EFL Championship Table – TSZ's Predicted Top Six

As we count down to the beginning of the EFL season and the opening round of fixtures this coming weekend, TSZ assesses the runners and riders in terms of the promotion battle, picking out our top contenders in each respective league. Here, we focus on the Sky Bet Championship and who we think will finish in the top six.

*Note that these are solely our predictions.

SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP TOP SIX

1. Middlesbrough

2. Norwich

3. Watford

4. West Brom

5. Sheffield Utd

6. Preston North End

Chris Wilder has already tasted Championship promotion with Sheffield Utd and it is his Middlesbrough side who we predict to be league winners. Already a formidable squad, signings such as Darragh Lenihan and Zack Steffan will only strengthen them further and all the ingredients are in place for a successful season. We expect relegated Norwich to join them in the automatic promotion spots, with the Canaries having been promoted in each of their last two Championship campaigns.

When taking into account the players Watford have at their disposal, the Hornets should find themselves in promotion chase, whilst both West Brom under Steve Bruce and Sheffield Utd under Paul Heckingbottom look well-placed to finish inside the top six. You could make a case for many teams to finish in that final play-off spot, but we’re predicting Preston North End to finally take that next step and build on their progress made since the appointment of Ryan Lowe as manager.