From BBC News · · 1m 40s
Championship preview: Contenders, pretenders and strugglers
Birmingham City, West Ham and others test promotion hopes this weekend.
In brief
Birmingham City, West Ham and others test promotion hopes this weekend. Birmingham City, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic face key Championship fixtures to determine promotion contenders and strugglers. Originally reported by BBC News.
Birmingham City's rise
Birmingham City's five wins in six games have propelled them to third place in the Championship table.
“The league table is temporary at the moment and when I came in two-and-a-half years ago we'd just been relegated, so we've come a long way and we feel like we deserve to be where we are”
West Ham's managerial shakeup
West Ham United sacked Nuno Espirito Santo and appointed Scott Parker after a home defeat by West Brom.
“I've been in this division three times and I've got out of this division three times. This is a tough division, there is absolutely no denying it”
Sheffield United's playoff push
Sheffield United have four wins in six games and are five points short of the top two in the Championship.
“I'm not getting carried away, we needed to get to the first international break and work a few things out which we've done - I want to build something here and some stuff works and some doesn't so we're learning on the job”
Preston's struggles
Preston North End manager Graham Alexander has his team nine points adrift of safety after six games.
“I wanted it to be a fresh start when I came in but they're carrying baggage of the past and it's my job and the coaching staff to get them to put that down and see the rest of the season as an opportunity”
West Brom's unbeaten run
West Bromwich Albion have a five-game unbeaten run including wins over Wrexham, Blackburn and West Ham.
“A five-game unbeaten run, including impressive wins over Wrexham, Blackburn and West Ham has pushed Albion into the top six”
Charlton's recent slump
Charl:ton Athletic have not won since the end of August after four straight defeats.
“From the highs of being top of the table after three successive wins to start the season, the Addicks have plunged to four straight defeats with no victory since the end of August”
Swansea's recent form
Swansea City have fallen out of automatic promotion places after a 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn and a 3-1 reverse at Portsmouth.
“A 4-0 thrashing of Blackburn last weekend was sandwiched in between a 5-0 walloping by QPR and Tuesday's 3-1 reverse at Portsmouth which has seen Vitor Matos' side fall out of the automatic promotion places”
Saturday's key matches
Birmingham City face Swansea City, West Ham United play Blackburn Rovers and Charlton Athletic host Sheffield United this weekend.
“Saturday's trip to Blackburn (15:00 GMT) brings them up against a side who have lost two on the bounce but have a habit of producing a result just when you think they are on the slide”
Promotion race dynamics
The Championship promotion race is tight with teams like Birmingham City, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic vying for top positions.
“A run of five wins from their past six games has propelled Davies' side up to third, and a chance to possibly go top by beating Swansea on Saturday (15:00 GMT)”
Championship form table
Birmingham City are first and Sheffield United fifth in the Championship form table based on past six matches.
“Image source, Shutterstock Image caption, Based on the past six matches, Chris Davies' Birmingham City are first and Sheffield United fifth in the Championship form table”
What it means
Birmingham City, West Ham United and Charlton Athletic face key Championship fixtures to determine promotion contenders and strugglers.
