By Paul Fletcher

Stats breakdown

What the managers think

Sunderland were 12th at the end of 2006 but are now fourth

This season's Championship is gearing up to be the most exciting ever.

Eight teams are bunched together at the top of the table with just five points separating them.

The new Premiership television deal means that even the team finishing bottom in the top flight next season will receive a figure in the region of �26m - no wonder teams are desperate for a slice of the action.

Who will win promotion is anyone's guess - but with a quarter of the season left the teams dreaming of the Premiership's millions have everything to play for.

At the end of 2006 11 points separated the top eight teams and leaders Birmingham had a six point advantage over second-placed Preston.

FEBRUARY 28 2006 Reading P36 W26 D8 L2 86pts Sheff Utd P22 W D8 L6 74pts W'ford P36 W19 D10 L7 67pts Leeds P35 W19 D9 L7 66pts Palace P35 W17 D9 L9 60pts Preston P34 W13 D16 L5 55pts Wolves P35 W13 D14 L8 53pts C'diff P36 W14 D10 L12 52pts

The field has now tightened so that the top eight are split by a mere FIVE points - leaders Birmingham have 64, while Wolves, eight places below them, have 59.

Colchester United and Stoke have fallen out of the top eight, replaced by Sunderland, in fourth, and eighth placed Wolves.

Not surprisingly, given their ascent up the table, both Sunderland and Wolves are in great form.

Roy Keane's team have won four and drawn two of their last six Championship fixtures.

Mick McCarthy, with a youthful side spearheaded by Stephen Ward, Michael Kightly and Andy Keogh, are the form team, having won five and drawn one of their last six.

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Preston and Derby, who ended 2006 in second and third place, appear to have the biggest concerns over form.

North End have lost three of their last six while the Rams have lost their last two.

At the end of February 2006 the Championship table had a very different look about it, with 34 points between first and eighth.

DECEMBER 31 2006 B'ham P26 W16 D5 L5 53pts Preston P26 W13 D8 L5 47pts Derby P26 W14 D5 L7 47pts Soton P26 W12 D8 L6 44pts WBA P26 W12 D7 L7 43pts Col'ster P26 W13 D4 L9 43pts Stoke P26 W12 D7 L7 43pts Cardiff P26 W11 D9 L6 42pts

Leaders Reading had a 12-point gap over second-placed Sheffield United, who in turn were six points clear of Watford in third.

All that remained was a scrap for play-off places.

It could not be more different this season.

At this stage last year the Royals had only lost two games - no team in this season's top eight has lost less than eight times.

All of the top eight will feel that automatic promotion is a real possibility.

FEBRUARY 28 2007 B'ham P34 W19 D7 L8 64pts WBA P35 W18 D9 L8 63pts Derby P34 W19 D6 L9 63pts Su'land P35 W18 D6 L11 60pts So'ton P35 W16 D11 L8 59pts Cardiff P35 W16 D11 L8 59pts Preston P34 W17 D8 L9 59pts Wolves P35 W17 D8 L10 59pts

Even Stoke, six points off the play-off zone, will not feel that promotion is beyond.

With all the top eight having 11 or 12 games left it means there are a minimum of 33 points available for each team.

And plenty of teams will take points off each other - this weekend, for example, six of the teams in the top eight play each other with West Brom at home to Sunderland, Cardiff travelling to Birmingham and Preston entertaining Southampton.

It promises to be a battle that will go all the way down to the final day - Sunday 6 May.

It's nip and tuck at the top and hopefully we'll be in the mix in two months. You have to try to enjoy these situations but it will be tough.
Birmingham boss Steve Bruce.

We have 11 massive games to go and we have to make sure that we stay together and use everyone who is available.
West Brom boss Tony Mowbray.

We are up there fighting and looking forward to the rest of the season.
Derby boss Billy Davies.

I still think Birmingham and Derby are the favourites to go up, but the other teams keep winning. It could go down to the wire. We are the fourth best team in the league at the moment because that's where we are in the table. But we're giving ourselves a chance.
Sunderland boss Roy Keane.

When you look at the league table, there are a lot of clubs vying for the play-off places. Lots of teams are dropping points. We are in the top six, which is where we want to be.
Southampton boss George Burley.

We have to win our home games to stay in the pack.
Cardiff boss Dave Jones.

I think you have to take it week to week. There is no way you can predict what will happen. What we have to do is make sure we concentrate on our points because lots of teams have got to play each other yet.
Preston boss Paul Simpson.

Forget about these people saying we are dark horses for promotion or we are a team coming up on the rails - we are definite contenders for promotion and I said that before Christmas.
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy.