Three Championship clubs tipped for relegation as Don Goodman makes prediction

The battle to avoid relegation in the Championship is shaping up to be an intriguing contest. Burnley, Derby County and Preston North End currently occupy the bottom three positions and face the danger of being separated from the teams above them. However, several clubs outside the relegation zone cannot afford to relax, as their positions could change considerably as the season progresses.

Last season’s relegation battle provided plenty of drama, with several teams fighting until the closing stages to preserve their Championship status. Sheffield Wednesday were already in serious trouble after finishing with zero points, while Charlton Athletic, Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion managed to secure their safety. Oxford United and Leicester City, meanwhile, were unable to escape the drop.

This season could produce another equally competitive survival fight. With the campaign progressing, former striker and football pundit Don Goodman has identified three teams he believes could struggle to avoid relegation.

Don Goodman predicts Burnley, Derby County and Preston North End could be relegated

Having spent years covering the EFL as a football commentator, Goodman understands the pressure and unpredictability that come with a Championship relegation battle.

Speaking to Football League World through Betway, he backed the three clubs currently occupying the relegation positions to go down at the end of the campaign.

Although there is still sufficient time for things to change, Preston North End remain a major concern for the pundit. Their disappointing start has left them seven points away from safety, despite an encouraging victory over promotion-chasing Southampton at the weekend.

Derby County are also in a difficult position. They have accumulated the same 10 points as Burnley and remain five points behind Lincoln City, who currently occupy 21st place.

Goodman believes the Rams could find themselves in serious trouble if they fail to collect points from a challenging run of fixtures. John Eustace’s side face Southampton, Wolves and Middlesbrough in three of their next four matches, making their immediate schedule particularly demanding.

Burnley have also struggled to find consistency under new manager Fabio Celestini. Goodman is especially concerned about their defensive weaknesses, which were exposed in spectacular fashion when they surrendered a 4-1 advantage to lose 5-4 against Cardiff City before the international break.

There is also growing frustration among supporters towards chairman Alan Pace, adding to the difficult atmosphere surrounding Turf Moor.

Goodman fears Burnley could become the latest former Premier League club to suffer successive relegations, following the recent examples of Luton Town and Leicester City.

Explaining his assessment, Goodman admitted that recent results had made his predictions less straightforward, particularly after two teams near the bottom secured important victories.

He said Preston remained his biggest concern despite their impressive performance against Southampton, which he stressed was a deserved victory rather than a fortunate result.

The pundit also discussed Derby’s situation, suggesting that their victory over Bolton Wanderers had provided some much-needed encouragement after a difficult spell.

However, he warned that their upcoming fixtures could quickly expose their weaknesses again.

Goodman added that Derby possess enough quality to collect the points required for survival, but he has yet to see convincing evidence of that ability on the pitch. He also referenced Leicester’s struggles last season as a warning of what could happen.

Don Goodman discusses Charlton Athletic, Watford and Lincoln City’s survival prospects

Despite including Burnley and Derby in his current relegation predictions, Goodman acknowledged that he is not entirely convinced either club will ultimately go down.

He is considerably more concerned about Preston, believing their lack of resources and quality could make it difficult to close the gap on the teams above them.

The pundit also suggested that other clubs could become involved in the relegation fight as the season develops.

Charlton Athletic are among those who need to improve their results. Their important 2-1 victory over Sheffield United ended an 11-game winless run and offered Nathan Jones’ team a much-needed boost.

Goodman believes that result could provide the platform for a turnaround, particularly with another important meeting against relegation rivals Lincoln City approaching.

Charlton could potentially drag Lincoln further into trouble if they manage to build on their recent improvement.

Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City expected to stay clear of relegation trouble

Lincoln City’s position is particularly interesting given their impressive League One campaign last season.

The Imps secured promotion as champions, finishing 12 points ahead of Cardiff City, who claimed second place. However, their transition to the Championship was always expected to present a significant challenge.

Their relatively limited financial resources and squad depth compared with many established Championship sides were potential concerns.

The departure of manager Michael Skubala to Bristol City also represented another major setback, leaving Lincoln with additional challenges as they adjusted to life in the second tier.

Meanwhile, Bolton Wanderers and Cardiff City will be hoping their promotion from League One does not turn into a difficult fight for Championship survival.