The odds were against them in August, and so they are still in March.

Just like in their debut Championship campaign, Burton Albion were made the bookmakers' favourites for relegation before a ball had been kicked in the 2017-18 season.

Eight months and 38 games down the line, and that fact has at least changed slightly, with bottom-of-the-table Sunderland now favourites among the bookies to drop into League One come May 6.

Burton Albion's last win came at Barnsley in February
Burton Albion's last win came at Barnsley in February

But the Brewers are by no means being backed for another against-the-odds push for safety.

While the Black Cats are 1/16 for relegation with league sponsors Sky Bet, Albion - two points and one place above Chris Coleman's side - are not much better off at 1/12 to be relegated.

Next in the running are 22nd-placed Birmingham City, whose 3-0 win over survival rivals Hull City at the weekend have seen their odds improve at 4/5.

Barnsley are at 11/10 to go down, Reading are 6/1 after the departure of Jaap Stam on Wednesday, and Bolton Wanderers - victorious over Aston Villa on Saturday - are 8/1.

Hull's recent form means they are now huge outsiders for relegation, with their odds at 40/1 to go down with SkyBet.

But what did the odds say back at the start of the campaign? Whose battles with relegation were expected, and who were backed to be flying much higher at this stage?

SUNDERLAND

Chris Coleman watches on as Sunderland are beaten by Preston North End

Following a few seasons battling at the wrong end of the Premier League table, Sunderland's relegation in 2016-17 was seen as a possible rebuilding opportunity.

Could they follow the example of local rivals Newcastle United and bounce back at the first time of asking?

The bookies certainly fancied them to have a chance, with odds of 11/2 offered on them making an instant return to the top flight.

But it has been clear for some time that promotion would not be on the Black Cats' radar with eight games to play.

Chris Coleman's side have won only five games all season - two fewer than the Brewers - and have taken a mere three points from their last 10 outings to sit bottom of the pile heading into the final international break of the campaign.

BURTON ALBION

Burton Albion players look dejected after conceding against Wolves
Burton Albion players look dejected after conceding against Wolves

The Brewers are where the bookies expected them to be - fighting relegation tooth and nail as the home straight hoves into view.

Having avoided the drop with a remarkable tally of 52 points last season - a total that would give them plenty of breathing space this time around - SkyBet had them as 13/8 favourites for the drop come May 2018.

Despite some impressive results on the road, the Brewers' well-publicised struggles at the Pirelli Stadium means they have spent the majority of the campaign in the bottom three.

A huge April awaits them, with games against four of their relegation rivals on the horizon.

BIRMINGHAM CITY

Birmingham are still in the bottom three despite victory at the weekend
Birmingham are still in the bottom three despite victory at the weekend

At 13/2 to go down, Birmingham were only seen as outside relegation candidates, perhaps unsurprising given their summer recruitment and the presence of Harry Redknapp in the dugout at the start of the campaign.

But Redknapp was sacked by mid-September, and ex-Brewers forward Steve Cotterill has also seen his time as Blues boss ended recently as they look to break free of the bottom three.

A 3-0 defeat of Hull at the weekend was a step in the right direction, but they have struggled for form since an impressive spell of results around the turn of the year.

BARNSLEY

Burton Albion won at relegation rivals Barnsley last month
Burton Albion won at relegation rivals Barnsley last month

The Tykes suffered a difficult second half of 2016-17, and odds of 2/1 on them going down this time around suggested that slide could continue.

A 2-0 win over Birmingham in November left them seven points clear of the drop zone.

But they have won only two games since then, albeit against relegation rivals Sunderland and Birmingham again.

New manager Jose Morais is now looking to lead them to safety, but they are outside the bottom three on goal difference alone and are only three points clear of Albion.

READING

Reading's win at the Pirelli Stadium in January was their last in the league - but Jaap Stam has since left the club
Reading's win at the Pirelli Stadium in January was their last in the league - but Jaap Stam has since left the club

The Royals were a penalty shootout away from the Premier League last May, but the bookies appeared to suggest that a repeat push for promotion was unlikely this time around.

Still, they would not have expected to be battling for survival as they are now, with only one win to their name in their last 18 matches.

That run culminated in the departure of manager Jaap Stam today (Wednesday).

There were pre-season odds of 16/1 on the Royals' relegation, but they have shortened dramatically given their struggles over recent months.

Their one victory since December came over the Brewers in January - and they are six points clear of Burton.

BOLTON WANDERERS

Bolton Wanderers secured an impressive 1-0 win over Aston Villa in the snow at the weekend

Second-favourites behind the Brewers to go down back at the start of the campaign at 15/8, Bolton began in a style that made them look shoo-ins for the drop.

With only two points from their first 11 matches, Phil Parkinson's side were written off in September.

But they have responded superbly since, and Saturday's surprise victory over Villa means they are now nine points clear of Albion and six above the bottom three.

HULL CITY

Jackson Irvine of Hull City celebrates scoring against Norwich City
Jackson Irvine of Hull City celebrates scoring against Norwich City

Like Sunderland, the relegated Tigers were backed to make a charge for promotion this season.

Leonid Slutsky came in over the summer and set about rebuilding the Hull squad to that aim, including the signing of Jackson Irvine from Burton.

Odds of 5/1 to be promoted, though, now look a pipedream, with the Tigers only recently moving clear of the relegation zone.

They sit above Bolton on goal difference, but a heavy defeat to Birmingham at the weekend has kept them in the relegation conversation for a while longer.

(All odds correct at time of publishing on March 21 2018)