Who’s for the championship?

By Mark Fullilove
March 4 2005

With Ipswich playing Wigan this weekend, it is the moment of truth in the fight for the Championship. Currently, Ipswich, Wigan and Sunderland form the top 3.....

With Ipswich playing Wigan this weekend, it is the moment of truth in the fight for the Championship. Currently, Ipswich, Wigan and Sunderland form the top 3- all on equal points with Wigan and Sunderland having the superior goal difference, Ipswich forming the latter. So who has the bottle to gain the two invaluable Automatic spots?

Currently top of the table lie Sunderland, with managerial veteran Mick McCarthy as manager. The former Ireland manager steering Sunderland close to promotion in the past seasons has suffered bitter blows in the play-offs and will be looking to avoid them at all costs this season.

McCarthy has suffered debts of over £30 million since taking over at the Stadium of Light, and since then has put together a decent squad. At the start of the season he brought in talented players Liam Lawrence from lower division clubs and has enabled him to get a robust midfield to support the strikers. Looking at the squads McCarthy has the biggest of the current three, and this has shown throughout the season, which has pushed Sunderland’s chance of promotion.

Sunderland played Burnley this evening, with the Black Cats winning 2-0 leaving them in pole position.

Second lie Wigan. The Latics having the financial advantage, with their prowess shown yesterday by securing ex-Cardiff midfielder Graham Kavanagh for £400,000. Paul Jewell’s side have been known for being in and around the top 3 in the last season but part way through the season the squad was struck down by injuries and he saw his club fall down out of the play-offs. He will be hoping to avoid that this season. Somehow managing to keep his main striker Nathan Ellington, Jewell has managed to partner him with ex West Brom player Jason Roberts and ex Torquay striker David Graham. Also brought in was Alan Mahon from Blackburn and this attacking side have strung together a good run of form. It will be battle royale this weekend between Ipswich and Wigan at the JJB but whoever wins will have a three point cushion at joint top again and that 2^nd Automatic berth.

Ipswich, have looked somewhat dismal of late, and this coincidently arrayed with the injury to star striker Shefki Kuqi, have left the Tractor Boys spurning a 6 point gap at the top to lie third in the table. This weekend they face a Wigan side who managed to spurn a lead at Portman Road, and will be looking to do the double over the Latics. With Kuqi returning to the Ipswich fold it looks like that things are back on the up for Town, although it remains to be seen whether they can get an all important win on Saturday.

So who will have the pace to last the season? Well looking through the squads both Sunderland and Wigan have the superior places. Sunderland with squad size and Wigan with finances, but it is my guess that it is Ipswich and Sunderland for the places.

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