Championship mid season review and what to expect from the rest of the season

The Top 

Middlesbrough sit at the top of the table on 49 points with Derby County in 2nd place with 48 points. Middlesbrough have played one less game than Derby as their game at Blackburn got cancelled on Boxing day. Middlesbrough have got the best defensive record in the league with only 12 goals conceded and only 2 of them were at home. Derby have got the second most goals for with 37 and have got the best away record with 23/36 points whilst Middlesbrough have got the best home form with 29/36 points. Middlesbrough have managed the most clean sheets in English football with 14 clean sheets. Derby face Middlesbrough at the Riverside on 2nd January 2016.

Brighton had an amazing 21 game unbeaten streak to start the season off. This ended when they faced Middlesbrough at home and lost 3-0, though this is their only loss of the season. They sit 4th and are on the same points as Hull in 3rd. Both teams have got 44 points, but Hull have a far superior goal difference as Brighton have +8 whilst Hull are on +18. This could be down to the amount of draws Brighton have had (11). Hull seemed to be in top form at the beginning of the season but a couple of losses and draws has seen them drop a few places but luckily for them they have found form recently.

Another team who has recently seen a drop in form is Burnley. They started off strong but have seen a drop in their form lately. They sit 5th in the table with 41 points and have the leagues top scorer, Andre Gray, with 15 goals. Scoring isn’t their problem, conceding is the problem as they have scored 34 but conceded 23. Ipswich sit in the final play off spot with 40 points and they started off slow but they have found form recently and have a good away record. However with only +4 goal difference, they could struggle in the latter stages of the season.

There is 3 other teams that could make the play off’s. Sheffield Wednesday, Brentford and Birmingham City all sit on 36 points and just below Ipswich. Then Brentford is 8th and just below Sheffield on goal difference. Then comes Birmingham City on the same points and just below on goal difference. Any of these teams have the potential to finish in the top 6 and have a shout at promotion. Middlesbrough and Derby both look to be aiming for the automatic places whilst Hull and Brighton will have to chase them. Burnley look to finish in the play off’s whilst the other teams will look to get the final play off place.