Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock comments on Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Norwich City, Reading and Huddersfield Town’s chances of making the playoffs.
Newcastle United and Brighton & Hove Albion look set to finish in the top two of the Championship this season. The Magpies and the Seagulls are first and second respectively in the standings at the moment, and it is hard to see either of them slip out of the automatic promotion places in the coming weeks and months.
The playoff spots, though, appear to be up for grabs. Huddersfield Town, Reading, Leeds United and Sheffield Wednesday currently occupy them. Norwich City, Fulham, Barnsley, Preston North End and perhaps even Derby County will fancy their chances of closing the gap on the sixth spot.
Cardiff City manager Neil Warnock has predicted the teams who will finish between third and sixth in the Championship this season.
“I think it will be a good play-off battle,” Warnock told Sky Sports. “They all have different attributes. Reading have a problem because their pitch is a disgrace and they play passing football so that doesn’t help them.
“Leeds have the fans, and Wednesday have the passion and Fernando Forestieri, who is on fire.
“Huddersfield have a great team ethic. It does look as if it will be those four for me, although I am sure Norwich will have something to say about that.”
What is interesting about the Championship playoff battle this season is that three of the four teams currently occupy those spots were not expected to do so.
Wednesday are doing as well as they were expected to, but Huddersfield, Reading and Leeds all have surprised observers.
The likes of Norwich, Derby and Aston Villa who were aiming to end up in the top six of the table at the start of the table have been underwhelming so far this campaign.
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