December is a very good month for us on paper. Although the Championship doesn't work out like that and you can lose to the bottom 3 and then beat the top 6, if we can take 14-15 points from 18 against Norwich (H), Reading (A), Hull (H), Bolton (A), Fulham (H), Preston (H) then I'm convinced we'd be looking at being 6-7 points clear come January 1st.
Villa have a tough December, Sheff United have a tough few games. They also play each other so a draw in that is ideal or one team will drop 3 points. Bristol City also go to Sheff United this month.
If we just do our own thing then the table will look good come New Year's Eve