EFL Championship: power rankings
Season 2026/27 · updated 14 October 2026
The strongest side by the model is West Ham United: +0.59 goals per game against an average opponent. Biggest climber of the week: Bolton Wanderers (+6). Norwich City are 19th in the table but 10th by strength — better than their points.
- Best attackWest Ham United1.83 goals per game
- Best defenceSwansea City0.97 conceded per game
- Climber of the weekBolton Wanderers▲6 · now 14
- Faller of the weekStoke City▼5 · now 19
Ranking
Rating — goal difference per game against an average opponent at a neutral venue. ▲▼ — places gained or lost in a week.
| # | Team | Rating | Att. | Def. | Table | Form | Next |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | West Ham United | +0.59 | 1.83 | 1.24 | 6 | DDWWW | 14 October · at Lincoln City (9) |
| 2▲2 | Middlesbrough | +0.59 | 1.67 | 1.08 | 2 | WWDDW | 17 October · Cardiff City (11) |
| 3 | Southampton | +0.49 | 1.65 | 1.16 | 3 | WLWWD | 14 October · at Norwich City (10) |
| 4▼2 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | +0.42 | 1.51 | 1.09 | 10 | LLWWD | 16 October · at Burnley (20) |
| 5▲3 | Birmingham City | +0.38 | 1.49 | 1.11 | 4 | WWDWL | 17 October · Queens Park Rangers (8) |
| 6 | Swansea City | +0.38 | 1.35 | 0.97 | 1 | WWWWL | 17 October · West Ham United (1) |
| 7▼2 | Millwall | +0.28 | 1.51 | 1.23 | 11 | LWDDL | 17 October · Lincoln City (9) |
| 8▼1 | Queens Park Rangers | +0.25 | 1.28 | 1.02 | 9 | DDDDL | 14 October · Derby County (23) |
| 9 | Lincoln City | +0.05 | 1.11 | 1.06 | 17 | LLWWD | 14 October · West Ham United (1) |
| 10 | Norwich City | +0.05 | 1.52 | 1.47 | 19 | LLLWW | 14 October · Southampton (3) |
| 11▲1 | Cardiff City | +0.04 | 1.52 | 1.48 | 18 | WLWLD | 17 October · at Middlesbrough (2) |
| 12▲3 | Portsmouth | −0.05 | 1.14 | 1.19 | 20 | LDDWL | 14 October · Sheffield United (18) |
| 13▼2 | Bristol City | −0.06 | 1.19 | 1.25 | 12 | LDWLL | 17 October · Sheffield United (18) |
| 14▲6 | Bolton Wanderers | −0.12 | 1.27 | 1.39 | 14 | WLWWL | 17 October · at Southampton (3) |
| 15▲2 | Blackburn Rovers | −0.12 | 1.12 | 1.24 | 8 | WWDWL | 17 October · at West Bromwich Albion (17) |
| 16▼3 | Wrexham | −0.13 | 0.99 | 1.12 | 16 | LDWLD | 17 October · Preston North End (22) |
| 17▼1 | West Bromwich Albion | −0.14 | 1.04 | 1.18 | 5 | WLLDW | 17 October · Blackburn Rovers (15) |
| 18▲1 | Sheffield United | −0.16 | 1.04 | 1.20 | 15 | WLLWL | 14 October · at Portsmouth (12) |
| 19▼5 | Stoke City | −0.22 | 1.15 | 1.38 | 7 | LWWWD | 17 October · at Derby County (23) |
| 20▲2 | Burnley | −0.28 | 1.20 | 1.48 | 21 | DWDLD | 16 October · Wolverhampton Wanderers (4) |
| 21▲2 | Charlton Athletic | −0.31 | 0.94 | 1.25 | 13 | DDLDD | 17 October · at Watford (24) |
| 22▼4 | Preston North End | −0.39 | 1.06 | 1.45 | 24 | LLDLL | 17 October · at Wrexham (16) |
| 23▲1 | Derby County | −0.51 | 0.96 | 1.47 | 23 | DDLLL | 14 October · at Queens Park Rangers (8) |
| 24▼3 | Watford | −0.68 | 0.89 | 1.57 | 22 | LLLLW | 17 October · Charlton Athletic (21) |
How it is calculated
Only this season counts. The model rates every team’s attack and defence from this season’s matches — by expected goals (xG, the quality of chances) and actual goals, 60 to 40 — taking into account how strong the opponents were. The rating is the goal difference per game it expects against an average team of the league at a neutral venue. Every team starts with three games of league-average form, so a couple of lucky results early on do not make a leader.
Championship: matches and table →
Championship: season forecast →