West Ham’s odds to be promoted from the Championship have been shortened by Bet365 after they returned to winning ways at Peterborough.
The Hammers, who had drawn their last five league games, triumphed 2-0 at London Road thanks to goals from Ricardo Vaz Te and Gary O’Neil.
They closed to within a point of second-placed Reading in the table, six behind leaders Southampton, and are now 4/9 to return to the Premier League at the first attempt. Sam Allardyce’s side are 13/2 to go up as champions.
Allardyce said: “We out-passed and out-played Peterborough once we got the goals. It was a good performance, although not as good as at Burnley last Saturday when we only drew.”
Middlesbrough have been pushed out to 7/1 for promotion after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich, who equalised through Grant Leadbitter with the visitors having led thanks to a Lukas Jutkiewicz goal.
Tony Mowbray’s side remained fifth in the table, but Hull missed the chance to close on them as they slipped to a highly disappointing 2-0 defeat at Portsmouth.
The Tigers stay ninth, two points outside the play-off zone, and are out to 12/1 to be promoted.
Portsmouth’s win boosted their chances of avoiding relegation having suffered a 10-point deduction for entering administration.
Pompey are now within three points of fourth-bottom Bristol City and their decent home form could yet save them from the drop.
Leicester’s play-off hopes also took a blow as they could only draw 0-0 at home to East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest and the Foxes are out to 14/1 for promotion.
Championship promotion odds at bet365Southampton 1/25
West Ham 4/9
Reading 4/7
Birmingham 9/2
Middlesbrough 7/1
Brighton 7/1
Cardiff 13/2
Blackpool 15/2
Hull City 12/1
Leicester City 14/1
Leeds United 14/1