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After an eventful first tranche of fixtures, with co-favourites Wolves dropping points and Championship newbies Bolton Wanderers overcoming seasoned campaigners Preston, clearly the reputation of the English Football League’s second division as one of the toughest in world football to escape is earned for a valid reason. Anyone expecting an easy ride for fallen Premier League side West Ham – fans included – is clearly in for a massive wake-up. Speaking to SkySPORTS, West Ham’s captain Jarrod Bowen made it clear that the Championship will be no pushover and it is not a given that the Hammers will carry all before them this season. When asked if the objective has to be automatic promotion, Bowen responded: “Not really, I think just getting back into the Premier League. If it’s through the play-offs, then it’s through the play-offs. The worst thing I think you can do as a club is try and walk into this league and think ‘we’re the biggest side and we’re going to go straight back up’. Promotion via the play offs: Significantly easier in 2012 I’ve experienced the Championship before – it doesn’t happen like that. You see many sides that think they can bounce straight back and it’s not happened. For us, As long as we’re in the Premeir League, I don’t care how we do it.” Supporters would rather avoid the white knuckle ride of a play-off campaign, especially in its more expanded version that will increase the jeopardy the season. A nice, boring, record points tally and automatic promotion would be lovely but Bowen, for one, isn’t banking on doing it the easy way.