Wednesday 8 May 2019 11:19, UK
The EFL regular season drew to a close over the Bank holiday weekend. Here’s a look back at some of the facts and stats of a fascinating final round of fixtures.
Norwich's 2-1 final day win at Aston Villa confirmed a 4th second-tier title for the Canaries who finished on 94 points, just one shy of their best-ever points total of 95 points set in League One in 2009-10. Norwich's third promotion in the last nine seasons was sealed by a run of 14 games unbeaten, their best run since January 2010.
It meant that they lost just six games all season, a club record in a 46-match season. As the Championship trophy was passed between the players, Teemu Pukki arguably received the loudest cheer from fans and for good reason. The Championship's top scorer was involved in 38 league goals this season (29 goals & 9 assists) - the most since Rickie Lambert had 40 goal involvement's for Southampton in 2011-12.
Certainly 2018-19 will be remembered as one of the best in the club's 117-year history.
Derby County's 3-1 win against West Brom on Sunday meant that they completed a league double over the Baggies for the first time since 1993-94 and more crucially secured sixth position and a play-off place. The Rams will now compete in the Championship play-offs for an eighth time, no side has done so more often.
Fans will hope to emulate their success of 2007 when Stephen Pearson scored the only goal as they beat West Brom in the Wembley final. However, they will have wished that they could have faced Albion again as both Leeds and Aston Villa completed the league double over Derby.
Brentford will go into the summer with high hopes for next season following a 3-0 home win against Preston in their final game of the season. It meant a top half finish for the 11th straight season. In 2019, only the top two, Norwich and Sheffield United, have won more Championship games than the Bees (11) while only the top two and Aston Villa have won more points in the calendar year.
Fans will be particularly confident if they can keep hold of Neal Maupay, who became the first Brentford player to score 25 league goals in a season for 41 years since Steve Phillips in 1977-78, and Said Benrahma who finished the season with a Championship-high 14 assists. That said, they will know that they need to improve on their away form ahead of 2019-20.
Middlesbrough's midfield maestro John Obi Mikel scored just his second goal in English league football as Boro ended the season with a 2-1 win at Rotherham. On the occasion of his 267th English league appearance, Mikel scored for the first time since September 2013, a gap of five years and 226 days.
Events of September 2013
Special mention to defender Jake Cooper who completed 90 minutes for Millwall on Sunday, meaning he was the only outfield player to play every minute in the Championship this season. He made 272 clearances for his side this season, a total that only QPR defender Toni Leistner (289) could better.
Charlton were impressive in their 4-0 win against Rochdale on the final day which secured third place in League One and they will head into the play-offs full of confidence. The Addicks are the form team in the division, having taken 21 points from their last 8 games, four more than any other side in that time.
Since the first day of Spring on March 20, no side has scored more goals than Lee Bowyer's side and they have conceded just three goals, five fewer than any other side. By way of comparison, champions Luton conceded 11 goals in the same period.
Tranmere striker James Norwood converted a penalty on Saturday to take his tally to 29 league goals this season, the joint most in England's top 4 tiers.
Norwood has now scored 92 goals in 187 appearances for Tranmere and will hope to carry his impressive scoring form into the play-offs, where he faces former club Forest Green, where scored 54 goals in 188 games between 2010-15.
