Ipswich Town are 16th in the Championship table with nine games to play. Are the Blues about to get dragged into a relegation dogfight? Here we take a look at the chasing pack.
Birmingham City - Position: 17th, Played: 37, Points: 44
An example that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Birmingham were seventh in the table when Gary Rowett was sacked in mid-December, the day after a 2-1 win against Town at St Andrew’s. The club’s Chinese owners spoke about ‘not standing still’ and an ‘exciting vision’.
Ex-Chelsea striker Gianfranco Zola was quickly appointed and the Midlands club have been in freefall since. Just two wins in 16 league games leaves them looking nervously over their shoulders.
And they still have the top three to play.
Run-in: Newcastle (h), Ipswich (a), Brighton (a), Derby (h), Rotherham (a), Burton (h), Aston Villa (a), Huddersfield (h), Bristol City (a).
Burton - Position: 18th, Played: 37, Points: 41
Nigel Clough turned down the chance to follow in his father’s footsteps when rejecting Nottingham Forest at the end of January, instead staying loyal to the club he has had so much success with. He masterminded a 1-0 home win over Forest on Saturday to make it a healthy 16 points from 30.
“Having started this historic season in the Championship it is only right that we should stay and continue the job of trying to achieve the miracle of keeping Burton Albion in the Championship,” said Clough.
A non-league club up until 2009, the Brewers have enjoyed a remarkable debut season at second-tier level.
Run-in: Brentford (h), Huddersfield (a), Newcastle (a), Aston Villa (h), Ipswich (h), Birmingham (a), Leeds (h), Barnsley (a), Reading (h).
Nottingham Forest - Position: 19th, Played: 37, Points: 40
The East Midlands club have today appointed Mark Warburton as their new manager. The former Brentford boss has been out of work since leaving Rangers on February 10. He has brought David Weir down from Scotland to be his assistant again.
Frenchman Philippe Montanier lasted less than seven months in the job, with Gary Brazil having been in caretaker charge for the last two months.
Forest lost 1-0 at Burton on Saturday and now host bitter rivals Derby – who are set to appoint Gary Rowett – on Saturday.
Run-in: Derby (h), Preston (a), Wolves (a), Huddersfield (h), Blackburn (h), Cardiff (a), Reading (h), QPR (a), Ipswich (h).
Wolves - Position: 20th, Played: 35, Points: 39
The West Midlands side slipped to within a point and a place of the drop zone after five straight losses – their worst losing streak since April 2012 – but a goalless draw at Portman Road last Tuesday stopped the rot and was followed up by a nervy 1-0 home win over Rotherham on Saturday.
“We have won the game and that is all that matters,” said boss Paul Lambert, “I am sick to death of playing well but losing games that we have dominated.”
Their game-in-hand is at Brentford tonight.
Run-in: Brentford (a), Fulham (a), Cardiff (h), Forest (h), Bristol City (a), Brighton (h), Leeds (a), Blackburn (h), Huddersfield (h), Derby (a), Preston (h).
Bristol City - Position: 21st, Played: 37, Points: 38
Boy did the Robins need that 1-0 win at fellow-strugglers Wigan last Saturday – a game that was the very definition of a ‘six-pointer’.
After beating Town 2-0 at Ashton Gate way back at the start of December they subsequently claimed just one league victory in 17 – and that was 1-0 at home to rock-bottom Rotherham. A three-goal lead at Derby and two-goal lead at Newcastle were both squandered.
Owner Steve Lansdown has backed boss Lee Johnson despite many fans calling for his head.
Run-in: Huddersfield (h), Brentford (a), Preston (a), Wolves (h), QPR (h), Blackburn (a), Barnsley (h), Brighton (a), Birmingham (h).
Blackburn Rovers - Position: 22nd, Played: 36, Points: 38
Rovers haven’t been above 20th in the table all season, but are on the move under new boss Tony Mowbray.
Owen Coyle was sacked with the team three points adrift of safety, but a five-game unbeaten run under ex-Blues defender ‘Mogga’ means just goal difference keeps them in the drop zone.
Get something from their game-in-hand, at Fulham tonight, and they will leapfrog Bristol City.
Run-in: Fulham (a), Preston (h), Brighton (a), Reading (a), Barnsley (h), Nottm Forest (a), Bristol City (h), Wolves (a), Aston Villa (h), Brentford (a).
Wigan Athletic - Position: 23rd, Played: 37, Points: 34
Warren Joyce was sacked on Monday following a 1-0 home loss to fellow relegation candidates Bristol City. He won just six of his 24 games. Assistant boss Graham Barrow will take charge for the final nine games.
“It is unfortunate that we have made this decision but with the team in such a perilous position in the league we need to act now because we cannot afford to fall any further behind,” said chairman David Sharpe.
The Latics are the lowest scorers in the division (31) and have drawn a blank in 10 of their last 14 home matches.
Run-in: Villa (h), Newcastle (a), Ipswich (a), Rotherham (h), Barnsley (h), Brighton (a), Cardiff (h), Reading (a), Leeds (h).
Rotherham - Position: 24th, Played: 37, Points: 17
Having twice narrowly avoided relegation, there will be no great escape for the Millers this time around.
Paul Warne’s side have lost six on the spin, claimed just a single point their last 11 games and are 21 points adrift of safety.
By the time Town travel to The New York Stadium the South Yorkshire outfit’s fate should be sealed.
Run-in: QPR (a), Fulham (h), Sheff Weds (h), Wigan (a), Birmingham (h), Reading (a), Ipswich (h), Preston (a), Derby (h).
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