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Exciting promotion race, but Preston have a lot to do at the bottom
Any side in the top six of the Championship can claim an automatic promotion spot, Don Goodman told Sky Sports News.
League leaders QPR have a five-point gap over the chasing pack but, with only three points separating second-placed Cardiff and Leeds United in sixth, the fight for automatic promotion to the Premier League is far from over.
The Bluebirds missed out on a chance to strengthen their hold on second place when they drew at home to Burnley on Tuesday night, while in-form Nottingham Forest missed their opportunity of leap-frogging the Welsh side by suffering a shock-defeat to relegation-threatened Scunthorpe.
With things so tight at the top, Goodman admitted he was struggling to predict who will finish in the top two.
"This league is absolutely bananas," he said.
"QPR are obviously favourites for an automatic spot. They've got a five point cushion and it has been a great week for them as they avoided defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and then saw Forest and Cardiff drop points during the mid-week games.
"But as for the rest of the teams - well you could toss a coin.
"It was certainly a blow for Forest to lose to Scunthorpe on Wednesday. They had the chance to go second and didn't take it but, nevertheless, they've been in good form. Good teams bounce back from a bad result and I'd expect Nottingham Forest to be able to do just that.
"Meanwhile, Dave Jones' Cardiff don't seem to be finding the back of the net as regularly as they were at the start of the season.
"But all the teams up there have shown they are capable of going on fantastic runs, winning four or five games on the trot.
"We are getting down to the nitty-gritty and now it comes down to mettle. How strong are the characters you've got? How many leaders have you got? They are all capable teams."
At the other end of the table Goodman feels matters are less complicated for basement boys Preston - who threw away a two goal lead against Watford - while he is backing his old club Sheffield United to escape the relegation zone.
"It is going to be really tough for Preston now," Goodman told Sky Sports News.
"Losing a two goal lead, at this stage of the season, when you're already playing catch up, is such a body blow. Things haven't been going their way, they can't buy a win and I do think it is going to be a long, hard slog for them.
"Certainly they need to pick up sooner rather than later to give themselves any chance.
"Sheffield United? I think they will turn things around. You need that little bit of luck if you're going to survive and I think, at some stage between now and the end of the season, they'll pick up. They've got a fantastic support and I think they'll just about survive. But it'll be tough!"
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...757105,00.html
Any side in the top six of the Championship can claim an automatic promotion spot, Don Goodman told Sky Sports News.
League leaders QPR have a five-point gap over the chasing pack but, with only three points separating second-placed Cardiff and Leeds United in sixth, the fight for automatic promotion to the Premier League is far from over.
The Bluebirds missed out on a chance to strengthen their hold on second place when they drew at home to Burnley on Tuesday night, while in-form Nottingham Forest missed their opportunity of leap-frogging the Welsh side by suffering a shock-defeat to relegation-threatened Scunthorpe.
With things so tight at the top, Goodman admitted he was struggling to predict who will finish in the top two.
"This league is absolutely bananas," he said.
"QPR are obviously favourites for an automatic spot. They've got a five point cushion and it has been a great week for them as they avoided defeat to Nottingham Forest on Saturday and then saw Forest and Cardiff drop points during the mid-week games.
"But as for the rest of the teams - well you could toss a coin.
"It was certainly a blow for Forest to lose to Scunthorpe on Wednesday. They had the chance to go second and didn't take it but, nevertheless, they've been in good form. Good teams bounce back from a bad result and I'd expect Nottingham Forest to be able to do just that.
"Meanwhile, Dave Jones' Cardiff don't seem to be finding the back of the net as regularly as they were at the start of the season.
"But all the teams up there have shown they are capable of going on fantastic runs, winning four or five games on the trot.
"We are getting down to the nitty-gritty and now it comes down to mettle. How strong are the characters you've got? How many leaders have you got? They are all capable teams."
At the other end of the table Goodman feels matters are less complicated for basement boys Preston - who threw away a two goal lead against Watford - while he is backing his old club Sheffield United to escape the relegation zone.
"It is going to be really tough for Preston now," Goodman told Sky Sports News.
"Losing a two goal lead, at this stage of the season, when you're already playing catch up, is such a body blow. Things haven't been going their way, they can't buy a win and I do think it is going to be a long, hard slog for them.
"Certainly they need to pick up sooner rather than later to give themselves any chance.
"Sheffield United? I think they will turn things around. You need that little bit of luck if you're going to survive and I think, at some stage between now and the end of the season, they'll pick up. They've got a fantastic support and I think they'll just about survive. But it'll be tough!"
http://www.skysports.com/story/0,195...757105,00.html
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