Foxes, Blackburn dragged into scrap as relegation race tightens

With eight games to go for most teams, there is an intriguing situation at the foot of the Championship where some famous clubs find themselves in a real scrap to avoid relegation to the doubtful delights of League One.

- By Nobby Piles

Sheffield Wednesday are already doomed as a result of heavy points deductions following serious financial issues under the previous ownership. Worryingly, next season the Owls could be facing another major points deduction.

It may surprise football fans that of the other five clubs involved in the relegation battle two of them, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers, are former Premier League champions. Another two, Portsmouth and West Bromwich Albion, have been in the top flight in recent years.

Only Oxford United have never been in the Premier League, but they did spend two seasons in the top flight when it was Division One from 1986-88, which was a considerable achievement for a small club.