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RESULT: Sky Bet Championship table - Middlesbrough champions, Aston Villa promoted, Millwall bottom

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Middlesbrough are going to win the Sky Bet Championship this season, according to SkySports.com readers.

You voted in your thousands to rank the 24 sides set to compete in the second tier in 2017/18, and it was Boro who came out on top, with Aston Villa predicted to finish in second.

Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday, Hull and Fulham have all been tipped to make the play-offs, meaning Derby, Norwich and Sunderland will miss out.

Down at the other end, League One play-off winners Millwall have finished bottom, and you believe they'll be joined in the bottom three by Burton and Barnsley. Other promoted clubs from League One Sheffield United and Bolton, however, have been tipped to survive.

We asked our EFL expert David Prutton to give us his verdict on the table, and here's what he had to say...

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The Sky Bet EFL returns on Friday with Sunderland hosting Derby live on Sky Sports Football

Title challengers

"Middlesbrough are up there because they've spent a lot of money and it'll be a real test for Garry Monk. He seems to be in a position to do what he wants, which was a situation he wasn't in at Leeds, and they've got to be in the running for automatic promotion.

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"Aston Villa have brought in John Terry and in Steve Bruce they've got a manager who knows how to win promotion. With the strength of the squad they have they should be looking at the top two rather than the play-offs. Whatever happens you can't see them doing as badly as last season.

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"I'm surprised that Derby and Norwich aren't a little higher as I think they should also be up there."

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Outside bets

"It's probably the flattest Championship you could hope to wish for. You look at the teams there and say three quarters of the league should be aiming for the top six. It sounds ridiculous but it will make it a fantastic watch.

"Cardiff have an outside shot and you get the feeling Harry Redknapp wouldn't have stuck around at Birmingham unless he felt there were some legs in it. He won't want to just make up the numbers at this stage of his career. Cardiff being so low in particular is a surprise."

Craig Gardner (left) has completed a permanent return to Birmingham City
Image: Harry Redknapp will take charge of Birmingham again this season

Relegation battlers

"I'm shocked to see Millwall at the bottom. They won't find it easy this season but they've got such a strong mentality as a club and they've got the kind of attitude and resolve that should help them.

"All three promoted clubs won't find it easy. Millwall in particular crept up through the play-offs and you'd have thought they'd take 21st and survival. But knowing Neil Harris and his team, they'll want to challenge as high as possible.

"I can see why Preston, QPR and Ipswich are down there. Bristol City look a touch low to me and Barnsley are probably a reflection on the fact they've lost so many quality players."

See the full result here...

The Sky Bet EFL returns this weekend with three live Championship games on Sky Sports Football. Sunderland v Derby from 7pm on Friday, Aston Villa v Hull from 5.15pm on Saturday and Bolton v Leeds from 4pm on Sunday.

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