Championship is now war of attrition

HANDS up. Who has seen a decent Championship game this season? Who has been genuinely excited? I certainly haven’t and, according to the official statistics, I’m not alone. At the time of writing, the second tier was averaging almost 0.5 goals per game fewer than in any season since it was rebranded in 2004.

- Chris Dunlavy

That may seem like a minor deviation. But consider that in the 28 years since its foundation in 1992, the Premier League has never seen a difference of that magnitude.

The lowest goals-per-game number ever recorded was 2.45 in 2006-07 (Cheers, Jose), whilst the highest was 2.82 in 2018-19. All-time, the largest single change between two seasons was a drop of 0.2.

Anyway, forget numbers. Use your eyes. The division has lost its way. As a reporter, I am asked to give every match an entertainment rating out of five. The average score so far is 1.3, based on ten games and 15 different teams.

Anecdotally, colleagues in the media and friends who support Championship clubs are all saying the same thing. Chances are scarce. Goals a rarity. Play laboured and stodgy.

Stodgy

Several factors are probably at play, starting with an absence of supporters. Fans, it has now become abundantly clear, add far more than atmosphere.