The 2019/20 Championship season has officially reached the halfway point. The picture of who may earn promotion is becoming clearer, while at the bottom there is still all to play for.
Analysis of the 2019/20 Championship Season so Far: West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United Lead at the Halfway Point
Early Leaders – West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United
The decision to appoint Slaven Bilic looks to be paying off for the Baggies. They currently lie 12 points ahead off Fulham in third place, as they lead at the halfway point of the 2019/20 Championship season.
So far this season, West Brom have suffered just one defeat, a 1-0 defeat to title rivals Leeds. That was at the beginning of October, and they have not tasted defeat since a run stretching 12 games.
Summer signing Charlie Austin is proving his value, with eight goals so far this season. However, it is Bilic’s trust in youth that is catching the eye. Nathan Ferguson is the most eye-catching, with the right-back impressing at right-back and attracting interest from the Premier League and the continent.
The focus for West Brom in the second half of the season will be not to drop the pace. If they do, those below them will be chomping at the bit for the Championship title.
Meanwhile, Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United are continuing their quest to go one better than last season. They lie 10 points ahead of third-placed Fulham and look the best bet to stop West Brom running away with the title.
Leeds look better than they did last season. They have the meanest defence in the division, having conceded just 13 goals all season. Plenty had concerns after the decision to let cult figure Pontus Jansson depart for Brentford. However, loanee Ben White has stepped up and shined in his place.
The key for Leeds is to erase the thoughts of collapses in previous seasons. Last season saw them slip out of the automatic promotion race at the final hurdle. 2016/17 saw them fall out of the play-off towards the end of the season, despite seemingly have cemented their position in the play-offs.
Playoff Contenders
Seven points are all that separates Sheffield Wednesday in third and QPR in 14th. The race for the play-offs is as congested as ever.
Currently, Sheffield Wednesday, Fulham, Preston and Brentford occupy the four sought after positions. Garry Monk has performed exceptionally in limited circumstances with Wednesday, while Scott Parker has revitalised his Fulham squad after relegation from the Premier League.
However, it is the latter two who are arguably the most impressive. Alex Neil has used his budget wisely at Preston and has got them playing free-flowing, fluid football.
Meanwhile, Brentford have continued to employ their model of selling and continue to reinvest in their squad. Thomas Frank’s young stars are continuing to win plaudits after a difficult start to the season. Ollie Watkins is one of those catching the eye, and the 23-year-old currently ranks third in the divisions highest scorers. However, he, alongside several of his team-mates, are likely to be targeted for moves in January, which could hinder the Bees promotion chances.
Of those in the congested chasing pack, Blackburn are currently in a good run of form, with no defeats in their last six games. However, it is unlikely that they will be able to keep up their impressive form with more than half the season still to go.
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest are faltering under Sabri Lamouchi, but are prepared to reinvest in January. Swansea City are level on points with Brentford in sixth, but questions are asked as to whether they have enough to secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Hull are relying on being able to keep Jarrod Bowen beyond January.
Relegation Battle
Much like the rest of the division, there is little that separates the sides at the bottom o the Championship.
Wigan Athletic currently prop up the other 23 sides in the division, and a return to League One beckons. Paul Cook’s side are without a win since October 20, a run that stretches 10 games.
Joining them in the relegation zone are Stoke City and Barnsley. The former have been dire straits for much of the year, let alone the 2018/19 season. Michael O’Neil is yet to see a return from his squad yet, with just two wins in his tenure so far. Barnsley are also under the guidance of a new manager, with Gerhard Struber taking over at Oakwell in mid-November. The Austrian has three wins from six games so far at Barnsley.
Above the relegation, four sides are looking anxiously over their shoulders. Luton Town will be happy with their current position of 21st come the end of the season. However, they will have to stop leaking goals, as they currently have the worst defence in the Championship.
Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town are also looking over their shoulders. Middlesbrough are staying patient with the inexperienced Jonathan Woodgate, despite their inconsistent form. Huddersfield are being guided by the slightly more experienced Danny Cowley, after their dismissal of Jan Siewert earlier in the season. Cowley has managed to lift the Terriers of the relegation zone but is now looking to push them further up the table.
Still All to Play for in the 2019/20 Championship Season
As the Championship rumbles on into the second half of the season, there is certainly to still a lot of to play for in the division. Whether towards the top or bottom of the table, there will be some fraught battles to savour.
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