FA Cup has lost its magic but second tier casts a thrilling
spell  Crowds, goals and entertainment of the Championship
roughly equate to the old First Division of 20 years ago Craig
Bellamy Cardiff City Craig Bellamy is one of the stars helping
ensure the Championship is full of the thrills that the Premier
League often lacks. Photograph: Stu Forster/Getty Images  Take a
look at the Championship table and it seems clear a number of
lively personalities are heading back towards the Premier
League. Among others, Neil Warnock, Ken Bates and Craig Bellamy
are pushing their clubs towards promotion in what is shaping up
as an entertaining scrap at the top of the table. After seeing
what Blackpool have achieved on the back of their unlikely
elevation through the play‑offs, clubs of the size and support
of Leeds and Cardiff will be eager to see if they, too, can re-
establish a base camp in the big time, while if the secret of
success is now to be of modest outward appearance with
underrated players and a canny manage