The Championship has long been known as one of the toughest leagues in Europe. The constant pressures put on players and clubs by the need to reach the Premiership land of riches often results in both a nervy and desperate end to the season.
After last weekend where no side in the top 6 spots managed a win, the midweek round of fixtures saw that trend flipped on its head with only 6th placed Preston failing to pick up 3 points.
If ever one week of football exemplified the nature of a division, this was it. While the Championship is renowned for its topsy-turvy nature, this season has proved to be one of the most bizarre.
Leaders Wolves epitomise this, as they have somehow remained top of the table despite recent league form that has included only 2 wins in the past 12 league games.
The faltering leaders will be counting their blessings as teams below them, such as Reading and Birmingham, have failed to capitalise on the opportunity gifted to them by the leaders.
Manager Mick McCarthy is one of the few people at the club who have experienced a Championship title success, and he will be hoping the Wanderers midweek win against Crystal Palace will act as a turning point for the rest of the season.
On current form, the team look incapable of getting promotion, let alone surviving next season. However, the first half of the season was a complete different story, with McCarthy’s young team running away at the top of the table. That previous form is what McCarthy will be desperate for his side to rekindle in the run in.
A run in which most difficult game appears to be a trip to St. Andrews although the Midlanders were comfortable winners there in the cup earlier this year. If the Black Country side can overcome Birmingham City in that fixture, they could be well on track for a return to the Premiership.
Soccer Saturday pundit Paul Merson claimed that if Wolves were to be promoted they would need another 20 players to stay up. That is surely wrong, with players such as Sylvan Ebanks-Blake and Michael Kightly having the credentials to carry Wolves potential fight to stay up next season. The only problem for the side, and it’s a big one, is their total ineptness when it comes to defending balls into the box.
McCarthy will be rueing the day Michael Mancienne returned to Chelsea, which it is perhaps no coincidence was at the start of Wolves terrible recent fortunes. A return to the big time for Wolves would surely trigger the signing of a centre half of his capabilities, as well as a steadying influence in goal with Wayne Hennessy proving unreliable between the sticks.
Wolves will be hoping that in this most back and forth Championship season, they can flip their recent form on its head and lead the charge in the closing weeks of the season.
Taking into account the season so far, would anyone be surprised??
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