With the start of the EFL this Friday, Genius Sports Report outline their thoughts for the season ahead in the  Championship as 24 teams bid to make it to the riches of the Premier League.

Sheffield United, West Bromwich Albion and Fulham ply their trade in England’s second tier after being relegated from the Premier League.

While Hull City, Peterborough United and Blackpool look to battle it out with the rest after promotion from League One.

Take a look at our predictions for automatic promotion hopefuls, play-off contenders and relegation candidates.

Automatic Promotion

Parachute payments and the effect of Coronavirus will probably have an impact on transfer business at the top end of the Championship.

In that vein of thought you would expect all the relegated teams to have a decent chance at an immediate return.

However, we think it will be more open this year and with three new managers at the helm for the promoted sides, will they be able to adapt quickly?

Fulham have already done some smart business, bringing in Harry Wilson and Paulo Gazzaniga and have kept hold of Championship top-scorer in 2019/20, Aleksandar Mitrovic.

You would expect a title challenge as a minimum expectation for new boss Marco Silva, who has a point to prove after being sacked from Everton.

AFC Bournemouth finished in the play-offs last year, but with an attacking style under Scott Parker that had one of the highest average goals per game at 2.58 last season, expect them to challenge.

Sheffield United have appointed Slavisa Jokanovic in charge, who has a great degree of experience having been promoted twice from the Championship in his career.

Champions prediction: AFC Bournemouth

Automatic promotion prediction: Fulham, Sheffield United

Play-offs

The Championship is wide open this year for the teams who have ambitions of the play-offs to sneak through.

Of the promoted sides from last year Blackpool have done some shrewd business in bringing in the experience of Richard Keogh, so expect them to have a decent run.

While don’t count out Blackburn if they can keep 28-goal striker Adam Armstrong from last season – although it’s surprising he’s not yet been snapped up.

Watch out for QPR as well with Mark Warburton in charge for another season and a proven talisman in Charlie Austin. They have gained some quality in Stefen Johansen from Fulham, and were fourth overall on xG last season with 1.47.

So, if they can finish the chances they create, then don’t be surprised to see them compete around the top end.

With the experience of Mick McCarthy at Cardiff and Neil Warnock at Middlesbrough, and Chris Hughton at Nottingham Forest, write them off at your peril.

Play-off contenders: QPR, West Bromwich Albion, Cardiff City, Middlesbrough

Play-off hopefuls: Blackburn, Blackpool, Luton Town, Nottingham Forest

Relegation

Unfortunately, it looks like another bleak season for Derby County.

With a squad down to its barebones and chaos off the field, the Rams look like strong favourites for the drop.

Huddersfield Town conceded the most goals with 71 last season and the omens do not look great as they have done little business in the transfer market to sure up their defense.

Reading could also struggle having lost star youngster Michael Olise to Crystal Palace and with a transfer embargo over their heads, they will find it very difficult to re-invest that money.

They didn’t win any of their final six games of the season and were close to the bottom of the form table with 0.67 ppg.

Out of the promoted teams, Peterborough United will be happy to avoid relegation and will hope to rekindle the form of Jack Marriot who returns.

Relegation prediction: Derby County, Huddersfield Town, Reading

The fight to survive: Peterborough United, Bristol City, Barnsley, Hull City