The race for Promotion to the Premiership is the tightest in years. There are eight teams battling for the two automatic places and of course the lucrative play off place. The top eight are only separated by eight points with seven games to go. This time last season 28 points separated the top eight so you can see just how close it is. Serious stuff with so much at stake. It’s the tightest race in years so who is going to make it into the big time. Let’s take a look at the runners and riders. _________________ Bournemouth Bournemouth are top of the pile with 73 points.. They have a ground capacity of 12,000 and they have never played in the top flight. They could be there this time as they are currently the form team. They have taken fourteen points from the last 18 and under new boss Eddie Howe they are a difficult team to beat. Of the seven games to play they only meet one of the other seven promotion hopefuls in Ipswich. Top of the pile their fate is in their hands. _________________ Watford Watford in second with 72 points. They have Derby and Middlesbrough to face yet in what could be a very difficult run in. They have been in the top flight before and only trail the leaders by a point. A bit like unfancied Bournemouth its all up to them. _________________ Middlesbrough In third and also on 72 points they lose to Watford on goal difference and how crucial could that be in the coming weeks. At one stage they were the form side in the Championship. One defeat in 18 games said it all but they have slipped in recent weeks. Four defeats out of their last eight has left the fans feeling very nervous. Their boss is former Real Madrid player Aitor Karenka so he should be used to pressure. Their most vital game is this weekend away to Watford. Now that could tell a tale. _________________ Norwich Norwich are in fourth on 70 points. They have a real chance of going back up. New boss Alex Neil came from Hamilton and he has turned the club around. They have suffered one defeat in their last 12 and five out of their last seven games are against teams near the bottom of the league. A bit like Paul Lambert in his managerial style Neil has done more than enough to give Norwich a fighting chance. _________________ Derby Derby are 5th on 67 points. The Derby fans must be wondering why and how they have slipped down to fifth. At one stage they were free wheeling. At the end of February they were top of the table but they have gone six games without a win. All very worrying for their manager former England boss Steve McLlaren. They were beaten in the Championship final play off last season so they know all about going down to the wire. Could be a tall order to make the final two for them unless McLaren can work some magic. _________________ Ipswich Ipswich are 6th. They are the functional side in the last eight. Not too fancy you could say. They are under the radar but in Mick McCarthy they have a manager who knows what it takes to get over the line. Almost a case of him being bigger than the team. His influence will be vital. At one stage they had a run of 20 games and only one defeat. They lost three in March but have bounced back with two wins back to back. Great discipline they have yet to see a player sent off this season. Could be significant that in the run in. _________________ Bradford Bradford are in 7th on 66 points. A ground capacity of 12,000 they play really good football under Mark Warburton. Even if they make to the Premiership he won’t be there. He is set to leave the club in the summer after a fall out with the board. You just wonder could that affect them in the vital run in. They only have Derby to play out of the top eight and that will be something they will be looking at and hoping. A tall order all the same. _________________ Wolves In 8th place on 65 points Wolves are one of the sleeping giants of the game. The problem for them is that they have been snoozing for too long now. The key for them has been their boss Kenny Jackett. He joined Wolves in June 2013 and has realty turned round their fortunes. Promotion followed by a possible race to the Premiership. They have done well to get this far but they have the hardest run in of all with games against Forest, Ipswich and Middlesbrough. A team of history and tradition they will need some luck to even make the play off semi finals. So there is a brief run down of the runners and riders. Eight points between the top eight makes it the tightest race in years. _________________ Check out the prices here with McLeans for Promotion. All to play for.

The race for Promotion to the Premiership is the tightest in years. There are eight teams battling for the two automatic places and of course the lucrative play off place. The top eight are only separated by eight points with seven games to go. This time last season 28 points separated the top eight so you can see just how close it is. Serious stuff with so much at stake. It’s the tightest race in years so who is going to make it into the big time. Let’s take a look at the runners and riders. _________ Bournemouth Bournemouth are top of the pile with 73 points.. They have a ground capacity of 12,000 and they have never played in the top flight. They could be there this time as they are currently the form team. They have taken fourteen points from the last 18 and under new boss Eddie Howe they are a difficult team to beat. Of the seven games to play they only meet one of the other seven promotion hopefuls in Ipswich. Top of the pile their fate is in their hands. _ Watford Watford in second with 72 points. They have Derby and Middlesbrough to face yet in what could be a very difficult run in. They have been in the top flight before and only trail the leaders by a point. A bit like unfancied Bournemouth its all up to them. _ Middlesbrough In third and also on 72 points they lose to Watford on goal difference and how crucial could that be in the coming weeks. At one stage they were the form side in the Championship. One defeat in 18 games said it all but they have slipped in recent weeks. Four defeats out of their last eight has left the fans feeling very nervous. Their boss is former Real Madrid player Aitor Karenka so he should be used to pressure. Their most vital game is this weekend away to Watford. Now that could tell a tale. _ Norwich Norwich are in fourth on 70 points. They have a real chance of going back up. New boss Alex Neil came from Hamilton and he has turned the club around. They have suffered one defeat in their last 12 and five out of their last seven games are against teams near the bottom of the league. A bit like Paul Lambert in his managerial style Neil has done more than enough to give Norwich a fighting chance. _ Derby Derby are 5th on 67 points. The Derby fans must be wondering why and how they have slipped down to fifth. At one stage they were free wheeling. At the end of February they were top of the table but they have gone six games without a win. All very worrying for their manager former England boss Steve McLlaren. They were beaten in the Championship final play off last season so they know all about going down to the wire. Could be a tall order to make the final two for them unless McLaren can work some magic. _ Ipswich Ipswich are 6th. They are the functional side in the last eight. Not too fancy you could say. They are under the radar but in Mick McCarthy they have a manager who knows what it takes to get over the line. Almost a case of him being bigger than the team. His influence will be vital. At one stage they had a run of 20 games and only one defeat. They lost three in March but have bounced back with two wins back to back. Great discipline they have yet to see a player sent off this season. Could be significant that in the run in. _ Bradford Bradford are in 7th on 66 points. A ground capacity of 12,000 they play really good football under Mark Warburton. Even if they make to the Premiership he won’t be there. He is set to leave the club in the summer after a fall out with the board. You just wonder could that affect them in the vital run in. They only have Derby to play out of the top eight and that will be something they will be looking at and hoping. A tall order all the same. _ Wolves In 8th place on 65 points Wolves are one of the sleeping giants of the game. The problem for them is that they have been snoozing for too long now. The key for them has been their boss Kenny Jackett. He joined Wolves in June 2013 and has realty turned round their fortunes. Promotion followed by a possible race to the Premiership. They have done well to get this far but they have the hardest run in of all with games against Forest, Ipswich and Middlesbrough. A team of history and tradition they will need some luck to even make the play off semi finals. So there is a brief run down of the runners and riders. Eight points between the top eight makes it the tightest race in years. _________ Check out the prices here with McLeans for Promotion. All to play for.

By Megan McKeown | Published 02/04/2015 | Full size is 679 × 268 pixels

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