Final table prediction makes happy reading

THERE are a couple of things that stand out in Opta’s latest Championship final table prediction.

- 

Firstly, it has Stoke City ending up in the top six and whether you think this is mumbo jumbo or more important than the actual table — that’s a nice thing compared to the doom and gloom of previous years.

Secondly, it has the expected points tally to book a playoff spot at about 68 points. That is actually the same as last season but still four points lower than the average for sixth position since Stoke came back into this division in 2018.

In fact, the whole table this year looks squashed together. The average title winner has gone up with 96 points over the last seven years but Coventry City are tipped to be runaway winners with 87 this time.

It normally takes 91 points to go up in second but Middlesbrough are predicted to be runners-up with 78.