Sky Bet Championship Promotion Predictions 2018/19 – Rams on the up?

The Championship season is just around the corner and our tipster has picked out his Sky Bet Championship promotion predictions for the 2018/19 season, plus an extra bet for a team to finish in the top 6.

The arrival of Nuno Espirito Santo as manager accompanied by some decent investment in the playing squad helped Wolves to claim the Championship title last season and they were promoted to the Premier League alongside a Neil Warnock inspired Cardiff team and Fulham. None of the relegated teams from previous season were able to regain their top tier status with Stoke, Swansea and West Brom hoping to reverse that pattern this term. Yet, there are several other Championship clubs capable of thwarting those three teams ahead of the 2018-19 campaign.

 

Will any of the relegated teams bounce back?

It may be unwise to expect Swansea to mount a serious promotion challenge, despite the appointment of former Ostersund manager Graham Potter as their new first team boss. The Swans are currently trying to trim a sizeable wage bill and have already lost a few influential players as is the case with West Brom with a period of consolidation probably required for both teams.

As for Stoke City, there is belief that they are capable of instantly regaining their Premier League status. Gary Rowell has been appointed as manager and he will hope to rectify the goalscoring problems of his new team with the Potters netting more than once in just two games this year. Xherdan Shaqiri has departed for Liverpool but Ton Ince and James McClean could be effective at this level of football while striker Benik Afobe has been signed on an initial loan deal from Wolves.

Stoke retain sufficient ability to be considered top six candidates and are priced at 2/1 with Sportingbet to claim promotion, but they could be challenged for promotion by Midlands neighbours Derby and Nottingham Forest. Middlesbrough are also expected to be contenders but there is much uncertainty regarding Aston Villa despite new owners and potential investment arriving.

 

Derby to win the Championship title @ 14/1 with 888Sport.

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Frank Lampard begins his managerial career at Derby and he has wasted no time in recruiting new players. Young midfielders Harry Wilson and Mason Mount have arrived on season-long loans deals from Liverpool and Chelsea respectively, with Wilson netting seven goals this year while on loan at Hull. Mount scored 14 Eredivisie goals at Vitesse last season.

Jack Marriott has also arrived at Pride Park after netting 27 League One goals for Peterborough last term, and he has been added to a fairly potent attack at Derby. With Lampard already inheriting a decent squad, the Rams are priced at 5/1 with Bet Victor to mount a successful promotion challenge and look a good bet for our Championship promotion predictions.

 

Nottm Forest to be promoted @ 4/1 with Sportingbet

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Midlands neighbours Nottingham Forest could rival Derby at the top of the Championship. Forest were closer to relegation than promotion last term and failed to score in seven of their last twelve matches. Manager Aitor Karanka nearly secured promotion for Middlesbrough and was allowed time to assess the first-team squad last season before beginning his recruitment drive this summer.

Reliable Championship striker Lewis Grabban has moved to the City Ground alongside Hillal Soudani who netted seventeen goals in each of his last two seasons for Dinamo Zagreb. With Michael Dawson and Jack Robinson arriving to bolster the defence and midfielder Joao Carvalho signing from Benfica for a club record fee, Forest could emerge as threat in the promotion stakes. They are offered at 13/10 with Paddy Power to finish in the top six.

 

Other Championship Promotion Contenders

Odds of 3/1 at Betway are also available for Tony Pulis to clinch another Championship promotion as he seeks to improve upon last season’s fifth position at Middlesbrough. Paddy McNair is useful buy from neighbours Sunderland as is Aden Flint from Bristol City while Britt Assombalonga will aim to continue his decent goalscoring form of last season.

Pulis might not please everybody with his style of football but results are his objective, and Boro cannot be discounted for a top 2 finish at 5/1 with Bet Victor.

Among other teams possibly vying for promotion, Ipswich could emerge as potential outsiders. There was an unpleasant atmosphere on several occasions last season at Portman Road during the latter days of the Mick McCarthy reign as manager, but new boss Paul Hurst surprised many people at Shrewsbury last season. Hurst has admitted that his squad needs reinforcements but the Tractor Boys could be decent each-way value for a top six position with odds of 10/1 at William Hill.

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Brentford are another team capable of challenging for promotion and they were only six points adrift of the top six last term. The Bees have demonstrated steady improvement under the guidance of Dean Smith while further up North, it is difficult to predict the fortunes of Leeds with the controversial but charismatic Marcelo Bielsa at the managerial helm.

 

Championship Promotion Predictions and Betting Tips

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