With nearly a third of the Championship season completed, the struggle to avoid relegation is really beginning to heat up. Queens Park Rangers are rooted to the foot of the table, but are by no means out of the race for survival. A closer examination of the teams attempting to scrape another year in the Championship shows that it is still anyone's game.
John Mousinho's Portsmouth are the current favourites to make the dreaded return to League One, but four teams sit merely three points above them. Having all amassed 15 points this season, separation via goal difference shows just how tight the league is at the bottom of the table.
Championship relegation odds
The table below shows the top 10 teams earmarked for the drop. Odds show there is no clear favourite among the strugglers and that anything could change in a matter of weeks.
| Team | Best odds |
|---|---|
| Portsmouth |
8/15 |
| Plymouth Argyle |
4/6 |
| QPR |
11/10 |
| Oxford United |
33/20 |
| Preston |
10/3 |
| Cardiff City |
5/1 |
| Hull City |
13/2 |
| Derby County |
10/1 |
| Stoke City |
12/1 |
| Luton Town |
14/1 |
Current favourites
Portsmouth – 8/15
Two wins from 15 games has not been the ideal return to the second tier for Pompey. An incredibly tough run of fixtures at the season's aperture saw them fall towards the back end of the table. However, Portsmouth's form saw no revival when facing the league's weaker teams, as they were defeated 2-0 by Cardiff City and 2-1 at home to Sheffield Wednesday. A 6-1 drubbing by Stoke City has been the club's most embarrassing loss so far.
At 8/15, Portsmouth are the most likely team to go down. With their struggles set to continue after the international break, they are not a good value choice, as bookies already see them as dead and buried.
Plymouth Argyle – 4/6
Plymouth have had a very up-and-down season under Wayne Rooney. A winless first four games was avenged with three wins in the next five, but their form has taken a second nose dive recently. A 5-0 thumping by Cardiff and a 3-0 loss to Leeds have epitomised the club's recent struggles. A fortunate 1-0 win over fellow strugglers Portsmouth is the only thing keeping the Pilgrims' heads above water.
16 points from 15 games sees Plymouth one point above the drop zone, but at 4/6 it seems likely they will fall back towards the bottom in the coming weeks. Upcoming fixtures against Watford, Norwich and Bristol City mean it may be better to back them to go down sooner rather than later.
QPR – 11/10
Probably the most tempting offer of the struggling pack is Queens Park Rangers at 11/10. Marti Cifuentes' side sit rock bottom, with a meagre 10 points from 15 games, having managed only a single win. Things look bleak at Loftus Road, as the Hoops are already five points adrift of safety, scoring only 12 goals.
Betting on QPR to go down now would be the best choice, as it is almost certain that their odds will shorten if Cifuentes is sacked in the coming weeks. At 11/10 they are still an attractive offer, third favourites despite already seeming nailed on for the drop.
Preston – 10/3
Another team only avoiding the relegation zone on goal difference, Preston North End have endured a torrid season so far. Manager Ryan Lowe departed the club after just one game, which set the tone for the Lilywhites' campaign. A 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth handed Pompey only their second league win, damaging Preston's survival hopes in the process.
Crucial games against Derby and Stoke await them, but the situation seems rather dire at Deepdale. Odds providers have them placed at 10/3, which will shorten dramatically should they lose to the Rams. Placing bets now would be advisable given they are winless in five.
Lifelong Ipswich Town supporter who recently graduated from Durham University in French and German. Have developed a passion for European football based on my links abroad and am an avid supporter of Werder Bremen and Auxerre. Joined the MFT team in October 2024 and looking to take my first steps into the world of football journalism.
