with 12 goals. Boro’s chances of promotion are still alive.

As for Hull and Sunderland, things aren’t looking so good. Hull City are in 18th sitting six points above the drop zone to League One. Hull will need points against a group of tough opponents. Villa, Wolves, and Cardiff are remaining on the schedule for Hull’s final eight games.

Sunderland’s freefall in England is continuing. After a last-place finish last season in the Premier League, the Black Cats are at the bottom of the Championship, sitting five points behind 21st place Barnsley.

Sunderland hasn’t been in the third division since 1988 and hasn’t finished in the top six of the Championship since 1995. A once consistent Premier League side hasn’t won since January 20th and could be headed down to League One.

Top Players

The golden boot race is tight between Derby’s Matej Vydra and Bristol City’s Bobby Reid. Both currently sit on 17 goals. Reid tied Vydra on goals with a hat-trick on March 3rd against Sheffield Wednesday. Both these strikers are making ground to more expensive contracts.

The leading provider is former Premier League player Robert Snodgrass, who has 13 assists from Aston Villa. With so many solid players in the Championship, here is a quick list of a few who could be getting an EPL contract by August.

Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham) – Massimo Luongo (QPR)

Adama Traore (Boro) – Sol Bamba (Cardiff City)

James Maddison (Norwich City) – Neil Etheridge (Cardiff City)

https://twitter.com/SkyBetChamp/status/975696133275217921

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Matches to look out for this weekend

There are plenty of matches on tap for tomorrow and Saturday to look for in the Championship. It kicks-off with red-hot Millwall, who have won six of their last seven matches, hosting FA Cup cinderella Nottingham Forest at The Den.

The race for promotion will continue tomorrow with Middlesbrough hosting first-place Wolves. Saturday’s match between Hull City and Aston Villa will also have promotion implications. Last-place Sunderland is at Derby County, where Vydra could extend his golden boot run.

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