KOMPANY & CLARETS WERE JUST TOO TASTY

IT’S been an unforgettable season for many, especially those of a Burnley persuasion. Vincent Kompany and his Clarets stormed to the Championship title in superb style, while Paul Heckingbottom’s Sheffield United – who also reached the FA Cup semi-finals – went up along with them. For others, such as Watford, Norwich, Blackpool and Wigan, it hasn’t been so memorable. Here are some of the key moments along the way…

- Chris Dunlavy

AUGUST 

WATFORD started the season as joint favourites after unexpectedly retaining the services of Joao Pedro, Ismaila Sarr and Emmanuel Dennis following relegation. The trio were in scintillating form as Sheffield United were brushed aside 1-0 at Vicarage Road on the opening weekend.

Norwich were also highly fancied, but stuttered to a 1-1 draw with newly-promoted Wigan in what would prove a sign of things to come.

Burnley - completely rebuilt by new boss Vincent Kompany - won just one of their opening four matches.

Preston thrilled absolutely nobody, posting five 0-0 draws from their opening six and failing to score a single goal at Deepdale until mid-September.

Reading and Blackburn set the early pace, with Rotherham briefly bursting into the top six. By the end of the month, however, the table was top heavy with big hitters, Sheffield United leading by a point from Norwich, Burnley and Watford.

August also saw the first of a record 21 managerial changes as Stoke brought the curtain down on Michael O’Neill’s three-year reign. No sooner had his chair stopped spinning than the Potters poached Alex Neil from Sunderland, the Scot walking out of training on the eve of a home game with Norwich to the fury of supporters.

SEPTEMBER

NOW the bloodshed really began. By the end of the month, no fewer than five clubs were seeking new managers; to the surprise of nobody familiar with Watford’s recent history, the Hornets were one of them.

Poached from Forest Green at considerable expense six months earlier, Rob Edwards was ejected just 11 games into a three-year contract at Vicarage Road.