Championship clubs that could test Newcastle United in 2018/19

The Championship is coming to an end and the battle for promotion is still unpredictable. Who from the Championship would challenge Newcastle United the most?

The Championship season is almost over, and Wolverhampton have secured early promotion to the Premier League. Other clubs in the top six are not as fortunate and are experiencing a severe case of anxiety. The battle for automatic promotion and the play-offs are still too close to call.

Only three points separate second-place Fulham from fourth-place Aston Villa, and only six points separate fifth-place Middlesbrough from eleventh-place Sheffield United. Several clubs are still in the running for promotion and it will be interesting to see who joins Wolverhampton.

Newly-promoted sides are often undermined in the Premier League, but this season all three promoted clubs are outside of the bottom three. Many pundits think that some Championship clubs already possess enough talent to achieve top-flight survival next season. With that being said, who would test the Magpies the most in the next campaign?

Wolverhampton

Wolves did not just win the league early, they dominated their opponents. With 98 points from 44 matches, Wolverhampton are 13 points clear of second-place Fulham. Put simply, Wolverhampton have been stellar under the managerial guidance of Nuno Espirito Santo.

With a positive goal differential of 46, Wolves’ attack will surely cause problems for many opponents next season. This season, the Magpies only took four points from promoted sides Brighton and Huddersfield Town. Next season, however, Wolverhampton will test Newcastle much more than Brighton and Huddersfield did during this campaign.

Fulham

After Wolverhampton, it is safe to assume that Fulham will be next in line to earn promotion. Despite only being two points ahead of Cardiff City, Fulham enjoy a favorable schedule as they play League One-bound Sunderland and Birmingham City to conclude the season.

Having spent the last three seasons in the Championship, Fulham’s offensive efficiency this season might be enough to secure second place. Newcastle’s Aleksandar Mitrovic has shined for Fulham as a loanee and is enjoying his football. It seems as though his team-mates are also playing with confidence.

Fulham’s top-tier longevity will depend on their budget, but they will certainly present mid-table clubs with problems.

Aston Villa

Playing in the Championship has aided the development of Aston Villa’s players. Relegated in the same season as Newcastle, the Villans struggled in the second tier last season, but they are fourth this campaign. With Fulham playing so well it is unlikely, but not impossible, that Aston Villa will secure automatic promotion.

Assuming the Villans handle business in the play-offs and earn promotion, they are historically one of the most successful clubs in England. In other words, Aston Villa will not need time to settle into the competitive nature and atmosphere of the Premier League. Traveling to Villa Park and getting a result in a booming stadium is difficult and Newcastle will, if the Villans earn promotion, be challenged on the road.

Rival Tracker – Middlesbrough

The Magpies are the sole representatives of the North East in the Premier League. With Sunderland’s relegation now confirmed, Middlesbrough is the only club from the region with a chance of earning promotion.

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Boro are currently fifth in the Championship table with 72 points. One more victory should reserve them a place in the play-offs. Anything can happen, and it will be interesting to see if Middlesbrough can make it past teams such as Aston Villa and Cardiff City.