Championship promotion and relegation favourites after Preston North End and Burnley chaotic starts

Preston North End’s start to the season has been far from steady, but the Lilywhites will aim to kick on after the international break.

The Deepdale club’s first three league games were managed by different people, with Ryan Lowe leaving after the opening night defeat to Sheffield United. His assistant, Mike Marsh, then took over as interim boss - but moved on following the loss at Swansea.

North End moved swiftly to appoint Paul Heckingbottom, who beat Luton Town in his first game - before a win over Harrogate Town in the cup and defeat at Oxford United, last time out. Looking at the rest of the division, it’s Sunderland who have made a perfect start - with four wins from four.

West Brom, Leeds United, Blackburn Rovers and Sheffield United are also unbeaten - though the latter have been docked two points. Relegated Luton Town have made a slow start to life back in the second tier, while Cardiff City are the other club with one point to their name.

There are still 42 games to play, but who are the bookies tipping to succeed and struggle? Here are the very latest Championship promotion and relegation odds...

Promotion odds

Leeds 4/11

Burnley 13/8

Middlesbrough 15/8

Sunderland 2/1

Sheffield United, West Brom 10/3

Coventry 6/1

Stoke 7/1

Blackburn 8/1

Luton 9/1

Watford 11/1

Norwich 12/1

Bristol City, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday 14/1

Swansea 22/1

Hull 25/1

Millwall 28/1

Preston North End 40/1

Cardiff 50/1

Derby 66/1

Oxford 80/1

Portsmouth 100/1

Plymouth 200/1

Relegation odds

Plymouth 10/11

Portsmouth 6/4

Oxford 2/1

Cardiff 9/4

Derby 5/2

Preston North End 10/3

Millwall, Hull 9/2

Swansea 11/2

Bristol City, Sheffield Wednesday 9/1

QPR 10/1

Norwich 12/1

Watford, Luton 14/1

Blackburn 16/1

Stoke 20/1

Coventry 22/1

Sheffield Utd 33/1

West Brom 50/1

Sunderland, Middlesbroough, Burnley 100/1

Leeds 500/1

Odds via Sky Bet as of 11:15 on September 5, 2024