West Brom to bag Championship

As the Championship prepares for another long, gruelling season supporters of last season's relegated Premier League clubs will be praying that they can bounce back for another shot at the big time and at least two of them have a great shout. The pressure will be on Alan Pardew, whose Charlton Athletic side are favourites at 7/1 (Stan James) to make a quick return, and having guided West Ham to promotion in 2004/05 Pardew will be bullish about his chances. However, having parted company with leading goalscorer Darren Bent, club captain Luke Young and, this week, striker Souleymane Diawara it is going to be a struggle to make it back at the first attempt. There is better value in West Bromwich Albion, who are 8/1 to go one step further than last season when they were incredibly unlucky to lose to Derby County in the playoff final, their expansive passing game coming unstuck against some dogged defending. Tony Mowbray is a promising coach, his team play attacking football and he has managed to hold on to most of his players to date, although Diomansy Kamara, who has joined Fulham, will be sorely missed. Curtis Davies could also be a Premier League player before the month is out but Mowbray has already bolstered his defence by signing Belgium international Carl Hoefkens and Bostjan Cesar on loan from Marseille. James Morrison has also arrived from Middlesbrough to create chances for Kevin Phillips and with Pele poised to sign from Southampton, how can they not go up? Watford will also be in the frame to bounce straight back despite having also lost a striker to Championship poachers Fulham. Hameur Bouazza's goals, not to mention Ben Foster's saves, are no longer available and manager Aidy Bothroyd will be equally disappointed at failing to lure Heidar Helguson back to Vicarage Road. However, Marlon King is returning after long-term injury and is a contender to be the league's top goalscorer, Darius Henderson has spurned the advances of Preston and with the nucleus of his Premiership side boosted by the arrival of Jobu McAnuff, Mart Poom and Matt Jackson the inpirational Bothroyd should certainly make at least the playoffs. After the devastating way last season ended and the departure of Neil Warnock the bookies have pushed Sheffield United out to 10/1. This is quite surprising as the Blades have brought in Bryan Robson, who has a good record in this division. Parachute payments have already funded the purchase of Australian defender David Carney and James Beattie, who joins a strike-force that boasts Jonathan Stead, Rob Hulse and Billy Sharp - who scored 31 goals for Scunthorpe last season. Lee Hendrie can also be expected to thrive, as he did on loan in this league with Stoke City last term, so expect the Blades to look very sharp with Sharp providing the cutting edge up front. Verdict: 2pts West Brom to win Championship @ 8/1 (General); 2pts Sheffield United to win Championship @ 10/1 (Tote, Better, BetDirect). 1pt Marlon King to be top goalscorer @ 12/1 (General), 1pt Billy Sharp to be top goalscorer @ 16/1 (Betfred, Bluesq, Coral).