WE asked Mark O'Haire (@MarkOHaire) to enter his bulging stats bible to deliver us the best ante-post stats and trends ahead of the new Championship campaign.
WLB Season Preview 2020/21 | Championship: Stats & Trends
League Winners (since 2000/01)
- Average price – 14/1.
- Average position finished year previously – 9th (5 were relegated clubs).
- 10 (67%) of the past 15 Championship title winners were priced up at 12/1 or larger.
- 7 (35%) of the past 20 winners were priced at single-figure odds.
- 6 (30%) of the past 20 league winners failed in the play-offs year previously.
- 5 (25%) of the past 20 league winners this century were priced at 20/1 or larger.
- In two of the past three seasons, the league winners had finished in the bottom-half the year previous.
Top 3 Finishers (since 2000/01)
- Average price – 20/1.
- Average position finished year previously – 10th – 14 (23%) were relegated clubs, 2 (3%) were promoted clubs.
- 16 (80%) of the past 20 seasons has seen a side priced up at 20/1 or larger finish in the top three.
- In 6 (30%) of the past 20 seasons has seen a side priced up at 40/1 or larger finish in the top three.
Favourites (since 2000/01)
- Average finishing position – 6th.
- Average price of the favourites – 11/2
- Leeds (2019/20), Newcastle (2016/17) and Manchester City (2001/02) are the only winning favourites this century – a 15% title win rate since the start of 2000/01.
- 10 (46%) of the past 22 favourites or joint-favourites this century have won promotion.
- 13 (59%) of the past 22 favourites or joint-favourites this century have finished in the top-six.
- 9 (41%) of the past 22 favourites or co-favourites this century have finished outside the top-six with 1 (5%) in the bottom-half.
Relegated Clubs (since 2000/01)
- Average finishing position of a relegated club – 9th.
- Relegated clubs have won the Championship in 5/20 seasons (25%).
- 15/60 (25%) clubs have won promotion straight back to the Premier League with 27 (45%) finishing in the top-six, 44 (73%) in the top-half. Meanwhile, 16 (27%) finished in the bottom-half whilst 2 (3%) suffered back-to-back relegation.
Promoted Clubs (since 2000/01)
- Average finishing position of a promoted club – 15th.
- Only 10/60 (17%) promoted clubs have suffered immediate relegation.
- All three promoted clubs have survived in 11 (55%) of the 20 seasons this century.
- 2 (3%) promoted clubs have won promotion again, 7 (12%) have finished in the top-six with 23 (38%) tabling top-half finishes. Alternatively, 37 (62%) concluded their campaign in the bottom-half with 10 (17%) suffering immediate demotion.
Unsuccessful Play-Off Campaigns (since 2000/01)
- The average finish of a losing play-off finalist is 9th.
- 2 (10%) of the 20 play-off final losers have bounced back to win the title the following season – 5 (25%) claimed promotion, 8 (40%) registered top-six finishes and 14 (70%) concluded in the top-half. However, 5 (25%) ended their next campaign in the bottom-half with 1 (5%) relegated.
- The average finishing position of a side involved in an unsuccessful play-off campaign is 7th.
- In 6 (30%) seasons this century, a team involved in an unsuccessful play-off campaign has bounced back to win the league – 16 (28%) have won promotion the year after falling in the play-offs, with 25 (42%) tabling another top-six finish and 44 (73%) registering a top-half finish. However, 16 (78%) ended in the bottom-half with 2 (3%) relegated.
- In 9 of the last 10 seasons, at least one team who lost out in the play-offs bounced back with a top-six finish.
Any Other Business (since 2000/01)
- The top-scoring side in the Championship has been crowned champions in 12/20 (60%) seasons this century, winning promotion on 14 (70%) occasions (average finish 2nd).
- The lowest (or joint-lowest) scoring side in the Championship has been relegated in 14/20 (70%) seasons this century, finishing rock-bottom on 7 (35%) occasions (average finish 22nd).
- The best defence (or joint-best) has been crowned champions in 9/20 (45%) seasons this century, winning promotion in 16/20 (80%) seasons (average finish 2nd)
- The side with the worst defence in the Championship has been relegated in 16/20 (80%) seasons this century, finishing rock-bottom on 12 (60%) occasions (average finish 23rd).
