Championship Antepost Value

As an Ipswich fan, I feel quite well qualified to comment on the Championship. We're just preparing for our 17th consecutive season in the Championship. In that time, just one pre-season favourite has gone on to be crowned champions, showing just what a difficult division it is to predict - in fact, in those 16 seasons the favourites have only achieved automatic promotion four times.

Stoke are undoubtedly a very strong looking side, and have been shrewd in appointing a man who knows the division so well in Gary Rowett. Tom Ince also looks a decent signing, while they've recruited Benik Afobe on loan. But the fact remains that they were well short last season in the Premier League and plenty of players may struggle to adapt back to life in the Championship. I can't be a backer at 11/2.

It's also worth nothing that no fewer than eight of the past ten Champions in this division have opened the season at double digit prices, so being prepared to look down the odds-tables pays off here for those willing to chuck a dart or two.

With this in mind, Nottingham Forest look a fair price at 10/1. They are following the Wolves model of last season, and while it might backfire, they do look to have built a serious squad. The Portuguese contingent are making the headlines, but Jack Colback looks a superb signing at this level in my eyes and they should hit the ground running.

I'm not convinced Leeds have built enough on their core squad yet to mount a serious challenge - although Lewis Baker should do some good things in the Championship, while Aston Villa look very short at 12/1 given everything going on there right now. Derby may go well, but Lampard is unproven as a manager and I'd prefer to hold fire on that one.

The other little group I like a lot are Millwall, Preston, Sheffield United and Brentford - but who to pick from that quintet? and how? Alex Neil did a splendid job with Preston last season, and they can continue to over achieve. He's clearly got a great knack for getting the best out of players in this division and could follow Neil Warnock's lead in a similar manner. 4/1 about the team finishing inside the top 6 feels the way to go here.

Millwall are the other pick here - 6/1 for a Top 6 finish or 13/8 to finish in the top half. The squad remains settled and Neil Harris has a great hold on the clubs direction now. They finished 8th last season and can grab a similar result this time around.

At the other end, Reading must be value at 4/1 for the drop. Ipswich are 7/2 and are probably too short with Paul Hurst at the helm, while Bolton are in a similar spot to last season, but proved they can work under those conditions. That leaves value elsewhere.

Reading have brought in a few, but I'm not convinced it will be enough to stop a club on the slide getting sucked into a battle, and at the odds, I'm happy to put them into our antepost portfolio nice and early.

1pt e/w Nottingham Forest e/w at 10/1

1pt Preston to finish in the Top 6 at 4/1

1pt Millwall to finish in the Top 6 at 6/1

1pt Millwall to finish in the Top Half at 13/8

1pt Reading to be relegated at 4/1

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