CHAMPIONSHIP KINGS

AS BURNLEY POWER TO THIS SEASON'S SECOND TIER TITLE SAM SHEPPEY LOOKS BACK AT THOSE WHO HAVE SHONE BRIGHTEST IN THE PAST

- BURNLEY POWER

THE Championship is a league that often throws up shocks and surprises at either end of the table, guaranteeing drama until the final kick. There is still a lot that needs to be settled in terms of the battle to escape relegation as well as the race to make the play-offs, but this year’s champions-elect have looked formidable all season.

Burnley have been sitting pretty at the Championship’s summit since October, with ex-Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany proving to be a resounding success in his first managerial job in England.

The Clarets have impressed all season long and will likely go down in history as one of the best Championship teams ever, bouncing back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Neil Warnock was amazed when his Huddersfield Town side were thrashed 4-0 by Kompany’s Clarets in February, calling Burnley: “The best team I’ve seen in 20 to 25 years in the Championship.”

Burnley are projected to finish the campaign with a whopping number of points, but how many points do the top three Championship sides of all time have and who are they?

3. Newcastle United 2009-10 - 102pts (+55)

Coming off the back of a first relegation in 21 years, the pressure was on for Newcastle to secure an immediate return to the top flight.

A disastrous Premier League campaign saw the Toon go through four separate managers, relegated on the final day with club legend Alan Shearer at the helm.

The Newcastle fans had begun to voice their displeasure towards the ownership regime which was fronted by Mike Ashley, a battle that raged on for many years.