Race for the Premier League assessed: Who is in contention?
There is an enthralling race in progress for promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.
Fulham currently lead the way, with Bournemouth behind them in second, and Huddersfield, Luton, Middlesbrough and Blackburn occupying the remaining top-six places. Up to six teams below them will still believe they can make the cut, too.
Here, we assess the runners and riders, their form and their key remaining fixtures as they bid to break free of the Championship’s clutches and reach the Premier League…
The automatic promotion front-runners
Fulham
Position: 1st
Games played: 38
Points: 80
Sky Bet promotion odds: Currently suspended
Key fixtures: Middlesbrough (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (April 23, 3pm), Nottingham Forest (H) (April 26, 7.45pm), Luton (H) (April 30, 3pm), Sheffield United (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)
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Bournemouth
Position: 2nd
Games played: 37
Points: 72
Sky Bet promotion odds: 1/16
Key fixtures: West Brom (A) (April 5, 8pm), Sheffield United (A) (April 9, 12.45pm), Middlesbrough (H) (April 15, 3pm), Fulham (H) (April 23, 3pm), Blackburn (A) (April 30, 3pm), Nottingham Forest (A) (May 3, 7pm), Millwall (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)
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The congested play-off battle
Huddersfield
Position: 3rd
Games played: 40
Points: 66
Sky Bet promotion odds: 13/2
Key fixtures: Luton (H) (April 11, 7.45pm), QPR (H) (April 15, 5.30pm), Middlesbrough (A) (April 18, 12.30pm)
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Luton
Position: 4th
Games played: 39
Points: 64
Sky Bet promotion odds: 8/1
Key fixtures: Huddersfield (A) (April 9, 7.45pm), Nottingham Forest (H) (April 15, 12.30pm), Fulham (A) (April 30, 3pm)
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Middlesbrough
Position: 5th
Games played: 38
Points: 62
Sky Bet promotion odds: 9/4
Key fixtures: Fulham (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (April 15, 3pm), Huddersfield (H) (April 18, 12.30pm)
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Blackburn
Position: 6th
Games played: 40
Points: 62
Sky Bet promotion odds: 11/1
Key fixtures: Bournemouth (H) (April 30, 3pm)
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Nottingham Forest
Position: 7th
Games played: 37
Points: 61
Sky Bet promotion odds: 3/1
Key fixtures: Luton (A) (April 15, 12.30pm), West Brom (H) (April 18, 8pm), Fulham (A) (April 26, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (A) (May 3, 7pm)
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Sheffield United
Position: 8th
Games played: 39
Points: 61
Sky Bet promotion odds: 10/3
Key fixtures: QPR (H) (April 5, 7.45pm), Bournemouth (H) (April 9, 12.45pm), QPR (A) (April 30, 3pm), Fulham (H) (May 7, 12.30pm)
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QPR
Position: 9th
Games played: 39
Points: 59
Sky Bet promotion odds: 50/1
Key fixtures: Sheffield United (A) (April 5, 7.45pm), Huddersfield (A) (April 15, 5.30pm), Sheffield United (H) (April 30, 3pm)
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Millwall
Position: 10th
Games played: 39
Points: 58
Sky Bet promotion odds: 28/1
Key fixtures: Bournemouth (A) (May 7, 12.30pm)
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The chasing pack
As we have come to expect, the list of contenders does not simply end there and, with less than 10 games to play, two more teams are a little further adrift but, by no means, out of the picture.
Coventry sit 11th on 56 points after 39 games (100/1 to be promoted), while West Brom (20/1) are a two points and a place behind having played 38 games.
Sky Bet Championship football is back after the conclusion of the final international break of the season. A gripping run-in is upon us.