West Ham to finish in the top 2 of the Championship has drifted to 6/4 from 1/1, with four of eight bookmakers easing their odds. Read the full movement.
The odds on West Ham to finish in the top 2 of the Championship have drifted out from 1/1 to 6/4 with Bet365, and after a week of upheaval that ended with defeat at Ewood Park, the bookies have every reason to be nervous.
West Ham have drifted to a best price of 6/4 with Bet365, out from 1/1, with four of eight bookmakers easing their odds.
Middlesbrough are the favourites at a best price of 4/5 with Bet Victor, with West Ham second-shortest at 6/4 with Bet365.
Blackburn beat West Ham 2-1 on 7 November, with Joël Piroe's late goal only a consolation.
Scott Parker's first two matches as West Ham head coach brought a draw at Cardiff City and a defeat at Blackburn.
This has been a messy week in east London. Nuno Espírito Santo was sacked on 3 November after a home defeat to West Bromwich Albion that left the club eighth in the table, and Scott Parker was handed the job a day later. His first outing was pure chaos: West Ham fought back from three goals down at the break to snatch a draw at Cardiff City. That showed there is fight and firepower in this side going forward, but it also exposed a back line that is far too easy to get at.
Saturday at Blackburn told the same story without the happy ending. Captain Jarrod Bowen hit the post early in the second half, then Andri Guðjohnsen headed Blackburn in front and Oladapo Afolayan doubled the lead. Piroe's late strike changed nothing. Another away defeat, and more goals conceded on the road, explains why four of eight bookmakers have pushed West Ham out. The drift to 6/4 with Bet365 is the market saying plainly that a new voice in the dugout has not yet fixed the defending.
Championship Top 2 Finish odds
Best odds 6/4 with Bet365, Betfred and William Hill, worst 11/8 with Paddy Power, Skybet and Betfair Sportsbook.
Last updated: 7 November 2026, 19:34 UK time
Odds below are live and may have changed since publishing this article.
Who is favourite ahead of West Ham to finish in the top 2 of the Championship?
Middlesbrough are the favourites at a best price of 4/5 with Bet Victor, with West Ham second-shortest at 6/4 with Bet365, Betfred and William Hill. Boro were joint-top of the log at the end of October, and that consistency is exactly what West Ham have lacked. Behind the Hammers, Wolverhampton are breathing down their necks, while Southampton are quoted as the outsiders of the leading group. The gap between West Ham and Wolves is thin, so another poor result could easily see the order shuffle.
Middlesbrough – 4/5 with Bet Victor. Joint-top of the table at the end of October and the market's clear pick.
West Ham – 6/4 with Bet365. Drifting after a managerial change and a defeat at Blackburn.
Wolverhampton – 7/4 with Paddy Power. Only a whisker behind West Ham in the betting.
Southampton – 9/2 with William Hill. The longest price of the four leading contenders.
Latest bookmaker offer
Can West Ham finish in the top 2 of the Championship under Scott Parker?
The international break arrives at a useful moment, giving Parker his first proper stretch on the training pitch. West Ham return at home to Preston North End on 21 November, and the visitors arrive in poor shape, having lost 5 of their last 6 matches in the Championship. A trip to Portsmouth follows three days later. Our view is that the drift is fair for now: the attacking spark is there, as the comeback at Cardiff proved, but nobody climbs into the top two while leaking goals like this. At 6/4 with Bet365 the implied probability sits at 40 per cent, and until Parker tightens things up at the back, Middlesbrough remain the side to beat. Win both of those outings, though, and expect this price to come back in quickly.
Disclaimer
Important information: This article may contain links to betting offers or promotions for markets that were available at the time of publication. These offers may have since expired, changed, or no longer be available.
Oddschecker offers are selected from operators that our football experts work with regularly and have first-hand experience of. If you open an account via one of these links, Oddschecker may earn commission. This helps support our coverage and allows us to continue producing expert analysis and football content across markets.
Please gamble responsibly. 18+.
