Race for the Premier League assessed: Who is in contention?

There is an enthralling race in progress for promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

Fulham currently lead the way, with Huddersfield close behind them in second, and Bournemouth, Blackburn, QPR and Sheffield United occupying the remaining top-six places. Up to nine teams below them will still believe they can make the cut too.

Here, we assess the runners and riders, their form and their remaining fixtures as they bid to break free of the Championship's clutches and reach the Premier League...

Position: 1stGames played: 33Points: 70Sky Bet promotion odds: Currently suspended

To say Fulham have taken the Championship by storm this season would be an understatement of the highest order. Last term ended in another gloomy relegation from the Premier League, with Scott Parker departing in the summer as a result. Player churn was kept to a minimum, with Harry Wilson, Rodrigo Muniz and Nathaniel Chalobah the only outfield incomings.

The Cottagers' squad was clearly seen as one that could compete and ensure their return to the second tier was short and sweet and Marco Silva - who replaced Parker on a three-year deal after 18 months out of management - has managed to successfully mould it to his needs.

It has not been perfect, and, at times, Fulham have shown they are not infallible - they were forced to navigate a tricky spell from September into early October and did not win any of their last five games in 2021.

But they have been top of the pile since November thanks to some crushing victories, including 7-0 triumphs away at Blackburn and Reading and successive 6-2 home wins against Bristol City and Birmingham just three days apart. At this point, given that Fulham are 17 points clear of seventh-placed