Don Goodman has placed Swansea City among the surprise packages in a Championship promotion race he expects to be “fascinating”, while stopping short of calling them guaranteed contenders.
The Sky Sports pundit, speaking exclusively to Swansea Bay News, said his caution was about the strength of the field rather than any Swansea shortcoming.
“It’s not about anything they have or haven’t done, it’s the calibre of the opposition,” he said. “If you put this Swansea side into last season’s Championship, which was weaker, I’d have complete confidence they could reach the top six and stay there. This season there’s more depth and quality to contend with.”
Goodman recalled the six teams he had tipped for the top eight before a ball was kicked.
“Those were the three that came down, West Ham, Wolves and Burnley, and then Middlesbrough, Southampton and Norwich,” he said.
“Burnley have got off to an absolute shocker, which is a surprise, but I’ve seen enough from the other five to think they’ll be in and around the top eight.”
Swansea among the chasers
The pundit placed the Swans in the group pushing to gatecrash that eight.
“I’d probably chuck West Brom in there from what I’ve seen, and possibly QPR and Swansea alongside them,” he said.
“If they come through this run of games still up there in the top three, four or five, then they’ll be in business for a really solid season.”
Goodman ran through the sides he still fancies most.
“Wolves can only get better, West Ham showed on Friday what they can do, which should send a shudder down the spine of the rest of the league. Middlesbrough I’ve always loved, Southampton are a really good team, and Norwich are a good team with a good manager,” he said.
A safety net in the play-offs
He said the expanded play-off places would help the chasing pack, Swansea now back in the automatic places after the Burnley win.
“The extra play-off spots will help and provide a safety net for the likes of Swansea, West Brom and QPR, teams that are unknown quantities or slight surprise packages,” he said.
“Having got off to good starts, those three will be looking to challenge for at least a top-eight spot.”
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