Many top flight football clubs are faced with the prospect of being earmarked for relegation during the festive period. With the Premiership tables being crammed full of football clubs with wealthy backers, it seems somewhat a dreadful situation for them to know to have spent millions on players and managers only to see results fall flat. Ultimately relegation looms. We can just look at Newcastle United for such a classic example last season. Newcastle was a sad story of mismanagement which actually started off as being quite promising. A rich multi-millionaire in Mike Ashley with a long standing clothing business bought the club in 2006 but where things turned sour was the continuation of the infamous revolving door policy for managers which led to all kinds of instability in the dressing room. Players lost interest and the club’s results slid until they were demoted in 2009 to the Championship via a lack lustre performance against Aston Villa – a match they had needed to win.

A club like Newcastle United, who enjoyed 16 years of the premiership football and they have begun their Championship campaign with gusto, much to the surprise of sports pundits. Some football bookmakers on the online betting circuit had faith in seeing the Toon promoted with odds of 15/8 back in August 09. Not bad considering that Newcastle United had just dumped its talisman, Alan Shearer, in favour of the untested Chris Hughton as manager at the time. However, the last thing a club would want to know is the betting odds; the first priority for any ex-Premiership club was to get rid of the excesses and there usually are plenty of them in player wages.

Players who expressed no desire to play on were quickly shown the door. In the case of Newcastle, those players were Damien Duff (undisclosed), Obafemi Martins (£9m) and Shay Given (£6m). Obviously, the sale of high profile players would help cushion some of the blow of reduced income from TV and sponsorship deals. That coupled with a parachute payment which totalled around £12m for dropping a league down.

Compare this to being in the Premiership, where a club get £38m just for being in that league and that’s discounting other lucrative deals on top. Ticket prices are normally affected as well with 8-10% price reductions to try and entice disgruntled fans back into stadiums as well as keeping those all important season ticket holders. Right now, Newcastle can comfortably fill around 42-49,000 spectators for a home match which is nothing to be sniffed at. Newcastle United has always been credited for having a large hardcore fan-base and this season so far has proved nothing less.

Both West Brom and Newcastle have adapted well to life in the Championship whilst Middlesbrough have been the surprise strugglers despite the help of the newly recruited, Gordon Strachan. Newcastle had to do much more to bolster its chances for promotion at the start. Much to their credit, there work has so far paid dividends, with a club managing to keep a lot of its past season’s players who have so far proved that a class above the rest in this league.

A higher wage bill will probably be the price to pay for returning to the Premiership.  Some may argue that playing in the Championship has done Newcastle more good then if they experienced another hapless season in the Premiership. Just look at them now as they have got rid of some deadwood and now play with certain ambition in them that has led to back-to-back wins – a feat they could not achieve in the past few years in the top flight league.

The Premiership 2009-2010 season is just as tight at this stage with three out a possible 11 teams trying to avoid the drop. Like Newcastle United before them, Portsmouth have been handed the uphill task of trying to regain some kind of form against a dire backdrop of boardroom controversies.

Will they be relegated to the Championship? A betting man will no doubt put money on it.

kevin nolan sends magpies top

Preston will have every right to feel hard done by following last night’s Championship game at home to Newcastle, the hosts produced the better football throughout the game but succumbed to a Kevin Nolan goal in the 74th minute that saw all three points go to the Magpies.

Newcastle are now two points clear at the top of the table, ahead of West Bromwich Albion and six clear of third placed Leicester City, and manager Chris Hughton will no doubt claim, Alan Hansen style, that playing badly and winning is the sign of a true championship contending team.

Preston had made the better chances during a fairly drab affair at Deepdale with Neil Mellor forcing good saves from Steve Harper on two occasions and firing wide on another attempt when he was clear on goal. Michael Tonge making his first appearance since joining Preston on a loan deal, also made an impact and should have been rewarded following a long range effort that shaved the crossbar.

But it was Kevin Nolan’s eighth goal of the season that secured the points for Newcastle, pleasing Hughton but leaving Preston manager Alan Irvine ruing his teams misfortune, he said after the game;

“I don’t think we should have lost the game, certainly. I thought that we matched Newcastle for many parts of the game. I felt as if we had some good chances to score ourselves. But we didn’t take our chances and Kevin Nolan finished his chance, which was maybe not even that much of a chance, very well.”

Preston are currently in 12th place in the Championship with 24 points, one point behind Middlesbrough and only three points off the play off positions with a long way to go in the season.

Newcastle were easy winners against a Peterborough side who are struggling for form and find themselves unceremoniously dumped at the bottom of the table, thanks to Roy Keane’s Ipswich picking up a point from the 1-1 draw with Reading.

West Brom who faced a recent dip in fortune found their way back to winning ways at Leicester, who despite the 2-1 loss remain in the dogfight for promotion play off places in sixth. Albion are clinging to Newcastle’s shirt tails in second place, two points behind the Magpies.

The game of the weekend in the Championship, for me anyway, was the clash between Welsh clubs Swansea and Cardiff. Cardiff have been scoring goals for fun as Ron Atkinson might say and were favourites going into the tie. Swansea have been doing pretty well themselves following the adjustments at the club following the departure of Roberto Martinez.

New manager Paulo Sousa has instilled a winning mentality into the Swans and before Saturday’s derby they were unbeaten in nine games, having conceded only ten goals and five points adrift of Cardiff but heading in the right direction.

Cardiff manager Dave Jones on the other hand has a team that had scored 31 goals, the division’s top scorers, and had just picked up the Manager of the Month award for guiding the team to third in the Championship.

On the day it was Swansea who came out on top in an enthralling encounter which they won 3-2, with two goal Darren Prately the player of the match.  It is hard to argue with the result, Swansea just having that extra edge throughout an excellent and exciting game, for a neutral.

Elsewhere, Middlesbrough continue their free fall from the top of the league, even Gordon Strachan needs time it seems, Crystal Palace taking three points from them with a 1-0 win.

As ever in the Championship, at least half of the table are within early sight of the automatic and promotion play off places, leaving the other half desperately trying to accumulate enough points not to be dragged into a relegation place.

Barnsley

It is the second defeat on the trot in the Championship and third in a week including the Carling Cup loss at Arsenal for the Baggies and has put a temporary dent in their attempt at marching straight back to the Premiership.

Barnsley, who are at the other end of the Championship table, were much the better team and deserved the win with a performance that belies their position in the league.

Michael Chopra scored four in Cardiff’s mauling of Derby County as the Welsh team found their early season form and thrashed Nigel Clough’s side 6-1.

Promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough and Preston were both beaten, the latter by lowly strugglers Reading who won away 1-2 and lifted themselves up the table but will need to build on this result to avoid a relegation battle later in the season.

Gareth Southgate was booed by the home crowd following the 0-1 defeat by Leicester who are now just one point behind Middlesbrough after an indifferent start to the campaign.

Roy Keane’s Ipswich were robbed yet again as Sheffield United scored an equalising goal in injury time to make the score 3-3. Ipswich had led 3-1 and will be disappointed at letting the game slip away, although one point is better than none.

Ipswich Town’s Simon Clegg was quick to dispel any rumours that Keane’s time at the club was coming to an end by issuing a statement to say there is no pressure on the Irishman.

Coventry staged a late comeback to take all the points from their visit to Watford, trailing 2-1 the Sky Blues scored twice in the last ten minutes or so to seal the win 2-3.

Bristol City beat Blackpool 2-0 who are now both on 16 points just outside the play off places which is becoming very congested with five teams on the same points.

Crystal Palace were held to a 0-0 against visitors Sheffield Wednesday, the same result as at Doncaster who entertained Swansea. The bottom of the table clash between Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough and Plymouth was won by the south west team 1-2, their first win of the season.

Newcastle have the chance to stretch their lead to five points at the top of the league when they take on QPR tonight, while Nottingham Forest will host Scunthorpe in the other game.

Football betting tends to peak at this time of year too, as football fans attempt to forecast what is going to happen over the next 9 months.

As far as this season’s Championship goes, I really can’t see there being clear favourites for promotion to the Premier League.

Bookmakers have made Newcastle United favourites to bounce straight back to the Premiership but even with a convincing display against Reading at the weekend, I still don’t fancy them for automatic promotion all the time there is board room and ownership turmoil at St James Park.

I believe Sheffield United and Cardiff City will kick on from last season.  But what effect will Roy Keane have on Ipswich Town’s chances to return to the top league in English football nad likewise, Nigel Clough at Derby County?

Of the three teams relegated from the Premier League last season, I can only really see West Bromich Albion as possible champions, even with new manager Roberto Di Matteo.  Until Mike Ashley sells Newcastle I think they will be destined to lose their best players and remain a Championship side.  While at Middlesbrough, I’d like to see Gareth Southgate do well but I really don’t think they will be equipped for life in the Championship this season, and will have to accommodate a different style of play.

As previously mentioned on this blog, I think Leicester City had such a good season winning promotion from League One that they could quite easily win two promotions on the bounce.

The internet is full of good quality websites offering football news services to keep fans buzzing throughout the season.  But as football fans, we all know only too well that there can only be one winner at the end of the season.

Wycombe manager Peter Taylor says he is hopeful of  making another addition to the squad before Saturday’s friendly at AFC Wimbledon.

West Bromwich Albion have signed Simon Cox from Swindon Town, the 22 year old striker has signed a two year contract with Albion, with a transfer fee of £1.5million-rising to £1.9million with performance related add ons.

Cox was the top scorer in League One last season with 29 league goals, prompting West Brom to make a move for the player. Although the deal was arranged before Roberto Di Matteo joined as manager the Italian says;  “Simon is an exciting, young talent with bags of ambition, hunger and determination. I think he will be a great asset for our team next season.”

Scunthorpe United have signed Hibernian captain Rob Jones for an undisclosed fee, however it is reported a s being a club transfer record. The 29 year old defender said “It feels great to sign for Scunthorpe. It is nice to be back in England.”

And finally Darren Ferguson has signed an improved four year contract as manager of  Peterborough United. The 37 year old  says, “I’m thankful the chairman rewarded me for the success.  We’ve got a lot of unfinished business, we want to get the club into the Premiership.”

West Brom currently sit on top of the Coca-Cola League Championship equal on points with Stoke City with one game remaining. Hull City are three points behind but can only challenge Stoke for automatic promotion because of West Brom’s vastly greater goal difference.

Tony Mowbray has been praised throughout the season by football pundits and other managers, players and fans alike for getting West Brom playing the most attractive football in the Championship; and to prove they are the best team in the league this season, something that many have suggested, Mowbray is not satisfied in gaining promotion to the Premier League, he wants to be crowned Coca-Cola League Champions. They have the chance to do that on Sunday when they play QPR at Loftus Road, at 2pm.

But are West Brom going to be good enough to stay in the Premier League?

It is true, they have played their way out of the Coca-Cola Championship in much the same way as Reading did a couple of seasons ago. Steve Coppell had a great first season in charge of Reading as they continued to surprise teams by playing attractive high quality football. But this season they have struggled and are currently looking down the barrel of a relegation gun!

Last season Watford toe-punted their way into the Premier League alongside Reading but failed miserably to keep up with the company.

So where do I think West Brom will finish next season? That depends on, not how good they are, but in my opinion how bad other teams in the bottom half of the Premiership will perform next season.

I praise Reading’s never say die spirit and more so praise the style of football they play and the backing Steve Coppell receives from the Reading chairman. But I personally feel that Reading are in the position they are because they haven’t brought in enough Premier League quality players; and West Brom will find themselves in the same position next year unless they make some good signings and invest wisely.

Barnsley striker Kayode Odejayi, who’s FA Cup quarter-final goal knocked out Chelsea, scored two goals, one either side of Stephen Foster.  Apparently, Watford were pretty dire and Radio Five Live’s 606 with Tim Lovejoy had several Watford fans dissing the teams’ abysmal performance.

In a post-match interview on Radio Five Live, Watford manager Adie Boothroyd praised Barnsley manager Simon Davey and suggested Barnsley had played for a draw, but finished with all three points.  I’m not quite sure how he worked that out.  It sounded more like Barnsley decided to attack Watford and The Hornets had no sting!

How else would a team who is fighting relgation thrash a team pushing for promotion to the Premier League?

Watford are struggling.  After a fantastic start to the season their invisibility has dipped and I wouldn’t be surprised if they drop out of the play-off places altogether.  The other game to be played yesterday saw Ipswich and FA Cup finalists Cardiff City draw 1-1, a point which puts Ipswich back into seventh place, equal on points with Wolves.

West Brom are now joint top of the table after they came from behind with three goalsin the last 10 minutes to beat Blackpool on Tuesday night.

I am now thinking West Brom, Hull City and Wolves for promotional to the Premiership.  What do you think?

Colchester surprised not just the home fans at The Hawthorns when they took a two goal lead after just 17 minutes. But West Brom showed their commitment to the cause by getting two goals before half time.

I thought the second half might go more according to plan and see West Brom come out, all guns blazing, pushing Colchester nearer to League One at the same time helping to cement West Brom’s push for automatic promotion.

But Colchester held their own, and against all expectations, took the lead again in the 76th minute. Once again, Baggies fans were left with dropped jaws and shocked beyond belief. But Tony Mowbray’s team showed a dogged determination to grab all three points themselves and managed to overcome Colchester with two goals in the final minute.

While te 4-3 final score showed the determination of the West Brom players, it was also hard on Colchester. This was a brave attempt by a team destined for League One football next season. They must feel absolutely gutted to have score three goals at The Hawthorns and still come away without any points.

Greg Halford scored the opening goal for Charlton when he headed in Darren Ambrose’s free-kick past former Charlton goalkeepr, Dean Kiely.

West Brom drew level minutes before half-time when leading scoring Kevin Phillips smashed home his 21st goal of the season from close range.  And they came close to taking all three points when Zoltan Gera struck the bar with a volley in the closing moments.

West Brom and Watford both have a game in hand over Bristol City and Stoke.  If both teams win the game in hand, the top of the Coca-Cola Champioship will be tighter than ever before, with Stoke, Bristol City and Watford all on 67 points and West Brom on 66 points. Championship promotion betting is starting to get really interesting!

Bring it on.