Cardiff consistency lends weight to ever-shortening title odds

Cardiff were fancied by many for promotion this season, but few could have predicted the sheer consistency they have evidenced in their campaign so far.

A 4-1 win at Blackburn on Friday night was the Bluebirds’ fifth win in their last six games, and the 11/8 title shots’ 14th win in 21 games this term.

The Welsh side have won all of their 10 home outings too, and with relegation-threatened Peterborough the next visitors to Cardiff City Stadium, the Bluebirds bandwagon looks set to roll on.

That game will be the latest in a series of highly-testing fixtures for the Championship’s bottom club Peterborough meanwhile, who were bested 3-2 at home to Middlesbrough this weekend.

Tony Mowbray’s visitors have quietly crept up to third in the table, and will be supported by some as 7/1 chances to claim the title on the back of that win.

In contrast, Darren Ferguson’s dismal side look relegation certainties at this point.

And Sheffield Wednesday could join them, after passing up a golden opportunity to end a horrific run at Hillsborough against fellow strugglers Bristol City.

Wednesday took the lead with little more than 10 minutes to play on Saturday, yet managed to succumb to a 3-2 loss, their seventh in succession on their own patch.

The third of the sides’ making up the relegation zone achieved a much more positive result meanwhile, but Barnsley will ultimately be disappointed to have left Leicester with only a point.

Keith Hill’s travellers were shot down by a 90th minute Jamie Vardy equaliser, meaning Leicester, 4/1 second-favourites for the title, are fifth in the aftermath of that 2-2 draw.

But remaining focused on the lower end of the Championship for the time being, a number of sides are beginning to play their way out of trouble and climb the table.

Mick McCarthy’s influence is beginning to tell at Ipswich, who recorded a second consecutive victory in impressive fashion, conquering playoff hopefuls Millwall 3-0.

Town are now five points clear of the drop zone, and the same total adrift of 16th placed Wolves, who eased pressure on boss Stale Solbakken with a 1-0 win over Birmingham.

Bolton remain 18th, but won’t have been too disappointed with a 2-2 draw away to Huddersfield, despite the home side registering a late leveller in that clash.

Just three points now separate the Trotters from 11th placed Blackpool, who drew their fourth game in five under Michael Appleton, with a late Noah Dicko strike at Crystal Palace.

Palace remain second, and 7/1 chances for the Championship, whilst the Seasiders are currently four points off the playoffs.

And only a point now separates Nottingham Forest from the top six, following their 2-0 triumph at home to inconsistent Burnley this weekend.

Forest join Brighton on 32 points for the season, after the latter’s 2-2 draw away to in-form Charlton, whilst the Tricky Trees’ greatest rivals were also victorious this weekend.

3-1 was the scoreline by which Derby overcame improving Leeds, and that saw Nigel Clough’s men move within touching distance of the top six too.

The most precariously positioned member of that playoff zone is currently Watford, whose 2-1 defeat at home to Hull this weekend was their first loss in eight.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.