The Championship season is slowly creeping into the business end of the campaign.
Teams have laid the groundwork and now enter the crunch-end of the campaign, hoping to at least meet pre-season expectations, or surpass them depending on their current situation.
Middlesbrough’s slow start to the campaign had many fearing they may be sucked into a relegation battle, but recent form suggests that a run for the playoffs could be in the offing between now and May.
But does the data back this up?
Well, following this weekend’s Championship action, we’ve compiled data from FiveThirtyEight’s supercomputer, which has predicted how the 2021/22 Championship final standings will look by using a range of statistical calculations, form guides and data analysis. Here is their prediction:
A message from the Football Clubs Editor
Our aim is to provide you with the best, most up-to-date and most informative Middlesbrough coverage 365 days a year.
This depth of coverage costs, so to help us maintain the high-quality reporting that you are used to, please consider taking out a subscription to our new sports-only package here.
Your support is much appreciated. Richard Mennear, Football Clubs Editor
Middlesbrough’s slow start to the campaign had many fearing they may be sucked into a relegation battle, but recent form suggests that a run for the playoffs could be in the offing between now and May.
5. 20th: Hull City
Very much predicted to be the ‘best of the rest’, Hull City have been given a 31% chance of relegation back to League One. Projected Points = 46. Projected Goal Difference = -20 Photo: Alex Livesey
6. 19th: Cardiff City
A disappointing season is expected in south Wales with Steve Morison’s side predicted to survive the drop relatively comfortably - they’ve been given just a 13% chance of relegation. Projected Points = 51. Projected Goal Difference = -19 Photo: Ryan Pierse
7. 18th: Bristol City
Relegation shouldn’t be on the cards at Ashton Gate this season The data experts have given them a 92% chance of survival. Projected Points = 53. Projected Goal Difference = -20 Photo: Marc Atkins
8. 17th: Birmingham City
As always with the Championship, you never know just what might happen in the run-in to the end of the season. The Blues have been given just a 5% chance of relegation, but are the first team to be given a 1% chance of making the playoffs by the data experts. Projected Points = 55. Projected Goal Difference = -12 Photo: Tony Marshall