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Norwich are Premier League bound but who is going to join them?

Twelve months after dropping out of the Premier League, Daniel Farke has comfortably led Norwich back into football’s elite territory. Question is, who will join them?

With only a few weeks to go until the end of the regular Championship season, the race to secure promotion is heating up. Here are the top challengers for Premier League promotion. 

Watford 1/9 (bet365)

Looking at the price, it would seem that the Hornets are destined for a return to the big leagues. In reality, their journey back to the top tier is far from straightforward.

Xisco Munoz wants Watford to cap off a strong season with promotion

Xisco's men have four games remaining and all of them are against clubs in the top nine. A trip to already promoted Norwich will be followed by games against Millwall, Brentford and Swansea.
Watford are currently second and have a six-point cushion over the Swans. Should their aforementioned run suffer any hiccups, this final game could determine who takes the final automatic promotion place.

Brentford 6/5 (SkyBet)

Just a few weeks ago, Brentford looked like one of the hottest contenders for an automatic promotion place. However, the club began to drop down the standings following a run of two victories in eight games.
Unlike Watford, the Bees have five games remaining - two of them against promotion rivals.

Thomas Frank doubtful Brentford can overhaul Watford for automatic promotion

Thomas Frank's men host Cardiff this Tuesday night before taking on Bournemouth, Rotherham, Watford and finally, Bristol City.
Brentford trail second-placed Watford by eight points and if they are to challenge for an automatic promotion spot, they simply can't afford to drop anymore points.

Bournemouth 9/4 (William Hill)

Following a run of five straight Championship victories, the odds for Bournemouth to return to the Premier League have been getting shorter by the day. 

The Cherries still offer a decent price despite the fact that automatic promotion seems to be beyond their grasp.

Bournemouth keep up play-off push with latest win against Huddersfield

Jonathan Woodgate's side have five games left this season against Norwich, Millwall, Brentford, Wycombe and Stoke.

If the club can maintain their current run of form, there's no reason why we couldn't see the Cherries challenge for an immediate return to the promised land.

Swansea 7/2 (SkyBet)

Norwich had their promotion confirmed following Swansea's 2-2 draw with bottom-of-the-table Wycombe Wanderers.

The Swans have been in poor form since late March and have only managed two wins from seven games.

Steve Cooper's men have lost momentum in automatic promotion race

Steve Cooper's men are currently third in the table however, the bookmakers have clearly lost faith in the Welsh outfit. The 7/2 price certainly suggests so.
Swansea's remaining four games are against QPR, Reading, Derby County and second-placed Watford.

Barnsley 4/1 (BetVictor)

Barnsley's rise through the Championship ranks is an incredible fairy-tale story.

When Valerien Ismael first took over the reigns at Oakwell, the Tykes seemed content with relegation zone mediocrity. However, that was not an ambition that the Frenchman could associate himself with.

Instead, the 45-year-old turned the Reds into an attacking force that fears no one and attacks everyone.

Valerian Ismael has taken Barnsley from relegation contenders to play-off dreamers

Their remaining five games are against Coventry, Huddersfield, Rotherham, Preston and the newly-promoted Norwich. This isn't a bad run-in and Barsley should expect to finish in the play-offs. Promotion, though, may be a tad beyond them.

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