The Race for Promotion: Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield's Fixtures Compared

With just under 2 months left of this long, hard Championship season, the league looks to have whittled itself down to 3 contenders for automatic promotion: Newcastle, Brighton and Huddersfield.

As we all know, only the top 2 are guaranteed a return to the top flight so we've broken down the remaining fixtures for Newcastle United and their 2 closest rivals:

Newcastle United (1st - 77pts)

With 9 games remaining, Newcastle will be looking for maximum points in their next three fixtures as they face a trip to Gianfranco Zola's struggling Birmingham, followed by two home games against relegation threatened Wigan and Burton. Tough tests then arise as Newcastle travel to Hillsborough to take on promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday followed by the Good Friday clash against Leeds at St.James' Park. The final four games see us take on a host of mid-table sides, who by that stage, will hopefully have one eye on their holidays for Newcastle's benefit.

Providing Newcastle can get their home form back on track & overcome tests against Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds, i'd say those fixtures give us every chance of promotion.

2) Click here to read our analysis on Brighton's remaining Championship Fixtures

Brighton & Hove Albion (2nd - 77pts)

 

Brighton's toughest test in their remaining 9 games could arrive in Saturday's late kick off at Elland Road, where they face the revitalised Leeds United. Formidable at home, Brighton are still to face several struggling sides at The Amex such as Blackburn, Wigan & Bristol City, however it could be argued that such teams pose a threat, given they are fighting for their survival. The final few weeks of the season include a potentially dangerous trip to Norwich, who should have a new manager in charge by then, as well as a trip to Aston Villa on the final day of the season. You'd expect Brighton to drop very few points in their winnable home games to come. How they fair in the challenges to come away from home, could however make or break their promotion push.

3) Click here to read our analysis on Huddersfield's remaining Championship Fixtures Huddersfield (3rd - 71pts)

While Huddersfield are 6 points adrift (7 points with goal difference take into consideration) they have a game in hand on Newcastle & Brighton and what I believe to be the most winnable fixtures of the lot. Three of their next four see them face relegation contenders as well as fixtures to come against potential mid-table drifters Preston and Cardiff. Banana skins include home ties against Norwich and Fulham (who NUFC couldn't live with) as well as a trip to Derby, who may be revitalised following the appointment of Gary Rowett. Huddersfield are on the crest of a wave and their momentum is dangerous as is their generous fixture list, but Newcastle must hope they hit a rough patch as we enter the business end of the season.

Newcastle and Brighton have the upper hand in terms of points on the board but Huddersfield have the game in hand and the favourable fixtures. I hate to say it but this one might just go to the wire!