The current state of play at the rivals for relegation

Posh manager Darren Ferguson believes his team are now in a mini-league of six with Championship survival the prize for the top three.

The Posh problems and weaknesses have been well documented, but what’s the state of play at the other relegation candidates?

BARNSLEY

It’s been a grim campaign for last season’s play-off semi-finalists and a change of manager has made no impact. Just two wins in 24 games is a sorry return.

They are the lowest scorers in the division with just 16 goals and now top striker and captain Cauley Woodrow faces an extended absence after undergoing knee surgery.

DERBY

There has, quite rightly, been immense praise for the job manager Wayne Rooney has done at the apparent relegation certainties, given a 21-point deduction and ongoing financial restrictions.

Derby climbed off the bottom of the table by beating Sheffield United at the weekend and are now just five points behind Posh from two games more. But there is a firesale of players currently ongoing as Derby need to raise funds just to survive the next fortnight.

READING

Reading have been without key players because of injury all season and now they could lose Andy Carroll who has stayed fit and scored goals while playing on a £1k a week contract. Bigger clubs are believed to be circling.

Reading took Christmas off because of ‘Covid’ but they haven’t won since returning to action.

CARDIFF

Cardiff ’s gamble on a rookie manager hasn’t worked just yet and if they lose Welsh international striker Kieffer Moore in the transfer window they will continue to struggle.

Cardiff have some winnable games on the horizon They play Barnsley and Posh in back-to-back games soon. Their rivals will be hoping they are distracted by a forthcoming FA Cup tie at Anfield

HULL

They remain the team most likely to be caught by Posh making their visit to London Road at the end of February a vital one.

But there is a club takeover imminent and if the new Turkish owner throws a bit of money at it (and they spend it wisely) before the end of this month it could make staying up that much easier.

Whether or not manager Grant McCann survives the takeover is open to question. He at least knows the division and it might be better the devil you know.

Relegation odds from Bet Victor: 1/6 Derby, 1/4 Barnsley, 8/13 Posh, 6/4 Reading, 4/1 Hull 9/2 Cardiff, 7/1 Bristol City, 14/1 Birmingham City , 16/1 Blackpool, 33/1 Swansea.