Who is going up to the Premier League?
With eight games to go, Cardiff look free and clear at the top of the Championship, but the battle for second place is too close to call.
Here is the inside track on the promotion-chasing teams from the football writers who follow their fortunes.CARDIFFPosition: 1stPoints: 75Promotion odds: 1/50
Peterborough (A) Sat 30 March; Blackburn (H) Mon 1 April; Watford (A) Sat 6 April; Barnsley (H) Tue 9 April; Nott'm Forest (H) Sat 13 April; Charlton (H) Tue 16 April; Burnley (A) Sat 20 April; Bolton (H) Sat 27 April; Hull City (A) Sat 4 May.Terry Phillips, South Wales EchoProspects: Cardiff have never been in the Premier League, but are close to achieving that status now.
They missed out in the 2010 play-off final and in 2009 failed to make the top six despite effectively needing only one point from their last four matches. City finished level on points and goal difference with Preston, but missed out on goals scored having lost 6-0 at Deepdale in the first of those crucial fixtures.
Fans remain nervous after so many near misses, but there is trust in Malky Mackay. Current form: Cardiff will have been top of the Championship for more than four months, since November 24, by the time they play Peterborough away on Saturday week. They have been able to deal with that pressure.
David Marshall has kept 14 clean sheets - seven at home, seven away - and they have 10 away wins. Only Watford can match that.
City have lost only once in their last 11 league away games, winning eight and drawing two for 26 points from a possible 33. They are not playing the passing game that was a trademark earlier this season, but have the knack of winning ugly.
They have nine matches to go, five at home and four away. They have a game in hand, against Barnsley at home. Key figures that can make the difference: Playmaker Peter Whittingham has netted seven goals this season, but he hasn't hit the net since October. Craig Bellamy's last goal, the winner at Leicester, was in December.
Both are due a goal, but haven't looked likely to score in recent matches.
An ankle injury could end Mark Hudson's season, a massive blow as he has been an inspirational leader.
Leon Barnett, signed from Norwich on loan, played alongside Ben Nugent as City kept a clean sheet in a win at Sheffield Wednesday. Ben Turner will be back from an ankle injury at Peterborough and should partner Barnett.Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: WatfordPlay-off winners: Nottingham Forest
HULL CITYPosition: 2ndPoints: 68Promotion odds: 8/11 Huddersfield (A) Sat 30 March; Watford (H) Tue 2 April; Middlesbrough (H) Sat 6 April; Ipswich (A) Sat 13 April; Wolves (A) Tue 16 April; Bristol City (H) Fri 19 April; Barnsley (A) Sat 27 April; Cardiff (H) Sat 4 May.Philip Buckingham, Hull Daily MailProspects: A season that began with Hull City installed as 40/1 outsiders for the Championship title now sees them odds-on to clinch a return to the Premier League during Steve Bruce's first term as manager. A play-off finish would have been accepted by every supporter back in August, but the targets have gradually shifted up towards automatic promotion. An unbroken residency of almost five months inside the top six is a telling measure of their consistency. To be second with eight games remaining makes City the team for the play-off pack to catch, and a home fixture against third-placed Watford on April 2 could be a clash to make or break the ambitions of both contenders. Five wins from the last eight would give the Tigers an outstanding chance of joining Cardiff on the direct path to the Premier League.Current form: Three defeats in the last five games mean City are not in their best touch this season but five wins in the last eight has set the standard needed in the final five weeks. Although defeats against Brighton, Bolton, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest – all promotion contenders in their own right – have come in the last two months, a ruthless streak against the division's strugglers has maintained the march. Shipping 12 in their last five games has unearthed defensive frailties, but City do look a far more potent threat with on-loan attackers George Boyd and Gedo leading the line.Key figures that can make the difference: Steve Bruce's 3-5-2 shape is made for wing-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady. Their adventures up and down the flanks give City wonderful service from wide and consistently carves open opposition defences. Midfielders Stephen Quinn, Robert Koren and David Meyler all help the side to tick, but the onus will fall on Boyd and Gedo to find the goals. The pair have scored eight goals between them since arriving at the KC and transformed the Tigers' attack. Matty Fryatt's expected return in April could provide a further boost after seven months out injured.Champions: CardiffRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Watford
WATFORDPosition: 3rdPoints: 66Promotion odds: 6/5 Burnley (H) Fri 29 March; Hull City (A) Tue 2 April; Cardiff (H) Sat 6 April; Peterborough (A) Sat 13 April; Millwall (A) Tue 16 April; Blackburn (H) Sat 20 April; Leicester (A) Fri 26 April; Leeds United (H) Sat 4 May.Anthony Matthews, Watford ObserverProspects: Watford's quest for automatic promotion may have faltered recently but they remain nicely poised for a return to the Premier League, sitting two points off second place with eight games to play. Many did not expect the Hornets to be challenging so strongly towards the top end of the table following the takeover by the Pozzo family last summer, the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as head coach and the much-publicised influx of foreign loan signings, but after an arguably predictable indifferent start to the campaign, Watford started to really kick on in November and have only dropped out of the top six briefly since December. Key to Watford's prospects will be their superb away form. Saturday's surprise defeat at Barnsley was only their second loss on the road in 12 league matches and while they face a huge-looking trip to rivals Hull City, trips to Peterborough United, Millwall and a currently out-of-sorts Leicester City could be decisive in determining whether it's automatic promotion or the play-offs for the Hornets.Current form: Having taken 13 points from 15 during an unbeaten February that saw Gianfranco Zola win the Championship Manager of the Month award, the Hornets have faltered somewhat this month, taking just four points from a possible 12. They paid the price for not capitalising on their supremacy when they were pegged back by an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Wolves but then did very well to turn around a 1-0 interval deficit at home to Sheffield Wednesday – they were fortunate to be just one down at the break in truth – and win 2-1. However, unexpected defeats at home to Blackpool and then at Barnsley have seen the Hornets suffer back-to-back league losses for the first time since October. Key figures that can make the difference: No team in the four professional English divisions can match Watford's goal tally of 72 and almost half of these have been scored by the strike partnership of Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney. Czech international Vydra has gone off the boil recently but if he can rediscover his best form which has already seen him net 20 times this season during the run-in, he could be the man to fire Watford into the Premier League. However, the Hornets' remaining opponents will also need to be wary of Deeney. The former Walsall striker is a tireless worker and has developed into a very effective line leader for his side this season, as well as scoring 14 times.Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: WatfordPlay-off winners: Hull City
CRYSTAL PALACEPosition: 4thPoints: 65Promotion odds: 7/4 Birmingham (H) Fri 29 March; Blackpool (A) Mon 1 April; Barnsley (H) Sat 6 April; Millwall (A) Sat 13 April; Ipswich (A) Tue 16 April; Leicester (H) Sat 20 April; Blackburn (A) Sat 27 April; Peterborough (H) Sat 4 May.Richard Cawley, South London PressProspects: Healthy. The club are in their highest position at this stage of the season since 1996 but there is now an expectation that Palace – in the top six since October 2 – will achieve at least a play-off position. Their fine record at Selhurst Park, just the one defeat since losing to Watford on the opening day, should assure that the top six isn't a problem to achieve. It is on the road, where they have won just once since the end of November, where there needs to be an improvement on their points return that will ultimately decide if they can snare one of the automatic spots. Current form: The Eagles' peak was in October and November and since then they have kept their promotion drive ticking over without really scaling those heights again. You're probably talking about them taking 20 points from these last eight matches if they want to go straight up. It's now 16 games undefeated on home turf but seven points from 33 on their travels away from their South London base. Palace have had the most penalties in the division – 17 – but have kept four clean sheets in their past 21 matches. Ian Holloway's appointment in November has seen the club continue to employ an attacking strategy and he has not swayed away from trying to win in style rather than grind out results.Key figures that can make the difference: Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha have taken most of the plaudits this season and quite rightly so, but the man who is perhaps the key to getting them to tick is defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak. Whenever the Australian – so often the starting point of their attacks – is missing Palace are nowhere near as effective in the 4-2-3-1 formation. At the moment he is on nine bookings, so one more before the cut-off and he'll sit out two games. Zaha's form has been erratic since sealing his January move to Manchester United but when he is good it tends to be devastatingly so. His trickery and dribbling quality could be vital in unlocking the kind of tight encounters that tend to characterise the run-in. Murray has been a revelation this year with 29 Championship goals. Palace have not lost when he has netted this season. Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Crystal PalacePlay-off winners: Nottingham Forest
NOTTINGHAM FORESTPosition: 5thPoints: 60Promotion odds: 3/1 Brighton (H) Sat 30 March; Burnley (A) Mon 1 April; Blackpool (H) Sat 6 April; Cardiff (A) Sat 13 April; Middlesbrough (A) Tue 16 April; Barnsley (H) Sat 20 April; Millwall (A) Sat 27 April; Leicester (H) Sat 4 May.Paul Taylor, Nottingham PostProspects: The key thing for Forest at the minute is momentum. If they do manage to beat Brighton after the international break, when the Seagulls come to the City Ground, the Reds will equal a club record for consecutive wins that was set way back in 1921. The six consecutive wins and the previous draw they secured against Bolton in Billy Davies' first game after returning for his second spell as manager, have helped to propel them from being nine points away from the play-off places all the way up to fifth. A few more ambitious fans are starting to talk about challenging for automatic promotion. That may be a big ask but, given their recent form, nothing is impossible. They trail second-placed Hull by eight points – and they have just closed a similar gap in the space of seven games, to get into the play-offs. But the main aim is to secure a third play-off place under the Scotsman. Anything else would just be a huge bonus. Current form: Forest's revival under Davies has been utterly emphatic. Forest had won only three games in their previous 14 fixtures prior to his arrival. They have subsequently powered their way back into the play-off reckoning amid this potentially record-breaking run. The Reds will not underestimate the task when play-off rivals Brighton visit the City Ground, but if they do manage to beat Gus Poyet's side in their next match, they then head to Burnley on Monday, April 1 looking to secure their place in the record books, by recording an eighth consecutive win. Davies has not made a single signing since returning to the club, he has just instilled confidence and belief into the players, while adopting a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond, which makes the most of their strengths.Key figures that can make the difference: While Forest's revival has been inspired by a real team ethos, the key figures have been in midfield. Adlene Guedioura sits in front of the back four, providing protection when the full-backs push on and also allowing the other three midfielders to focus on their attacking threat. When he plays well, it is reflected in the rest of the side. The trio of midfielders ahead of him – Radi Majewski, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury – must be among the best in the Championship, as highlighted by the fact that Lewis McGugan finds himself on the bench. Majewski has been back in the form of his life since Davies returned to the club, scoring goals and carving open opposition defences, while you can also see a dramatic improvement in Lansbury, who has found his own scoring touch. Majewski (five), Lansbury (four), McGugan (three) and Reid (one) have scored 13 of the 16 goals Forest have scored in their last seven games since Davies returned.Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Crystal Palace Play-off winners: Nottingham Forest
LEICESTERPosition: 6thPoints: 59Promotion odds: 7/2 Millwall (H) Fri 29 March; Barnsley (A) Mon 1 April; Brighton (A) Sat 6 April; Birmingham (H) Fri 12 April; Bolton (H) Tue 16 April; Crystal Palace (A) Sat 20 April; Watford (H) Fri 26 April; Nott'm Forest (A) Sat 4 May.Rob Tanner, Leicester MercuryProspects: It is hanging in the balance now for City. After a fantastic run in January which fired them into the top two, a run of one win in nine games has seen Nigel Pearson's men clinging to a play-off place. The slump in form is alarming and they produced arguably their worst performance of the season at Derby, a display which gave no indication they can arrest the slide. However, Pearson has taken his squad away to Portugal this week for some warm weather training and they have games coming up against some of their big rivals.Current form: Woeful. It is the worst run under Pearson in both of his tenures as City boss. They have won one, drawn three and lost five of their last nine. Even more baffling is the fact the defeats have come against sides in the bottom half.Key figures that can make the difference: City desperately need the front two of Chris Wood and David Nugent to return to form. Wood scored nine in his first nine games for City but has gone five games without a goal, while top scorer Nugent has failed to add to his tally of 14 in his last eight games. But the opportunities have dried up and the likes of Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockaert also need to rediscover some early season form. Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Nottingham Forest
BRIGHTONPosition: 7thPoints: 59Promotion odds: 9/2 Nott'm Forest (A) Sat 30 March; Charlton (H) Tue 2 April; Leicester (H) Sat 6 April; Middlesbrough (A) Sat 13 April; Peterborough (A) Tue 16 April; Blackpool (H) Sat 20 April; Leeds (A) Sat 27 April; Wolves (H) Sat 4 May.Andy Naylor, Brighton ArgusProspects: Brighton faded into tenth last season, but with a better and deeper squad, they are more likely to last the course this time. The big worry is up front. Free-scoring Leo Ulloa is their only recognised striker, with top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins out injured for the rest of the season. Gus Poyet has pledged cover for Ulloa will be in place before the March 28 loan deadline.Current form: Pretty good. They were six matches unbeaten, including winning at Cardiff and, of course, sneaking past Hull at home prior to consecutive away defeats at Bolton and Barnsley. They bounced back with Sunday's 3-0 derby victory against Crystal Palace at The Amex, where their form could be key. Poyet's charges are undefeated at home in the league in 2013 and have just completed a hat-trick of home wins for the first time since November 2011.Key figures that can make the difference: Take your pick. The good thing is they have several, although Argentinian Ulloa stands out with eight goals in 11 games since his January arrival from Spain. It could be the goalkeeping of Tomasz Kuszczak, the England experience in the back four of Matt Upson and Wayne Bridge, the pivotal shielding midfield role played by new Scotland call-up Liam Bridcutt, the set piece expertise of David Lopez or the wing threat from Will Buckley and the recalled Kazenga LuaLua. Failing all that they have the class of the enigmatic Vicente for a goal.Champions: CardiffRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Brighton
HULL CITYPosition: 2ndPoints: 68Promotion odds: 8/11 Huddersfield (A) Sat 30 March; Watford (H) Tue 2 April; Middlesbrough (H) Sat 6 April; Ipswich (A) Sat 13 April; Wolves (A) Tue 16 April; Bristol City (H) Fri 19 April; Barnsley (A) Sat 27 April; Cardiff (H) Sat 4 May.Philip Buckingham, Hull Daily MailProspects: A season that began with Hull City installed as 40/1 outsiders for the Championship title now sees them odds-on to clinch a return to the Premier League during Steve Bruce's first term as manager. A play-off finish would have been accepted by every supporter back in August, but the targets have gradually shifted up towards automatic promotion. An unbroken residency of almost five months inside the top six is a telling measure of their consistency. To be second with eight games remaining makes City the team for the play-off pack to catch, and a home fixture against third-placed Watford on April 2 could be a clash to make or break the ambitions of both contenders. Five wins from the last eight would give the Tigers an outstanding chance of joining Cardiff on the direct path to the Premier League.Current form: Three defeats in the last five games mean City are not in their best touch this season but five wins in the last eight has set the standard needed in the final five weeks. Although defeats against Brighton, Bolton, Crystal Palace and Nottingham Forest – all promotion contenders in their own right – have come in the last two months, a ruthless streak against the division's strugglers has maintained the march. Shipping 12 in their last five games has unearthed defensive frailties, but City do look a far more potent threat with on-loan attackers George Boyd and Gedo leading the line.Key figures that can make the difference: Steve Bruce's 3-5-2 shape is made for wing-backs Ahmed Elmohamady and Robbie Brady. Their adventures up and down the flanks give City wonderful service from wide and consistently carves open opposition defences. Midfielders Stephen Quinn, Robert Koren and David Meyler all help the side to tick, but the onus will fall on Boyd and Gedo to find the goals. The pair have scored eight goals between them since arriving at the KC and transformed the Tigers' attack. Matty Fryatt's expected return in April could provide a further boost after seven months out injured.Champions: CardiffRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Watford
WATFORDPosition: 3rdPoints: 66Promotion odds: 6/5 Burnley (H) Fri 29 March; Hull City (A) Tue 2 April; Cardiff (H) Sat 6 April; Peterborough (A) Sat 13 April; Millwall (A) Tue 16 April; Blackburn (H) Sat 20 April; Leicester (A) Fri 26 April; Leeds United (H) Sat 4 May.Anthony Matthews, Watford ObserverProspects: Watford's quest for automatic promotion may have faltered recently but they remain nicely poised for a return to the Premier League, sitting two points off second place with eight games to play. Many did not expect the Hornets to be challenging so strongly towards the top end of the table following the takeover by the Pozzo family last summer, the appointment of Gianfranco Zola as head coach and the much-publicised influx of foreign loan signings, but after an arguably predictable indifferent start to the campaign, Watford started to really kick on in November and have only dropped out of the top six briefly since December. Key to Watford's prospects will be their superb away form. Saturday's surprise defeat at Barnsley was only their second loss on the road in 12 league matches and while they face a huge-looking trip to rivals Hull City, trips to Peterborough United, Millwall and a currently out-of-sorts Leicester City could be decisive in determining whether it's automatic promotion or the play-offs for the Hornets.Current form: Having taken 13 points from 15 during an unbeaten February that saw Gianfranco Zola win the Championship Manager of the Month award, the Hornets have faltered somewhat this month, taking just four points from a possible 12. They paid the price for not capitalising on their supremacy when they were pegged back by an injury-time equaliser in a 1-1 draw at Wolves but then did very well to turn around a 1-0 interval deficit at home to Sheffield Wednesday – they were fortunate to be just one down at the break in truth – and win 2-1. However, unexpected defeats at home to Blackpool and then at Barnsley have seen the Hornets suffer back-to-back league losses for the first time since October. Key figures that can make the difference: No team in the four professional English divisions can match Watford's goal tally of 72 and almost half of these have been scored by the strike partnership of Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney. Czech international Vydra has gone off the boil recently but if he can rediscover his best form which has already seen him net 20 times this season during the run-in, he could be the man to fire Watford into the Premier League. However, the Hornets' remaining opponents will also need to be wary of Deeney. The former Walsall striker is a tireless worker and has developed into a very effective line leader for his side this season, as well as scoring 14 times.Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: WatfordPlay-off winners: Hull City
CRYSTAL PALACEPosition: 4thPoints: 65Promotion odds: 7/4 Birmingham (H) Fri 29 March; Blackpool (A) Mon 1 April; Barnsley (H) Sat 6 April; Millwall (A) Sat 13 April; Ipswich (A) Tue 16 April; Leicester (H) Sat 20 April; Blackburn (A) Sat 27 April; Peterborough (H) Sat 4 May.Richard Cawley, South London PressProspects: Healthy. The club are in their highest position at this stage of the season since 1996 but there is now an expectation that Palace – in the top six since October 2 – will achieve at least a play-off position. Their fine record at Selhurst Park, just the one defeat since losing to Watford on the opening day, should assure that the top six isn't a problem to achieve. It is on the road, where they have won just once since the end of November, where there needs to be an improvement on their points return that will ultimately decide if they can snare one of the automatic spots. Current form: The Eagles' peak was in October and November and since then they have kept their promotion drive ticking over without really scaling those heights again. You're probably talking about them taking 20 points from these last eight matches if they want to go straight up. It's now 16 games undefeated on home turf but seven points from 33 on their travels away from their South London base. Palace have had the most penalties in the division – 17 – but have kept four clean sheets in their past 21 matches. Ian Holloway's appointment in November has seen the club continue to employ an attacking strategy and he has not swayed away from trying to win in style rather than grind out results.Key figures that can make the difference: Glenn Murray and Wilfried Zaha have taken most of the plaudits this season and quite rightly so, but the man who is perhaps the key to getting them to tick is defensive midfielder Mile Jedinak. Whenever the Australian – so often the starting point of their attacks – is missing Palace are nowhere near as effective in the 4-2-3-1 formation. At the moment he is on nine bookings, so one more before the cut-off and he'll sit out two games. Zaha's form has been erratic since sealing his January move to Manchester United but when he is good it tends to be devastatingly so. His trickery and dribbling quality could be vital in unlocking the kind of tight encounters that tend to characterise the run-in. Murray has been a revelation this year with 29 Championship goals. Palace have not lost when he has netted this season. Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Crystal PalacePlay-off winners: Nottingham Forest
NOTTINGHAM FORESTPosition: 5thPoints: 60Promotion odds: 3/1 Brighton (H) Sat 30 March; Burnley (A) Mon 1 April; Blackpool (H) Sat 6 April; Cardiff (A) Sat 13 April; Middlesbrough (A) Tue 16 April; Barnsley (H) Sat 20 April; Millwall (A) Sat 27 April; Leicester (H) Sat 4 May.Paul Taylor, Nottingham PostProspects: The key thing for Forest at the minute is momentum. If they do manage to beat Brighton after the international break, when the Seagulls come to the City Ground, the Reds will equal a club record for consecutive wins that was set way back in 1921. The six consecutive wins and the previous draw they secured against Bolton in Billy Davies' first game after returning for his second spell as manager, have helped to propel them from being nine points away from the play-off places all the way up to fifth. A few more ambitious fans are starting to talk about challenging for automatic promotion. That may be a big ask but, given their recent form, nothing is impossible. They trail second-placed Hull by eight points – and they have just closed a similar gap in the space of seven games, to get into the play-offs. But the main aim is to secure a third play-off place under the Scotsman. Anything else would just be a huge bonus. Current form: Forest's revival under Davies has been utterly emphatic. Forest had won only three games in their previous 14 fixtures prior to his arrival. They have subsequently powered their way back into the play-off reckoning amid this potentially record-breaking run. The Reds will not underestimate the task when play-off rivals Brighton visit the City Ground, but if they do manage to beat Gus Poyet's side in their next match, they then head to Burnley on Monday, April 1 looking to secure their place in the record books, by recording an eighth consecutive win. Davies has not made a single signing since returning to the club, he has just instilled confidence and belief into the players, while adopting a 4-4-2 formation with a midfield diamond, which makes the most of their strengths.Key figures that can make the difference: While Forest's revival has been inspired by a real team ethos, the key figures have been in midfield. Adlene Guedioura sits in front of the back four, providing protection when the full-backs push on and also allowing the other three midfielders to focus on their attacking threat. When he plays well, it is reflected in the rest of the side. The trio of midfielders ahead of him – Radi Majewski, Andy Reid and Henri Lansbury – must be among the best in the Championship, as highlighted by the fact that Lewis McGugan finds himself on the bench. Majewski has been back in the form of his life since Davies returned to the club, scoring goals and carving open opposition defences, while you can also see a dramatic improvement in Lansbury, who has found his own scoring touch. Majewski (five), Lansbury (four), McGugan (three) and Reid (one) have scored 13 of the 16 goals Forest have scored in their last seven games since Davies returned.Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Crystal Palace Play-off winners: Nottingham Forest
LEICESTERPosition: 6thPoints: 59Promotion odds: 7/2 Millwall (H) Fri 29 March; Barnsley (A) Mon 1 April; Brighton (A) Sat 6 April; Birmingham (H) Fri 12 April; Bolton (H) Tue 16 April; Crystal Palace (A) Sat 20 April; Watford (H) Fri 26 April; Nott'm Forest (A) Sat 4 May.Rob Tanner, Leicester MercuryProspects: It is hanging in the balance now for City. After a fantastic run in January which fired them into the top two, a run of one win in nine games has seen Nigel Pearson's men clinging to a play-off place. The slump in form is alarming and they produced arguably their worst performance of the season at Derby, a display which gave no indication they can arrest the slide. However, Pearson has taken his squad away to Portugal this week for some warm weather training and they have games coming up against some of their big rivals.Current form: Woeful. It is the worst run under Pearson in both of his tenures as City boss. They have won one, drawn three and lost five of their last nine. Even more baffling is the fact the defeats have come against sides in the bottom half.Key figures that can make the difference: City desperately need the front two of Chris Wood and David Nugent to return to form. Wood scored nine in his first nine games for City but has gone five games without a goal, while top scorer Nugent has failed to add to his tally of 14 in his last eight games. But the opportunities have dried up and the likes of Ben Marshall and Anthony Knockaert also need to rediscover some early season form. Champions: Cardiff CityRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Nottingham Forest
BRIGHTONPosition: 7thPoints: 59Promotion odds: 9/2 Nott'm Forest (A) Sat 30 March; Charlton (H) Tue 2 April; Leicester (H) Sat 6 April; Middlesbrough (A) Sat 13 April; Peterborough (A) Tue 16 April; Blackpool (H) Sat 20 April; Leeds (A) Sat 27 April; Wolves (H) Sat 4 May.Andy Naylor, Brighton ArgusProspects: Brighton faded into tenth last season, but with a better and deeper squad, they are more likely to last the course this time. The big worry is up front. Free-scoring Leo Ulloa is their only recognised striker, with top scorer Craig Mackail-Smith and Will Hoskins out injured for the rest of the season. Gus Poyet has pledged cover for Ulloa will be in place before the March 28 loan deadline.Current form: Pretty good. They were six matches unbeaten, including winning at Cardiff and, of course, sneaking past Hull at home prior to consecutive away defeats at Bolton and Barnsley. They bounced back with Sunday's 3-0 derby victory against Crystal Palace at The Amex, where their form could be key. Poyet's charges are undefeated at home in the league in 2013 and have just completed a hat-trick of home wins for the first time since November 2011.Key figures that can make the difference: Take your pick. The good thing is they have several, although Argentinian Ulloa stands out with eight goals in 11 games since his January arrival from Spain. It could be the goalkeeping of Tomasz Kuszczak, the England experience in the back four of Matt Upson and Wayne Bridge, the pivotal shielding midfield role played by new Scotland call-up Liam Bridcutt, the set piece expertise of David Lopez or the wing threat from Will Buckley and the recalled Kazenga LuaLua. Failing all that they have the class of the enigmatic Vicente for a goal.Champions: CardiffRunners-up: Hull CityPlay-off winners: Brighton
