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24 teams, 24 observations: A key metric of every Championship club

2MC80C7 Mark Sykes of Bristol City and Ben Brereton of Blackburn Rovers race for the ball during the EFL Sky Bet Championship match between Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers at Ashton Gate, Bristol, England on 21 January 2023. Photo by Scott Boulton. Editorial use only, license required for commercial use. No use in betting, games or a single club/league/player publications. Credit: UK Sports Pics Ltd/Alamy Live News

It is international break time for the Championship as the teams gear up for a final push towards promotion, the playoffs or safety. Ahead of the season run-in, we have taken stock of all the data we have collected since the start of the season to come up with an interesting nugget on each team.

Birmingham City

The good news keeps coming for Arsenal fans. On loan defender Auston Trusty has won more tackles (103) than any other player in the Championship.

That is a clear margin ahead of midfielder Krystian Bielik's tally of 62 as the second ranking Birmingham player in the metric, while centre-back partner Dion Sanderson is on 60.

Blackburn Rovers

After completing 67% of his attempted defensive line-breaking passes, forward Ben Brereton has the highest success rate in the division of players to attempt at least 20 passes.

Blackpool

It has been a tough year for the Seasiders who have the third-worst defensive record in the league. It could be worse but for the cross prevention work of Dominic Thompson.

The full-back has successfully blocked 26 crosses of the 55 he has attempted, good for the best cross blocking percentage in the league.

Bristol City

Who knows where Alex Scott will be playing his football next year. The exciting Bristol City talent is attracting a lot of interest from Premier League clubs, and he is also attracting a lot of interest from opposing defenders. He’s won 102 fouls, the most in the league by 12.

Burnley

At the centre of Burnley's promotion charge has been the skill of Nathan Tella, who has frightened Championship defenders time and time again. This is reflected in the league leading 22 yellow cards he has drawn this season for opposition defenders.

Cardiff City

After winning a staggering 80% of his 50-50 duels, Cardiff defender Perry Ng possesses the third-best win rate in the division in this challenge facet (min. 300 challenge events).

Only Coventry's Kyle McFadzean (82%) and Millwall's Charlie Cresswell (81%) hold a higher success percentage.

Coventry City forward Viktor Gyokeres
2PFR422 Viktor Gyokeres #17 of Coventry City holds the ball during the Sky Bet Championship match Blackpool vs Coventry City at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool, United Kingdom, 18th March 2023
(Photo by Alfie Cosgrove/News Images)

Coventry City

There are three metrics which offer a glimpse into the significance of Swedish international Viktor Gyökeres to Coventry's play-off ambitions. He not only leads the league in the number of shots attempted (118), but also in number of dribbles attempted (211) and most possessions in the opposition box (255).

Huddersfield Town

After averaging 6.77 clearances per 90 minutes, centre-back Michał Helik has the third-highest average in the division.

Hull City

Among players who have at least 30 shots, Regan Slater has the highest true (includes blocked shots) shots on target percentage at 82%.

This accuracy level leads all central midfielders who have attempted at least 25 shots, with Swansea's Jay Fulton trailing in second on 77%.

Luton Town

If you want to know how much of a handful the Luton attackers are for the opposition defence, take a look at how Carlton Morris (85) and Elijah Adebayo (83) have committed the most fouls in the division.

Middlesbrough

A move to the Riverside Stadium was the seventh time Ryan Giles found himself loaned out by his parent club Wolverhampton Wanderers. It is safe to say he is showcasing his attacking prowess, leading the league with 13 assists, in part powered by his league leading 389 crosses.

Millwall

With 261 aerial duel wins, no player in the division has won more than Lions defender Jake Cooper.

This has contributed to Cooper generating a PFF challenge grade of 90.6, the sixth-best in the Championship.

Norwich City

With 6,804 touches on 2,478 possessions, full-back Max Aarons has the second most in the division and the most of any defensive player.

Preston North End

No player has blocked more shots than the 41 that Liam Lindsay has blocked for mid-table Preston.

Queens Park Rangers

Sometimes size does matter as 6'3″ midfielder Sam Field has more distribution event (pass, cross, clearance and shot) blocks than any player in the league with 87.

Reading striker Andy Carroll
2M6106E Andy Carroll of Reading – Norwich City v Reading, Sky Bet Championship, Carrow Road, Norwich, UK – 30th December 2022
Editorial Use Only – DataCo restrictions apply

Reading

If there is one thing you associate Andy Carroll with it is winning the ball in the air. The former England target man is still doing it in the second tier of English football, with his 246 aerial duel wins the most of any attacking player.

Rotherham United

Where would Rotherham be without keeper Viktor Johansson? The Swedish stopper has made 137 saves, the most in the Championship by 30. As, if not more impressive, only 30% of the goals he has allowed have been “saveable”, the third lowest number in the league.

Sheffield United

There’s no doubting that Oliver Norwood likes to get stuck in. His 75 successful duel wins in 50-50 tackles is the most of any player in the division. Norwood is astute at more than just the physical side of the game, having has also completed the most set piece crosses (64) in the Championship.

Stoke City

No player has attempted to block as many combined passes, shots, clearances and crosses as Will Smallbone, who made his Republic of Ireland debut against Latvia this past week. He has attempted 290 total blocks, or 9.22 for per 90 minutes.

Sunderland

The Stadium of Light is home to a couple of the league's top dribblers. No player has completed more dribbles than Patrick Roberts (85), while his teammate Jack Clarke ranks fourth (78).

Swansea City

With 410 line breaking passes completed, nobody is close to Matt Grimes in this regard. What is more impressive? His 86% success rate on attempted line-breaking passes is seventh best in the entire division.

Watford

On loan midfielder Hamza Choudhury is one of the most one-footed players in the league. On 94.8% of his distribution events (crosses, clearances, passes and shots) he uses his right foot. Only one outfield player holds a higher percentage, Wigan's attacking midfielder Callum Lang (96%) among players to have played at least 1,500 minutes.

West Bromwich Albion

Having successfully defended 24 out of 42 dribble attempts against him, Conor Townsend has the best dribble defence success rate (57%) of all players to have faced more than 30 dribbles.

Wigan Athletic

After completing 31% of his open play crosses, Tendayi Darikwa has the second highest completion percentage of any Championship player (mini. 20 open play cross attempts).

Bristol City forward Nakhi Wells just about tops the metric ahead of Darikwa at 32%.

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