Leicester City are doing exactly what was expected of them heading into the season and that is flying high in the Championship. The Foxes lead the way in the second tier after 11 matches with 30 points to their name, winning 10 and losing just once.
As we head into the second international break of the year, we take a look at how the odds are shaping up in the market for Championship title winners. Can the Foxes be stopped?
Leicester City @ 8/11
Leicester fans are loving Enzo Maresca’s football in the Championship as they are starting to see their side run away with the Championship. Jamie Vardy is showing that there is still life in the old dog as he is continuing to find the back of the net, and the new-look midfield of Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Harry Winks is far too good for this level. It looks as though they will be bouncing back up to the Premier League at the first attempt.
As a squad they have been levels above most of the other teams in the division and as each game comes you’re expecting nothing but a Leicester victory. The Foxes are surely in for a memorable campaign and it is very difficult to see any other team stopping them from ending the year as the Championship title winners.
Ipswich Town @ 3/1
Even though they were promoted from League One in the summer, many people were expecting Ipswich Town to cause a huge surprise in the second tier this year. They are doing just that as they sit second in the table and only two points behind Leicester, and eight points ahead of Preston North End in third.
The Tractor Boys have won nine games so far and have been involved in a fair few high-scoring games this term. They may not be the most defensively sound side in the league, but they have the attacking quality to make sure they always outscore their opponents.
It remains to be seen if they can push Leicester all the way for the crown, but they will certainly be seen as a tough team to knock off the second automatic promotion spot.
Leeds United @ 6/1
Like Leicester, Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League last year but no one considered them as title contenders in the same way that Leicester were. They have enjoyed a strong start in the second tier under experienced manager Daniel Farke, who got Norwich City promoted twice.
Leeds have won five matches so far and they have turned in some good performances. They certainly have the quality to deliver a title charge, but it doesn’t seem like they have enough to better what Leicester have. They will most definitely be part of a highly-contested race for second place come May.
Southampton @ 25/1
The other team that dropped down from the top flight in the summer was Southampton. With Russell Martin as manager, the Saints are playing an expansive possession-based style of football this season. They have been through a rough patch despite boasting a squad filled with quality.
Southampton have lost four games this season and while they have won five matches, they sit 10th in the table, 13 points off top spot. Over the coming months we are expecting them to become more consistent and win a lot more matches. With the squad they have, they simply have to, otherwise Martin’s position in charge will be at risk.
They don’t look like a team with strong title-winning credentials, but they certainly have what it takes to fight for an automatic promotion spot.
