The Championship fixtures preview: 2019/20

With the release of the EFL 's
fixture list comes sharp intakes of breath, quickened pulses, widened eyes, and
visions of what may come.

For
three teams, this is the very genesis of an adventure that culminates in
promotion to the world's richest and most popular league. For three others, it
is the start of a downward spiral, further into the depths of the English
system.

Opening
Weekend: Which Fixtures Could be Memorable?

The first weekend of the 2019/20 season has certainly not disappointed in the currency of potential drama. The four televised clashes have undoubtedly been well-chosen, and each contain at least one team with genuine reasons to believe they can go up in 2020. Be on the up with these UK gambling sites and the best gambling offers.


v

It has been a long, hard slog for Luton since the club's exile
from the in 2009, but the club's first Championship
appearance in twelve years offers a glorious opportunity to eschew
a painful past once and for all.

Even
2018/19 had its turbulent moments, with Luton changing manager twice, and
Graeme Jones only appointed in May. However, with 25 goals to his name last
term, James Collins is set to be a man many stronger opponents will
underestimate at their peril.

Amongst
those ‘stronger' teams are undoubtedly Middlesbrough, and despite folding
horrendously after occupying a top-six spot for the majority of 2018/19, they
will be a popular outright pick for automatic promotion.

Under
Tony Pulis, the Teesside outfit were a disciplined unit, and boasted one of the
most miserly defences in the league. In turn, the average number of goals
produced either way per Middlesbrough match fell well below the league average.

If any team can quell Luton's enthusiasm it is Middlesbrough,
even though Jonathan Woodgate cuts a very inexperienced figure on the
touchline.

Prediction: 1-1 Draw

Nottingham Forest v West Bromwich Albion

Martin
O'Neill's arrival at Nottingham Forest has changed the overall philosophy at
the City Ground. Boasting unparalleled experience, the Northern Irishman's more
direct approach to management gives Forest a potential edge.

Right now, West Bromwich look well-placed to gain automatic
promotion, and this is reflected by the latest Championship markets.

The
presence of Slaven Bilić in the Baggies' dugout indicates a real agenda of
intent from the higher powers of West Bromwich Albion, and has already served
to shorten the club's promotion odds.

However,
this remains a very difficult match to call, and Forest's strong recent form
(with three wins on the spin to end 2018/19) could see them edge it.

Prediction: Forest 1-0 West Bromwich

Bristol
City v Leeds United

This
is a match which could have a massive impact on the race for a top-six finish –
at the very least.

Both
sides are expected to be challenging for the playoffs, and though Bristol City
have endured very mixed runs of form since Christmas, the stayed in
contention for a playoff berth until the bitter end.

So too did Leeds United, and like Middlesbrough, the Whites
ended 2018/19 notorious for their failure to gain promotion after a long spell in the top-two.

How
the Whites recover from a humiliating defeat to Derby in the playoffs is
unclear, but should Marco Bielsa retain his key talents, another shot is
certainly forthcoming.

Expect
another tight affair, with a roughly-equal chance of goals in either half, with
seven of the last 13 goals scored in head-to-head clashes coming after the
break.

Prediction: Bristol City 2-1 Leeds United


v Derby

The
appointment of Jan Siewert at the start of 2019 came far too late to reverse
the existing damage, and of the Premier League exiles, the look by far
the weakest.

While Huddersfield may yet utilise their residual Premier League
pedigree and incoming parachute payments, it will take a lot of bravery to
wager on them bouncing straight back.

Though outclassed in their playoff final against Aston Villa, Derby can be truly proud of a 2018/19 season
that saw Frank Lampard prove his credentials as a manager. In order to get
anywhere near the same proximity to the Premier League in 2020, the same strong
spine that got Derby into the playoffs will be needed.

Fikayo
Tomori, Harry Wilson and Mason Mount were instrumental towards Derby's
improvement under Lampard, and even keeping one of those future internationals
in place, however that may be done, would be a huge fillip for the .

Prediction: Huddersfield 0-2 Derby

Who
Could Struggle in 2019/20?

At the wrong end of the table, it is easy to foresee newcomers
Luton being amongst the strugglers. That noted, Kenilworth Road will not be a
pleasant ground for any club to visit next term, and home form may just about
save the Hatters.

Fellow
promoted sides and Barnsley will also be around the dogfight, although
both clubs have masterminded relatively recent survival campaigns after a
promotion from League One.

Nobody
should rule out Millwall as potential strugglers either, with the Lions having
only secured their second-tier status on the penultimate weekend of 2018/19.

However, Huddersfield and Fulham are both worthy
long-shots in the relegation outright market, as re-adapting to life after the
Premier League can also come as a shock.

The infamous 46-game Championship season sees the fixtures start
to pile up, and it is often down to squad chemistry over innate skill whether
or not a team successfully acclimatises.

In that respect, Huddersfield continue to lack the team
chemistry of many second-tier peers. Recently, the Terriers have made a habit
of folding easily, doing so in a similar way to the side that
dropped in successive seasons, between 2016 and 2018.

Meanwhile, Fulham disgraced themselves to a
far lesser degree in 2018/19. However, the club still has to restructure on the
back of a huge wage bill, after a spending spree last summer.

The relegation trap-door is one all teams try
desperately to avoid, but the gruelling 46-game campaign sometimes becomes too
much for even the strongest of sides.

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