BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

The Championship is the toughest league - and not just for the players

Did you know we are now a third of the way through the Championship season?

Have you got it sussed yet? No, me neither.

While pundits and so-called experts are fluctuating between whether it is the hardest league in the world to get out of or its the biggest pile of manure since the contents of the Aintree stables after the Grand National.

I was fortunate in a way to get on Forest to beat Reading, although my spies in the East Midlands told me they were pretty fortunate in what was a dismal affair at the City Ground.

All I've heard is how difficult it is getting results right in the Championship this season and I admit it is pretty dismal.

Just what sort of chance do you stand when Leeds have looked imperious at home, losing once in 20-odd games and then Blackpool, who werepretty damned poor at Burnley on Saturday, come away from Elland Road with a 5-0 win.

A fluky own goal or a dodgy sending off I can cope with (well sometimes) but 5-0? It's taking the mick.

Hull were going great guns and then they lose at Barnsley, who were beaten at home by strugglers Bristol City only a few days before.

Like a PremierLeague manager moaning about a referee, all us gamblers are looking for is some consistency. Just so we know where we stand.

In the meantime, I'll just try to work harder so I'm burning the midnight oil to find some teams who I think are sure things in the second tier to get three points on Saturday.

And then I'll be backing their opponents.