Sky Bet Football League: Promotion and relegation in the balance

Intriguing battles for promotion and relegation recommence throughout the Sky Bet Football League, with some crucial clashes on Sky Sports 1HD on Easter Monday.

It remains incredibly tight at the top of the Championship as just seven points separate the top eight, with Middlesbrough the latest leaders in the table-topping merry-go-round.

Boro will attempt to maintain that lead in front of the Sky Sports cameras in the early kick-off, while the league’s form side Wolves will also be looking to showcase their promotion credentials in the late match.

Bournemouth are still considered 6/4 favourites for promotion with Football League sponsor Sky Bet as none of the top eight remain in their path, but Boro (5/2) and Norwich (3/1) follow closely behind.  

In League 1, there are plenty of nervous managers with six games remaining as nine clubs are considered still in realistic danger of relegation, while it’s tight at both ends of the League 2 table. 

Crucial clashes:

Watford v Middlesbrough (live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Easter Monday, 12.30pm)

Middlesbrough will be looking to maintain a grasp on top spot in the Sky Bet Championship when they travel to Watford. Aitor Karanka’s men made the most of Bournemouth being held to a 1-1 draw with Ipswich to claim top spot thanks to a 1-0 win over Wigan on Friday. However, the fourth-placed Hornets will be looking to wrestle the lead from their visitors on Monday. A 1-1 draw was played out in the reverse fixture, with Troy Deeney cancelling out Kike’s opener.

Opta stat: Watford have won four of their last six home games against Middlesbrough (D1, L1), with Troy Deeney scoring in each of the last three meetings at Vicarage Road.

Sky Bet odds: Watford 7/5, Draw 12/5, Middlesbrough 9/5

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Wigan v Derby (Easter Monday, 3pm)

Derby look to have wilted at the crucial point as they have gone seven games without a win and they know they have to get three points in a game at Wigan, which has consequences at both ends of the table. The Latics dropped down to second bottom following their Riverside defeat and are five points from safety but can take additional encouragement from their 2-1 victory at the iPro Stadium back in October.

Opta stat: Wigan have won four of their last five games against Derby, who have never kept a clean sheet when visiting the Latics in the league.

Sky Bet odds: Wigan 23/10, Draw 9/4, Derby 6/5

Wolves v Leeds (live on Sky Sports 1 HD, Easter Monday, 5.15pm)

Kenny Jackett’s men will be looking to maintain their late surge towards promotion, having racked up three successive wins to sit on the brink of the play-offs. Only goal difference keeps them out of the top six heading into Monday’s action, while they’ve only dropped two points from their last five home games, keeping clean sheets in each of their four wins. Times are less exciting for Leeds, who lost 3-0 on Friday after having their assistant manager controversially sacked in the week, casting doubts over Neil Redfearn’s future.

Opta stat: Leeds have won just one of their last 15 trips to Molineux, with Wolves winning four and losing none of the last six.

Sky Bet odds: Wolves 8/13, Draw 12/5, Leeds 9/2

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Sky Bet predict:

The Football League sponsor have priced up the most likely top-two finish in the Championship, calculating that Bournemouth first and Middlesbrough second is the most probable outcome, with odds of 7/1. They also make Watford 4/1 favourites to win the play-offs as things stand, while they struggle to see past Blackpool, Millwall and Wigan all going down, with odds of 1/3 in their relegation treble market. The title being decided on goal difference is deemed a realistic prospect with odds of 7/2.

Sky Bet League 1:

It is far more predictable at the top of League 1, with Bristol City all but promoted while Preston are on course to join them in the top two thanks to a 12-match unbeaten run. The Robins have faltered somewhat of late, drawing three of their last four games, but have the chance to get back on track when they host fourth-placed Swindon on Tuesday night, live on Sky Sports 1HD.

Two other promotion contenders clash at Valley Parade, with Bradford looking to climb into the play-offs by ending the Lilywhites’ impressive run. At the other end of the table, just four points separate 15th and 22nd, with two of those sides involved meeting at the Ricoh Arena as Coventry host Notts County.  

Promotion odds: Bristol City 1/200, Preston 1/7, MK Dons 13/8, Swindon 7/4, Sheffield Utd 5/2, Chesterfield 8/1, Bradford 16/1

Relegation odds: Colchester 1/5, Crawley 2/5, Crewe 1/1, Notts County 11/8, Leyton Orient 7/2, Coventry 4/1, Port Vale 7/1, Walsall 11/1, Scunthorpe 11/1

Sky Bet League 2:

Stuttering Burton will be looking to hold on to their lead when third-placed Wycombe visit on Monday. Shrewsbury are hot on the leaders’ heals following four successive victories, with back-to-back draws seeing the Brewers’ lead reduced to a single point.

The Shrews face a Mansfield side in contrasting form, having endured three successive defeats, while fourth-placed Bury also look bankers for wins as they host winless-in-five Morecambe on the back of four straight wins. Meanwhile, Hartlepool will be looking to maintain their resurrection on Easter Monday, having collected 13 points from the last 15 to climb out of the bottom two, leaving Tranmere and Cheltenham on course for relegation.  

Promotion odds: Shrewsbury 1/50, Burton 1/50, Wycombe 1/4, Bury 4/6, Southend 15/8, Plymouth 5/1, Newport 13/2, Stevenage 10/1, Luton 12/1

Relegation odds: Cheltenham 1/5, Tranmere 5/6, Hartlepool 1/1, Carlisle 5/1, Cambridge 14/1, Mansfield 16/1, York 16/1

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