Championship Playoffs

While the majority of Championship players are busy booking their summer jollies, those associated with Watford, Preston, Leeds and Crystal Palace still have plenty to play for with the prize of top-flight football and a place in the Premiership alongside the illustrious likes of Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal just three games a way. I'm of course talking about the play-offs and for one of these sides, the dream of walking out at Old Trafford, Anfield and the new Emirates stadium next season, will soon be reality. Predicting the identity of the winners, looks an impossible task on paper though, with all four sides capable of winning promotion to the 'promised land'. That sentiment is clearly echoed by the layers, who in a wide-open book, have Crystal Palace as slight favorites, with the remaining three following closely behind. The fact that Palace head the market is something of a surprise when you consider they finished below the other candidates in the league, but having won the play offs once before under Iain Dowie in 2004, you can't blame the bookies for wanting to keep the Eagles on their side. Having beaten Watford twice already this season, they will have every confidence of making it to the final on May 21st and having triumphed at the Millennium Stadium against West Ham two years ago, they will fear no one should they reach Cardiff again. One win from their last five games doesn't make for the best of reading, but you can't deny the touch of class that runs through the Eagles' ranks, and with England hopeful Andrew Johnson spearheading their attack, they could prove a tough nut to crack. That's the task facing surprise package Watford, but given the staggering progress they have made under rookie manager Adrian Boothroyd, they will believe anything is possible. The Hornets, who are as big as 3/1 with Paddy Power have done amazingly well to reach the play offs. Favourites for relegation at the start of the campaign, the 'Golden Boys' have looked anything but Championship strugglers, adopting a direct but yet hugely affective game plan that has seem them finish third in the league. They might not be the most fashionable side in the division, but what they do have is plenty of power and pace running throughout the side. Inspirational captain Gavin Mahon keeps things ticking over in midfield, while going forward they have one of the most potent partnerships in the division, with Darius Henderson and Marlon King leading the line. Burly target man Henderson provides an excellent focal point for the side, while the form of Marlon King has been nothing short of sensational. Signed on a permanent basis from Nottingham Forest in January, King has chipped in with 21 goals already this term and will no doubt give the Palace rearguard plenty to think about over the two legs. Leeds and Preston complete the play-off picture and like Palace and Watford, it's not difficult to make a strong case for either. Leeds, under the guidance of Kevin Blackwell have been a permanent fixture in the top six this year and will be desperate for a return to the big time following their well documented money troubles over the past few years. Like Palace, Leeds have plenty of class in their squad, with the likes of David Healy, Rob Hulse and Robbie Blake all capable of turning a game on its head. The one worry you would have about the Lilywhites however, would be their form coming into the play offs. With a strong squad at his disposal, Blackwell has not been afraid of shuffling his pack, but whatever he has done recently, Leeds have been unable to find the winning touch on a regular basis. Indeed, the boys from Elland Road have won just one of their last ten fixtures (1-0 at home to relegated Crewe) and given their lack of form and momentum, I'd be happy to oppose them on this occasion. That just leaves Preston North End and for my money they warrant a small interest at 11/4 to go all the way and taste success at the Millennium Stadium. Beaten 1-0 by West Ham in last season's final, Billy Davies' side have bounced back superbly this term and are bound to be in buoyant mood following their 2-0 win over Leeds at Deepdale on Sunday. Under the tutelage of Billy Davies they have become extremely difficult to breakdown, losing just six games all season and keeping an astonishing 24 cleans sheets in the process, more than any other side in the division. There's no reason to believe Preston will open up in the play-offs, and providing their defence can keep things tight at the back, there's always a chance they will notch at the other end with the fit again David Nugent back in the fold, following his lay off with a broken metatarsal. Picking the play off winners is never an easy task, but given Preston's will to defend and excellent organizational skills, they have to be worth a second look.