League 1 promotion odds

English League 1 promotion 2021

Who will be promotion/play-off candidates in the English Football League One 2020/21?

The play-offs saw low scoring Wycombe head up to the Championship, likely as a surprise to a lot of people, and there could be more surprises to come in the upcoming season. Below I’ll review a few of the teams I feel could make a real challenge to finish in the play-off spots.

Hull City

Recently relegated Hull City will be looking to bounce back straight away. They will look at teams such as Sunderland and Ipswich who have been sucked into the league, and hopefully it lights a fire within the players to get this team back to the Championship. After a disappointing season that saw them rock bottom of the Championship, they have something to prove this season. They are a side that has quality in their ranks, and a team that probably has a Championship squad. A club I can’t see winning the league, but one that certainly will be looking at automatic promotion, or the very least play-offs.

Ipswich Town

I’m sure a lot of fans and pundits thought Ipswich would bounce back in their first season, but it wasn’t to be. Manager Paul Lambert has the backing of the board as he was recently awarded a 5 year contract. It puzzled me as to why he was awarded this, but I do like the decision the more I think of it. He’s clearly the man to take them back, and with that support behind you from the owner and the board, it can only work in the favour of the team. The team itself still has a lot of quality, and on paper it looks to be a strong side that should be challenging for at least the play-offs. With a mix of experience and youth, Lambert should take this side further than their disappointing mid table finish and they should at least reach the play-offs.

Peterborough United

Now this side always seems to finish just outside of the play-offs, and while they are very likely to lose last season’s top goalscorer Ivan Toney, they will still have every chance. Toney’s transfer to whoever it may be, is likely to bring in quite a bit of money that hopefully will be invested back into the squad to improve an already talented side that can score goals and really hurt teams. Finishing 7th back to back seasons must be heartbreaking for the side, and I believe they can now push on and really be in those play-off spots.

Portsmouth

Kenny Jackett is a very experienced manager, and will expect the same if not more from his side this upcoming term. With back-to-back play-offs in the last two seasons, they should be finishing there again, if not automatic promotion. The team is still young and now has a couple of seasons of experience together, and can now hopefully add a few players to improve the squad overall. Anything outside the play-offs is a failure for this team, but it is very likely they’ll finish in the play-off spots again.

Other possible mentions that could have a chance are recently relegated Charlton and Wigan. The reason I’m cautious of them is the trouble they’re having behind the scenes. Wigan were spurred on after their financial troubles, and it saw them play some great stuff towards the end of the campaign. It was a shame to see them relegated due to a 12 point deduction, but they could easily challenge for promotion if they get everything sorted out at the club.