Brighton top Championship in hunt for back-to-back promotions
Published:Brighton led League One for virtually all of last season before going on to win the title and the early indications of the current campaign show that they are following a similar plan in the Championship.
Gus Poyet’s side may be facing better quality competition in the Championship, but four wins and a draw in their opening five fixtures has seen them sit atop the standings.
The latest of these victories was a 2-0 home win over another of last season’s trio to be promoted from League One in Peterborough and Brighton’s odds are now 8/1 to win the Championship this season and claim back-to-back titles.
Norwich are in the Premier League this season after successive promotions from League One and like Brighton, Southampton also have aspirations of this feat.
After winning their opening four games, Southampton suffered a minor blip in losing at Leicester, but they are still in the automatic promotion places.
Southampton are second favourites at 6/1 in the Championship odds behind West Ham.
Despite the Championship season only being five games old, only two teams remain unbeaten, with Middlesbrough making a more than solid start under Tony Mowbray.
Since their Premier League relegation in 2009, Middlesbrough have disappointed in the last two seasons and have failed to even challenge for promotion, despite a hefty pre-season billing.
Middlesbrough may have been denied a sixth successive victory in all competitions by Coventry’s late equaliser, but they still look contenders at 10/1.
The goalscoring form of Marvin Emnes will also give them grounds for confidence as he tops the Championship scoring charts with four goals.
Elsewhere, Leicester are 7/1 to win the Championship, Blackpool and Cardiff are both available at 14/1 and Nottingham Forest are 22/1.
