Birmingham City, Wrexham and Charlton's final League One positions forecast in intriguing updated table

Birmingham City bowed out of the FA Cup with their heads held high as they pushed Premier League heavyweights Newcastle United all the way in a hard-fought 3-2 defeat at St Andrew’s.

“Birmingham look exactly what they are: a Championship team in all but name,” Said Telegraph Sport reporter Daniel Zeqiri as he hailed the Blues for a well-rounded and aggressive home performance.

Chris Davies’ talented side will quickly turn their attention back to League One duties as they aim to maintain their place in the driving seat by beating tomorrow’s opponents Cambridge United.

A victory could see the Blues take a seven point lead over Wycombe in the build-up to another crunch encounter against a play-off chasing Charlton side at the weekend. Here, based on data from OPTA, Birmingham World takes a look at the final predicted League One table to assess the team’s chances of making an instant return to the Championship.

What are Birmingham City’s promotion chances?

According to OPTA Sport, Birmingham City are the overwhelming favourites to win the league title in an emphatic fashion. They have forecasted the Blues to pick up a resounding 103 points and have given the West Midlands outfit a 96.44% chance of winning the title and an even clearer 99.86% chance of sealing promotion.

OPTA has predicted Wycombe Wanderers to secure second spot with an impressive 89 points despite the mid-season departure of Matt Bloomfield to Luton Town.

Who is expected to make the League One play-off places?

Big-spenders Wrexham are expected to narrowly miss out on automatic promotion with 79 points but are seen as the most likely team to win promotion via the play-offs.

The Welsh side are chasing a third consecutive promotion while they are expected to be joined in the play-offs by last year’s League Two winners Stockport in fourth position.

Huddersfield, who are chasing an instant return to the Championship and Charlton Athletic are expected to fill up the play-off places, with Bolton Wanderers and Leyton Orient both being forced to settle for seventh and eight place finishes respectively.

Who is likely to be relegated from League One?

Birmingham City’s upcoming opponents Cambridge United have a 90.18% chance of being relegated to the fourth tier of English football in a grim verdict by the data experts.

Burton Albion, despite making strides under Gary Bowyer, are expected to finish in 23rd position and have been given a 85.46% chance of relegation. Meanwhile, Peterborough are expected to narrowly beat the drop with Shrewsbury Town and Crawley Town both being demoted to League Two.

Here is the full League One table, according to OPTA’s current forecast:

1. Birmingham City
2. Wycombe Wanderers
3. Wrexham
4. Stockport County
5. Huddersfield Town
6. Charlton Athletic
7. Bolton Wanderers
8. Leyton Orient
9. Reading
10. Blackpool
11. Barnsley
12. Stevenage
13. Lincoln City
14. Wigan Athletic
15. Rotherham United
16. Mansfield Town
17. Exeter City
18. Northampton Town
19. Bristol Rovers
20. Peterborough
21. Shrewsbury Town
22. Crawley Town
23. Burton Albion
24. Cambridge United