Luke Turner looks at a few teams creeping up below Blues…
As we all know it is already extremely difficult to finish in a play off position given that there only four places available.
What makes it even more tougher is the amount of competing teams each vying for one of those four spots.
Some may only regard those in the current top eight contenders for a play off spot or, even more, an automatic promotion place.
However, what springs to my mind when looking at the Championship table is a few teams below those top eight.
Cardiff City are just two points off Blues and Ipswich which has somewhat gone under the radar.
The Bluebirds and Russell Slade have been criticised by many but they are, by no means, out of the equation and I believe they could be ready to pounce on any slip ups above.
There are then two teams below them, Nottingham Forest and Preston, who are a little further behind but still only six points off Blues.
I think Derby`s recent drop in form shows that any slip up can be capitalised on by someone. Blues were a massive 14 points off the Rams on Boxing Day, when they topped the table, but there is now just a three point gap between the two teams.
So I don’t think we should take lightly the fact that Forest and Preston are six points below us.
They may not have the squads capable of promotion but they are slowly creeping up the table, picking up points and we don’t want any more teams fighting for those all important play off places.
Of course, it is always best to look up and not down but it is just something to consider. Blues need to pick up points and be consistent right up until the last match, when we face Cardiff.