The Championship Title Race is Heating Up

Posted on by footybet
Sunderland's Stadium of Light
Sunderland's Stadium of Light (Credit dkodigital via Flickr)

The Premier League gets the lion’s share of the glory and media attention but there is a very strong case to be made that the Championship is actually the most exciting league in England. In part that is because it offers teams the chance to gain promotion to the promised land that is the Premier League. However, it is also because it is so unpredictable.

Whilst Manchester City have dominated the top flight over the last decade, the nature of the leagues below – which have both promotion and relegation – means that we can never be sure who will end up winning the title. The sides that were relegated from the EPL the season before are often among the main contenders and have a string record. But even so, surprises are far from uncommon.

There are some real yo-yo sides who seem just a little too good for the Championship, but not quite capable of holding down a Premier League spot. In addition, and certainly relatedly, parachute payments favour clubs that have recently been in the top tier. However, despite that, each season in the Championship inevitably begins with at least 12 clubs and their fans fancying their promotion chances, and at least half of those thinking they might just win the title.

The 2024/25 Season So Far

As of the 2024/25 season, there are so many teams in the second tier that consider themselves to be “big clubs”, or have played in the top flight in the past few seasons, or often both. This has meant huge average attendances this term, with Sunderland leading the way with over 41,000 fans per game and Leeds United next at more than 36,000. Amazingly, there are 14 other clubs boasting an average attendance in excess of 19,500, which is truly remarkable when one considers that EPL sides Brentford and Bournemouth are both well below that figure.

The Championship has seen any number of incredible promotion races over the years but this one may be shaping up to be the best yet. With two automatic places up for grabs, and the sides placing third to sixth qualifying for the play-offs, it is sure to go to the wire. However, the biggest prize of all, the Championship title itself, also seems likely to go all the way.

At the time of writing, there are three teams tied on 32 points after 16 games, with another on 30 and three more on at least 26. With seven great clubs, all former Premier League outfits, separated by just six points, we may be in for the best title race ever.

Leeds Move Top with Dramatic Win

Leeds United visited Swansea on the 24th of November and with stoppage time approaching the West Yorkshire side were winning 3-2 and heading to the top of the table. In the 90th minute, Swansea made it 3-3, meaning their guests dropped to third and out of the automatic promotion places. However, seconds later, in the 91st minute, Willy Gnonto scored the winner for the visitors and his side moved top of the pile for the first time this term.

Daniel Farke’s side made a slow start to the season, with a draw on either side of a 3-0 League Cup defeat. However, since then they have been superb and have lost just one of their last 11 games. Nine wins, five draws and just two defeats in the league leave them top of the pile on goal difference. They are big favourites to go on and win the title now, with bookies pricing them at just 4/6. Given the next-lowest odds are 6/1, it is clear which way the bookies think this will go but we certainly don’t think Leeds offer value at that low price.

Farke’s men have played six of the other seven sides in the top eight already and have some “easy” fixtures ahead. In the next 10 games the highest-ranked side they will face is Boro, currently fifth, and then Blackburn, ninth at the time of writing. But they also face clashes with teams in 22nd, 20th, 18th and 16th, and so will really fancy their chances of being in a strong position come January. Even so, 4/6 seems very short when one considers the sides lurking beneath them.

Sunderland Looking Good


It is Sunderland who occupy the second automatic promotion spot and in truth if offered second place now they, like any team in the Championship, would take it. Going up matters more than the title but, with an identical record to Leeds after more than a third of the campaign, they have to be considered as contenders.

Their goal difference is two worse than that of Leeds but there isn’t much between them. They met at the start of October at the Stadium of Light and Leeds were the better team. However, the game ended 2-2 thanks to a howler from Leeds stopper Illan Meslier in the 97th minute. The bookies make Sunderland a 9/1 shot for the title and that seems about right to us.

They sold their best player, Jack Clarke, in the summer, and lack the squad depth of Leeds and others at the top. They have overachieved thus far and finishing in the play-off places would represent a good season for them given the sale of Clarke and the fact they finished down in 16th last season.

The Other Key Title Candidates: Sheffield United, Boro and Burnley


Middlesbrough are third favourites according to the bookies, at 8/1, with Sheffield United second behind Leeds. The Blades are currently 6/1 and that seems a very decent price considering they are level on points at the top despite having been hit by a two-point penalty for irregularities and overpayments to other clubs.

The Sheffield side have won more games than any other Championship team and in Chris Wilder they have an experienced boss who guided them to the Premier League in a previous stint at the club in 2018/19. In what is set to be an incredibly Northern title battle, Boro, managed by the highly regarded Michael Carrick, will also fancy their chances. They are the leading goalscorers in the Championship and if key striker Emmanuel Latte Lath stays fit they may take some stopping.

Burnley, currently fourth, a place and three points above Boro, are priced at 12/1 for the title. They have conceded just six goals from their opening 16 games but can they score enough at the other end to win the league? Time will tell, but we certainly won’t be taking our eyes off the Championship this term, with the final day of the normal season – the 3rd of May – one for the calendar!