Kian Gadsby
The Football League is about a third of the way through the season and league tables are starting to take shape. The Christmas period is a busy time for football with matches televised daily. This guide will give you an insight into the state of play across the lower leagues, making you knowledgeable for when the games are put on TV during your Boxing Day gatherings.
The Championship
The race for the Premier League is as tight as usual. Sheffield United, spearheaded by an in-form Tyrese Campbell, and a Leeds side looking to recover from last year’s playoff final defeat currently occupy the automatic promotion spots, with Burnley and a young Sunderland team just 2 points behind.
Norwich City have the league’s top goal scorer in Borja Sainz, but languish in the middle of the pack due to conceding 25 goals in their opening 17 games.
The playoff battle is also close with Watford, Middlesborough, and West Brom all in or around the top six. The championship is known as the most unpredictable league in the world, and all the teams in midtable down to Frank Lampard’s Coventry City will fancy their chances at a second half of the season playoff run. Norwich City have the league’s top goal scorer in Borja Sainz, but languish in the middle of the pack due to conceding 25 goals in their opening 17 games.
Near the bottom of the table are newly promoted Portsmouth, who lost 6-1 at Stoke City and have just had two consecutive games postponed, and Oxford United. Those two are joined by Hull City, who have already fired manager Tim Walter, as well as Cardiff, Plymouth and Preston North End. Recently relegated Luton Town are only 3 points outside of the relegation zone, having endured a nightmare start to the new campaign.
League One
The top of League One promises to be engaging the whole season and might be the most intense promotion battle seen in ages. Birmingham City are favourites to win the league, having spent about £30 million in the summer. They’re joined in their promotion race by Wycombe Wanderers, who recently won 10 games in a row and are one of the most exciting teams to watch this season. Newly promoted clubs Wrexham and Stockport County, who recently beat promotion favourites Bolton Wanderers 5-0, are also in the mix, with both sides looking to further their ambitions.
There are five teams from 5th to 9th level on points at the time of writing, and this battle is expected to stay this close all season long.
The play off battle is also intense, with Bolton, Peterborough, Barnsley, Lincoln, and Huddersfield all expecting to finish in the top six. There are five teams from 5th to 9th level on points at the time of writing, and this battle is expected to stay this close all season long.
At the bottom a gap is already forming as Burton Albion, who have currently only won one game all season, sit eight points in the drop zone. Cambridge, Crawley, Leyton Orient, and Shrewsbury are also entrenched in the relegation battle, although to highlight the excitement of this division Shrewsbury beat Birmingham 3-2.
League Two
Carlisle United have struggled to adjust massively since relegation from League One, and currently find themselves in the relegation zone again.
Port Vale currently top League Two, having had a tremendous start to the campaign. However, they haven’t won a title since 1959, and are currently being chased by Walsall, who are spearheaded by Stoke City loanees Nathan Lowe and Tommy Simkin. Crewe, Doncaster, MK Dons and AFC Wimbledon are all in and around the third automatic promotion spot, alongside Notts County, who are covered regularly by Impact.
Carlisle United have struggled to adjust massively since relegation from League One, and currently find themselves in the relegation zone again. They are currently joined by Morecambe, who have had financial issues and in 2023/24 suffered a points deduction. Swindon Town are also only outside the drop zone on goal difference, having not won in five league matches.
Kian Gadsby
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In article image 1 courtesy of [tyekaicampbell] via [Instagram]. No changes were made to this image.
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In article image 3 courtesy of [nottscountyfc] via [Instagram]. No changes were made to this image.
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