Championship Football Pre-and-Re-View! | Thebigtip

While there is still another week until the English Premier League begins, the rest of the Football League kicked off their seasons this weekend, as all the freshly promoted and relegated clubs from last season began their new eras. The Championship (second tier) is perhaps one of the most open competitions in Europe, with there often being very little daylight between the top ten places. This year will be no different, with Premier League regulars West Ham dropping down, and Birmingham City and Blackpool joining them. Then there is LeicesterCity, led by former England Manager Sven Goran Erikson and Nottingham Forest, managed by another former England chief, Steve McLaren. The opening week threw up some interesting results, and showcased some of the players and clubs we can expect to see big things from in 2011/2012. Who was hot, and who was…..errr…..not?

Hull City V Blackpool

Hull and Blackpool matched up on Friday night, two clubs who switched places last season from Premier League to Championship. They now share the same table again. Blackpool was favourites, and still has a respectable squad, having signed Barry Ferguson and Kevin Phillips from Birmingham City. Blackpool won the match 1-0.  Blackpool will be in the mix for a playoff position; Hull City still has work to do.
 
Southampton V Leeds

Two of the fallen giants of English Football met up. Big things are expected of Leeds United this season, as they continue trying to claw their way back into the Premier League. Southampton too has newly attained financial muscle, and is expected to challenge for promotion. Southampton got off to the better start, going to the break 2-0 up, eventually winning 3-1.  Both clubs should be in the Promotion Playoffs come seasons end.

Reading V Milwall

Reading and Milwall played out a 0-0 contest to halftime, before the Lions scooped up two goals in the second half. Milwall could be forgiven for thinking they had the game wrapped up in the 86th minute, but Reading scored two goals in three minutes to wipe the smiles of the South-East Londoners faces, the game finishing 2-2.  Reading should be a sniff away from a playoff spot this season, but Milwall will be further toward the bottom end of the table.

Peterborough V Crystal Palace

Peterborough is freshly promoted to the Championship, while Crystal Palace has been battling financial issues for the past couple of seasons. Crystal Palace took the lead half an hour into the game, but the Posh controlled the game in the second half, running out winners 2-1. This will be a year of consolidation by Peterborough, managed by Sir Alex Ferguson’s son, Darren. Last time they were promoted, they went down straight away. They will have learned from that experience. Crystal Palace is a genuine relegation risk this season.

Nottingham Forest V Barnsley

Nottingham Forest changed things up over summer, bringing in Steve McLaren as Manager. They narrowly missed promotion last season, and will be expected to push again this year. Barnsley is a mid-to-low table team, but they held their own against the much more fancied Forest, holding on for a 0-0 draw. McLaren would have won little praise from the terraces for Forest’s display, and he will want to quickly address their shortcomings, if they are to gain promotion.

Middlesbrough V Portsmouth

These two clubs were relegated to the Championship in 2010, and have since struggled to even make the Promotion playoffs. There will be pressure on Boro to make improvements this season, while Portsmouth is still hampered by financial issues that brought them relegation. Both teams showed fight, with Pompey grabbing a last minute goal to snatch a draw. Expect Boro to be challenging for a Playoff spot this season, and don’t be surprised if Pompey picks up a few surprise results as well.

Derby County V Birmingham

This is a big season for both clubs. The Blues were relegated last season, despite being owned by Chinese billionaire Carson Yeung, and winning the Carling Cup.  Derby County are a sleeping giant in English Football, managed by the late Brian Clough’s son, Nigel. Derby went into halftime 2-1 up, and it remained that way to the final whistle. Birmingham City should be in the playoffs at seasons end, Derby County might battle, but they are off to a great start.

Coventry V Leicester City

Leicester City, along with West Ham United, are the Championship favourites early. Managed by Eriksson and with big investments over summer, nothing short of promotion this season will be accepted. Coventry’s goal will be to simply remain in the Championship. While it wasn’t dominant, Leicester City remains on track, winning 1-0. Expect to see them in the Premier League next season. Coventry will be safe, but no playoffs this season.

Burnley V Watford

These two teams will be quite evenly matched this season, and it showed, with their match finishing 2-2. Both will struggle to win promotion this season, but they won’t be relegated either. Watford needs to assert themselves this season, as in recent seasons they have been getting raided by other clubs for their players and coaches.  They need to re-establish their identity, and start flexing their muscles.

Bristol City V Ipswich

Bristol City is always competitive, but has a bit of work to do this season if they are to feature in the promotion playoffs. Ipswich Town are a smoky. Paul Jewell has made some astute signings, with Michael Chopra a key addition to the squad. Chopra indeed made an immediate impact, scoring a brace on his Tractor Boys debut, as Ipswich won 3-0. Keep you eyes on the Tractor Boys this year!

Brighton V Doncaster

Brighton stormed to the League One title last season, and are the new boys in The Championship in 2011. In addition, they were christening their new Stadium against Doncaster Rovers on Saturday, and they did so in style, with a big comeback from 0-1 down, clinching the win in injury time, 2-1. Brighton are well managed by Gus Poyet, and will get some good results this season. Doncaster are embarking on their fourth year in the Championship, and will need to run out matches stronger, if they are to make it a fifth. Brighton is a smoky for a playoff spot.

West Ham United V Cardiff City

West Ham are expected to win promotion straight back into the Premier League. Anything less will be deemed a catastrophic failure. There is a lot of pressure on the East Enders, but so too on Cardiff City, who have narrowly missed Premier League promotion for the past few seasons. West Ham were favourites, and dominated the first half, but were let down by poor finishing. Cardiff had patches of brilliance, but it was all looking set for a 0-0 draw, until Kenny Miller bobbed up on debut, for an injury time goal, lifting Cardiff City to a 1-0 victory. West Ham had some pleasing signs, and it isn’t all doom and gloom, but they will need to learn from this game if they are to gain automatic promotion back to the Premier League. Expect both teams to be in the top flight next season.

The Championship is a competition well worth watching.  It is a race that is wide open, and with each club playing eight more games a season than in the Premier League, and throughout the week, it is a war of attrition.  The Championship often gets forgotten behind the Premier League, but on an entertainment level, it still packs a punch, and with several games this week decided by goals in injury time, it is not for the faint hearted!