A Christmas festival mood has gripped all football supporters in the busiest as ever in the next few weeks as EFL footballs clubs’ FA cup appetite has been sumptuous after November fixtures.
Transfer rumours and possible management changes in Championship have stoked amazing feast, with most clubs staying in both ends with more points difference. And, this time, even the mighty current top six clubs has been caught up in this fiercer competitive fixtures during Christmas period. It is now widened by at least 6 points from the top to the club outside the playoff places. Other entertaining facts, such as the drop zone, have not found much difference between four teams who tied at 17 points, but goal difference. How did the championship get back into the swing of December fixtures?
The most important driver of promotion chasing pack, top six teams seemed to be firing on all cylinders last month. And while they are slowing from an earlier Black Friday stimulus-driven performance surge, it looks likely to keep their winning form in December, so only consistently. Furthermore, an only three losses between the top six teams in November looks promising, which would usually cause a major boost in their next home coming games during Christmas festival.
Although Norwich City are halted by Hull City in the final game of November, they still have an impressive 6-match winning streak record by the time before 0-0 draw at KCOM stadium. The Canaries remains 1st and set their sight to the title bid this season.
Leeds United keep their pace with the front-runner Norwich and position themselves in an automatic promotion place.
With resolute defence showing us their toughness, Middlesbrough had only conceded 2 goals while no other teams matching them. They are keeping the best clean sheets record (11) in the league.
West Bromwich Albion came back to the resilience form against their opponents after their stunning victory over Leeds United at home and also claimed two wins from back-to-back away games successively.
Sheffield United resurrected their bad spell with a victory over Brentford, which left them 3 points clear of the chasing pack of last play off place.
Nottingham Forest, who are one of seven unbeaten sides (Other six: Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Preston North End, Rotherham United and Stoke) in November, leapfrogged Derby County and slotted in the last place in top six. The Rams only missed out from play-off places by only goal differences with four goals margin.
A top flight, Aston Villa who are now heading to December in style by scoring 14 goals for and 7 goals conceded including the epic win in second city derby and 5-5 thriller draw with Nottingham Forest. Now their position increased by 9 places and the best position in the table (8th) since Dean Smith taking in charge.
Queens Park Rangers moved to ninth in the table. The Rs, who won one and draw two in last three league games will entertain Hull City at home soil this weekend.
Garry Monk’s Birmingham were beaten by Derby County and halted their 11-match unbeaten run earlier last month. They bounced back by winning 2-0 at Millwall and stayed in top half.
Much changed side in Wales with Swansea senior members like Fer, Bony and Montero back to squad have mixed feelings with claiming only one away win over Bolton. However, it is their fourth clean sheet in overall away games in the league. They dropped three places to 11th places since October.
Hard-fought Stoke City stay top of their game without losing any one of four games. Now they moved to 12th place.
Tony Mowbray got his contract renewal reward by keeping Blackburn Rovers place in the mid table after 19 games since their promotion from League One last summer.
The 14th Bristol City ended their slump of form with a victory at Portman road.
Wigan Athletic ended their 4-match losing streak by getting a 0-0 draw with Reading and claim a win in their back-to-back home games. They placed in 15th.
Sheffield Wednesday were beaten 3-1 at Birmingham and humiliated by Norwich City 4-0 at home. Their boss is under immense pressure to slip further down in the table with only 6 points adrift to the relegation zone and lead his side just one point above the 17th Preston North End with twenty-three points.
Preston North End rediscovered their form and have taken 8 points from a possible 12 without losing any one game in November.
After three consecutive defeats, Brentford have seemed no stimulus from their new Dane coach. They are now in 18th place.
Rotherham United claimed only one victory in last twelve league games since the defeat against Lampard’s Derby County. The win on 3 November with following three draws are enough to move up one place to 19th.
Reading climbed out from the relegation zone, but still under the serious threats while they are tied at 17 points with Millwall, Hull City and Bolton Wanderers.
Millwall stayed above the safety line and tied at same point from the relegation rival 22nd Hull City with one superior goal difference.Thanks to rearguard performance from a much improved Nigel Adkins’s side with just one loss so far in November.
Debt-ridden Bolton Wanderers drove them to the wrong side of the table and plunged to the bottom three with only 1 point in whole month.
Ipswich Town could still stay on the foot of the table, but they significantly increase their goal scoring form from 3 goals in October to double up to 6 goals in last four games.
In December, many championship teams could stretch to their limit, during which the bottom six teams are likely to struggle playing against the top sides in the table.
On 3rd December, the draw for the FA Cup third round is taken place when all the top flights from the Premier League and Championships enter the competition. Nevertheless, Middlesbrough is still in the EFL Carabao Cup Competition. They will play against Burton Albion in their quarter-final match at Riverside stadium on 18th December.
Pos |
Team |
Pl | GD | Pts |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
Norwich | 19 | 11 | 37 |
2 |
Leeds | 19 | 15 | 36 |
3 |
Middlesbrough | 19 | 12 | 35 |
4 |
WBA | 19 | 14 | 34 |
5 |
Sheffield United | 19 | 9 | 34 |
6 |
Nott’m Forest | 19 | 9 | 31 |
7 |
Derby County | 19 | 5 | 31 |
8 |
Aston Villa | 19 | 6 | 28 |
9 |
QPR | 19 | -4 | 28 |
10 |
Birmingham | 19 | 3 | 27 |
11 |
Swansea | 19 | 2 | 26 |
12 |
Stoke | 19 | 0 | 26 |
13 |
Blackburn | 19 | -6 | 26 |
14 |
Bristol City | 19 | 0 | 25 |
15 |
Wigan Athletic | 19 | -5 | 24 |
16 |
Sheffield Wednesday | 19 | -9 | 23 |
17 |
Preston North End | 19 | -1 | 22 |
18 |
Brentford | 19 | 2 | 21 |
19 |
Rotherham United | 19 | -9 | 20 |
20 |
Reading | 19 | -6 | 17 |
21 |
Millwall | 19 | -9 | 17 |
22 |
Hull | 19 | -10 | 17 |
23 |
Bolton | 19 | -13 | 17 |
24 |
Ipswich | 19 | -16 | 11 |