Championship 2021/22 season preview

The new Championship season gets under way this weekend when the race to reach the Premier League will be as intense as ever.

Will the three relegated clubs bounce back at the first attempt or will one of last season’s second-tier teams produce an improvement?

Here we assess the chances of the leading contenders and highlight their Championship winner odds.

Fulham

Having lost Scott Parker from the hot-seat, the London outfit turned to former Everton and Watford manager Marco Silva, with former Craven Cottage favourite Luis Boa Morte enlisted as his assistant.

Their one-season stanza in the top flight showed glimpses of the talent Silva has at his disposal but their chances of justifying their status as antepost favourites at 11/2 are likely to depend on Aleksandar Mitrovic rediscovering his scoring boots at a level he has often dominated.

West Brom

It is no surprise to see the relegated clubs towards the top of the market and it is the Baggies that are second favourites at 6/1 as they look to make a swift return to the Premier League.

The West Midlands side have replaced Sam Allardyce in the dugout with 45-year-old Frenchman Valerien Ismael, who looks to enhance his lofty reputation having steered Barnsley from a lowly league position to play-off despair last term.

His brand of high-energy, high press football could bring some excitement back to The Hawthorns and they will have a fantastic chance of finishing top of the pile if holding on to Brazilian playmaker Matheus Pereira and England shot-stopper Sam Johnstone.

Sheffield United

Second-season syndrome brought the Steel City side to its knees last season, with the Blades 7/1 in the Championship winner odds to quickly bounce back with a vengeance.

Former Fulham and Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic has relieved caretaker Paul Heckingbottom of managerial duties, with the Serbian twice achieving promotion from this division in previous roles.

Experienced campaigners Phil Jagielka and John Lundstram have left Bramall Lane in the interim but a lot of the squad of the past two seasons remain intact.

Rhian Brewster, who ultimately drew a blank last season following his £23.5million switch from Liverpool, could prove key if repeating the success he had while on loan at Swansea back in 2019/20.

Bournemouth

Parker takes over from Jonathan Woodgate at the Vitality Stadium to lead the Cherries’ charge towards the top flight.

The 2020/21 campaign ended in play-off semi-final defeat but the acquisition of Parker is an astute piece of business from the south-coast club.

Parker was quick out of the blocks, signing former Brentford midfielder Emiliano Marcondes on a three-year deal.

The Dane, man of the match in last season’s play-off final and a proven performer at this level, adds further depth to a talented roster including Arnaut Danjuma and Dominic Solanke and they are currently trading at odds of 9/1 to repeat the dose of their 2014/15 Championship-winning season.

Swansea

Steve Cooper’s side suffered Wembley heartache at the hands of Brentford in the play-off final in May and Cooper has since departed, with Russell Martin brought in from MK Dons as his replacement this week.

That was the second successive season the Swans made the play-offs with Cooper at the helm but Martin faces a tough task after taking over so close to the start of the season.

Ghana captain Andre Ayew has left the club, although the majority of the side will remain the same and Swansea are 14/1 in the Championship winner odds to avoid the play-offs and go up as champions.

Cardiff

The Bluebirds were rejuvenated by the arrival of Mick McCarthy midway through the last campaign and a late-season charge saw them finish the season in eighth.

A continuation of the progress made under McCarthy could see the Welsh side flourish and they are available at pre-season odds of 14/1.

Middlesbrough

Ashley Fletcher and Britt Assombalonga have left the club but the Teessiders have raided relegated Wycombe in the close season to pick up forward Uche Ikpeazu for an undisclosed fee as well as defender Lee Peltier.

Both add some required experience to Neil Warnock’s squad, who look to reassert their position as a leading Championship outfit following a few seasons lingering in mid-table obscurity.

If starting well the Riverside faithful will rally behind their side and they can’t be ignored at 16/1 in the Championship winner odds.

Barnsley

Last season’s surprise package went from a lowly position of 21st in October to finish the season with 23 victories and a place in the play-offs.

Defeat over two legs to Swansea followed and with manager Ismael, along with club captain Alex Mowatt, departing for West Brom, life is likely to be much tougher for the South Yorkshire side, who are chalked up at 25/1 to take top spot in the Championship table.