# 2012–13 Football League Championship

The 2012–13 Football League Championship (known as the npower Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the ninth season of the league under its current title and twentieth season under its current league division format. The season began on 17 August 2012 with promotion candidates Cardiff City hosting newly promoted Huddersfield Town at Cardiff City Stadium and finished on 27 May 2013 with the play-off final.
Of the 24 teams which participate, eighteen of these remain following the 2011–12 Football League Championship. They were joined by Charlton Athletic, Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town from 2011–12 Football League One, and Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Wolverhampton Wanderers from the 2011–12 Premier League. The final place was decided on 26 May 2012, as Huddersfield Town defeated Sheffield United 8–7 on penalties, in the 2012 Football League One play-off final.
Cardiff City won the league in their first season since a controversial rebrand; they achieved promotion to the top flight for the first time since 1960 and became the second Welsh club to play in the Premier League. The second automatic promotion spot was won by Hull City with a 2–2 draw against Cardiff on the final day after a dramatic finale to the season. Watford, just two points behind, had to settle for a place in the playoffs, joining Brighton & Hove Albion, Crystal Palace, and Leicester City, who secured their place with a last-minute goal over rivals Nottingham Forest. In the playoffs, Watford defeated Leicester City 3–2, Crystal Palace defeated Brighton 2–0, and in the final Watford was upset by Crystal Palace to gain the promotion. Bristol City, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Peterborough United were relegated. Peterborough gained 54 points, the highest ever for a relegated team in Championship history. Wolves' relegation was the first time a team had been relegated from the top tier to the third tier in consecutive seasons since Swindon Town in 1994 and 1995. They also became the first team to achieve this feat twice.

## Changes from last season
### Rules changes

On 25 April 2012, it was announced that financial fair play rules would be introduced for teams within The Championship. This means that clubs have agreed to new rules on sustainable financing which includes:
* Acceptable losses of £4 million in the 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons, reducing to £2 million in 2015–16 season
* Acceptable amounts of shareholder investment of £8 million in the 2011–12 season, £6 million in the 2012–13 season, reducing to £3 million in 2015–16 season
* New rules on providing accounts
* New penalties for teams that fail to abide by the rules
Also the 2011–12 season saw Football League clubs vote for five substitutes instead of seven. However, on 1 June 2012, Football League clubs re-voted with the outcome of seven substitutes instead of five, ahead of the 2012–13 Football League season.

## Team overview
### Stadia and locations

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Barnsley | Barnsley | Oakwell | 23,009 |
| Birmingham City | Birmingham | St Andrew's | 30,079 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn | Ewood Park | 31,154 |
| Blackpool | Blackpool | Bloomfield Road | 17,338 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Bolton | Reebok Stadium | 28,100 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Brighton | Falmer Stadium | 30,750 |
| Bristol City | Bristol | Ashton Gate | 21,497 |
| Burnley | Burnley | Turf Moor | 22,546 |
| Cardiff City | Cardiff | Cardiff City Stadium | 26,828 |
| Charlton Athletic | Charlton, London | The Valley | 27,111 |
| Crystal Palace | South Norwood, London | Selhurst Park | 26,309 |
| Derby County | Derby | Pride Park Stadium | 33,597 |
| Huddersfield Town | Huddersfield | John Smith's Stadium | 24,500 |
| Hull City | Kingston upon Hull | KC Stadium | 25,586 |
| Ipswich Town | Ipswich | Portman Road | 30,311 |
| Leeds United | Leeds | Elland Road | 39,460 |
| Leicester City | Leicester | King Power Stadium | 32,500 |
| Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough | Riverside Stadium | 34,988 |
| Millwall | South Bermondsey, London | The Den | 20,146 |
| Nottingham Forest | Nottingham | City Ground | 30,576 |
| Peterborough United | Peterborough | London Road Stadium | 15,460 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Sheffield | Hillsborough | 39,812 |
| Watford | Watford | Vicarage Road | 17,477 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Wolverhampton | Molineux | 31,700 |

### Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Chairman | Team captain | Kit maker | Sponsor |
| Barnsley | David Flitcroft | Patrick Cryne | Bobby Hassell | Nike | C.K. Beckett |
| Birmingham City | Lee Clark | Peter Pannu | Stephen Carr | Diadora | EZE Group |
| Blackburn Rovers | Gary Bowyer (caretaker) | Paul Agnew | Scott Dann | Umbro | PROBIZ |
| Blackpool | Paul Ince | Karl Oyston | Alex Baptiste | Fila | Wonga |
| Bolton Wanderers | Dougie Freedman | Phil Gartside | Kevin Davies | adidas | 188BET |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | Gus Poyet (suspended) | Tony Bloom | Gordon Greer | Erreà | BrightonandHoveJobs.com |
| Bristol City | Sean O'Driscoll | Keith Dawe | Liam Fontaine | adidas | Blackthorn |
| Burnley | Sean Dyche | Mike Garlick John Banaszkiewicz | Jason Shackell | Puma | Premier Range |
| Cardiff City | Malky Mackay | Mehmet Dalman | Mark Hudson | Puma | Malaysia |
| Charlton Athletic | Chris Powell | Michael Slater | Johnnie Jackson | Nike | Andrews Air-conditioning |
| Crystal Palace | Ian Holloway | Steve Parish Martin Long | Paddy McCarthy | Avec | GAC Logistics (front), Jelly Communications (back) |
| Derby County | Nigel Clough | Andrew Appleby | Richard Keogh | Kappa | buymobiles.net |
| Huddersfield Town | Mark Robins | Dean Hoyle | Peter Clarke | Umbro | Rekorderlig Cider (H) RadianB (A) |
| Hull City | Steve Bruce | Assem Allam | Jack Hobbs | adidas | Cash Converters |
| Ipswich Town | Mick McCarthy | Marcus Evans | Carlos Edwards | Mitre | Marcus Evans |
| Leeds United | Brian McDermott | Ken Bates | Lee Peltier | Macron | Enterprise Insurance |
| Leicester City | Nigel Pearson | Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha | Wes Morgan | Puma | King Power (Front), Amazing Thailand (Back) |
| Middlesbrough | Tony Mowbray | Steve Gibson | Rhys Williams | adidas | Ramsdens |
| Millwall | Steve Lomas | John Berylson | Paul Robinson | Macron | racing+ |
| Nottingham Forest | Billy Davies | Fawaz Al-Hasawi | Danny Collins | Umbro | John Pye Auctions |
| Peterborough United | Darren Ferguson | Darragh MacAnthony | Gabriel Zakuani | Nike | Energy Park Peterborough |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Dave Jones | Milan Mandarić | Martin Taylor | Puma | Front: Gilder Group Honda (H), Westfield Health (A) Back: GCI Com |
| Watford | Gianfranco Zola | Gino Pozzo | John Eustace | Puma | Football Manager/Football Manager Handheld |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Kenny Jackett | Steve Morgan | Karl Henry | BURRDA | Sportingbet (front), What House? (back) |

#### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Hull City | Nick Barmby | Sacked | 8 May 2012 | Pre-season | Steve Bruce | 8 June 2012 |
| Birmingham City | Chris Hughton | Signed by Norwich City | 7 June 2012 | Pre-season | Lee Clark | 26 June 2012 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Terry Connor | End of contract | 30 June 2012 | Pre-season | Ståle Solbakken | 1 July 2012$^1$ |
| Watford | Sean Dyche | Sacked | 2 July 2012 | Pre-season | Gianfranco Zola | 7 July 2012 |
| Nottingham Forest | Steve Cotterill | Sacked | 12 July 2012 | Pre-season | Sean O'Driscoll | 19 July 2012 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Steve Kean | Resigned | 28 September 2012 | 3rd | Henning Berg | 31 October 2012 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Owen Coyle | Sacked | 9 October 2012 | 18th | Dougie Freedman | 23 October 2012 |
| Burnley | Eddie Howe | Signed by Bournemouth | 12 October 2012 | 16th | Sean Dyche | 30 October 2012 |
| Crystal Palace | Dougie Freedman | Signed by Bolton Wanderers | 23 October 2012 | 4th | Ian Holloway | 3 November 2012 |
| Ipswich Town | Paul Jewell | Mutual consent | 24 October 2012 | 24th | Mick McCarthy | 1 November 2012 |
| Blackpool | Ian Holloway | Signed by Crystal Palace | 2 November 2012 | 12th | Michael Appleton | 7 November 2012 |
| Nottingham Forest | Sean O'Driscoll | Sacked | 26 December 2012 | 8th | Alex McLeish | 27 December 2012 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Henning Berg | Sacked | 27 December 2012 | 17th | Michael Appleton | 11 January 2013 |
| Barnsley | Keith Hill | Sacked | 29 December 2012 | 24th | David Flitcroft | 13 January 2013 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Ståle Solbakken | Sacked | 5 January 2013 | 18th | Dean Saunders | 7 January 2013 |
| Blackpool | Michael Appleton | Signed by Blackburn Rovers | 11 January 2013 | 14th | Paul Ince | 18 February 2013 |
| Bristol City | Derek McInnes | Sacked | 12 January 2013 | 24th | Sean O'Driscoll | 14 January 2013 |
| Huddersfield Town | Simon Grayson | Sacked | 24 January 2013 | 18th | Mark Robins | 14 February 2013 |
| Nottingham Forest | Alex McLeish | Mutual consent | 5 February 2013 | 11th | Billy Davies | 7 February 2013 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Michael Appleton | Sacked | 19 March 2013 | 18th | Gary Bowyer | 24 May 2013 |
| Leeds United | Neil Warnock | Resigned | 1 April 2013 | 12th | Brian McDermott | 12 April 2013 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | Dean Saunders | Sacked | 7 May 2013 | 23rd | Kenny Jackett | 1 June 2013 |
* 23 Managerial changes ~ 12 sacked + 5 changed club + 3 resigned + 2 mutual consent + 1 contract finished

## League table

A total of 24 teams contest the division: 18 sides remaining in the division from last season, three relegated from the Premier League, and three promoted from the League One.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Cardiff City (C, P) | 46 | 25 | 12 | 9 | 72 | 45 | +27 | 87 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Hull City (P) | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 61 | 52 | +9 | 79 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Watford | 46 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 85 | 58 | +27 | 77 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 18 | 9 | 69 | 43 | +26 | 75 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Crystal Palace (O, P) | 46 | 19 | 15 | 12 | 73 | 62 | +11 | 72 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 6 | Leicester City | 46 | 19 | 11 | 16 | 71 | 48 | +23 | 68 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Bolton Wanderers | 46 | 18 | 14 | 14 | 69 | 61 | +8 | 68 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 63 | 59 | +4 | 67 | |
| 9 | Charlton Athletic | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 65 | 59 | +6 | 65 | |
| 10 | Derby County | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 65 | 62 | +3 | 61 | |
| 11 | Burnley | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 62 | 60 | +2 | 61 | |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 46 | 15 | 16 | 15 | 63 | 69 | −6 | 61 | |
| 13 | Leeds United | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 57 | 66 | −9 | 61 | |
| 14 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 48 | 61 | −13 | 60 | |
| 15 | Blackpool | 46 | 14 | 17 | 15 | 62 | 63 | −1 | 59 | |
| 16 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 18 | 5 | 23 | 61 | 70 | −9 | 59 | |
| 17 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 14 | 16 | 16 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 58 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 53 | 61 | −8 | 58 | |
| 19 | Huddersfield Town | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 53 | 73 | −20 | 58 | |
| 20 | Millwall | 46 | 15 | 11 | 20 | 51 | 62 | −11 | 56 | |
| 21 | Barnsley | 46 | 14 | 13 | 19 | 56 | 70 | −14 | 55 | |
| 22 | Peterborough United (R) | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 66 | 75 | −9 | 54 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 23 | Wolverhampton Wanderers (R) | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 55 | 69 | −14 | 51 | Relegation to Football League One |
| 24 | Bristol City (R) | 46 | 11 | 8 | 27 | 59 | 84 | −25 | 41 | Relegation to Football League One |

## Play-offs

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Final | Final | Final |
| 3 | Watford | 0 | 3 | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 2 | | | |
| 6 | Leicester City | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | Watford | 0 |
| | | | | | 5 | Crystal Palace (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| 4 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | Crystal Palace (a.e.t.) | 1 |
| 5 | Crystal Palace | 0 | 2 | 2 | | | |

## Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | BIR | BLB | BLP | BOL | B&HA | BRI | BUR | CAR | CHA | CRY | DER | HUD | HUL | IPS | LEE | LEI | MID | MIL | NOT | PET | SHW | WAT | WOL |
| Barnsley | | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–6 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Birmingham City | 0–5 | | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–3 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–4 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 |
| Blackpool | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 6–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 5–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 | | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 2–0 |
| Bristol City | 5–3 | 0–1 | 3–5 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | | 3–4 | 4–2 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 |
| Burnley | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–1 | | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 2–0 |
| Cardiff City | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 |
| Charlton Athletic | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 5–4 | | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Crystal Palace | 0–0 | 0–4 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 3–2 | 2–1 | | 3–0 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–1 |
| Derby County | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 0–0 |
| Huddersfield Town | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–1 |
| Hull City | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Ipswich Town | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 |
| Leeds United | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–0 | | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–6 | 1–0 |
| Leicester City | 2–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Middlesbrough | 2–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Millwall | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | | 0–1 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 |
| Nottingham Forest | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 6–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 1–4 | | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 |
| Peterborough United | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 5–4 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 1–2 | 0–1 | | 1–0 | 3–2 | 0–2 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 2–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | | 1–4 | 0–0 |
| Watford | 4–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 0–0 | 3–4 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | | 2–1 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |

## Season statistics
### Penalties

    As of 4 May 2013.
| Rank | Player | Club | Scored (Miss) |
| 1 | Glenn Murray | Crystal Palace | 8 (3) |
| 2 | Jordan Rhodes | Blackburn Rovers$^1$ | 6 |
| 3 | Luciano Becchio | Leeds United | 5 |
| 3 | Grant McCann | Peterborough United | 5 |
| 5 | Marlon King | Birmingham City | 4 |
| 5 | Sam Baldock | Bristol City | 4 |
| 5 | Keith Andrews | Bolton Wanderers | 4 |
| 5 | Jamie Ward | Derby County | 4 |
| 5 | Peter Whittingham | Cardiff City | 4 |
| 5 | Charlie Austin | Burnley | 4 |
| 5 | David López | Brighton | 4 |
* – includes one penalty for Huddersfield Town

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Peter Whittingham | Cardiff City | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3–1 | 2 September 2012 |
| Charlie Austin (#1) | Burnley | Peterborough United | 5–2 | 15 September 2012 |
| Craig Davies$^4$ | Barnsley | Birmingham City | 0–5 | 22 September 2012 |
| Glenn Murray (#1) | Crystal Palace | Cardiff City | 3–2 | 22 September 2012 |
| David Nugent | Leicester City | Hull City | 3–1 | 23 September 2012 |
| Emile Sinclair | Peterborough | Hull City | 1–3 | 29 September 2012 |
| Charlie Austin (#2) | Burnley | Sheffield Wednesday | 3–3 | 2 October 2012 |
| Marlon King | Birmingham City | Millwall | 3–3 | 23 October 2012 |
| Glenn Murray (#2) | Crystal Palace | Ipswich Town | 5–0 | 6 November 2012 |
| Jordan Rhodes | Blackburn Rovers | Peterborough United | 1–4 | 17 November 2012 |
| Chris Wood | Leicester City | Bristol City | 0–4 | 12 January 2013 |
| Radosław Majewski | Nottingham Forest | Huddersfield Town | 6–1 | 19 February 2013 |
| Dwight Gayle | Peterborough | Blackburn Rovers | 2–3 | 2 March 2013 |
| Leonardo Ulloa | Brighton | Huddersfield Town | 4–1 | 2 March 2013 |
| Kevin Phillips | Crystal Palace | Hull City | 4–2 | 5 March 2013 |
| James Vaughan | Huddersfield Town | Bristol City | 1–3 | 27 April 2013 |
* $^4$ Player scored 4 goals

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Mark Hudson for Cardiff City against Huddersfield Town (17 August 2012)
* Fastest goal of the season: 30 seconds, Glenn Murray for Crystal Palace against Sheffield Wednesday (1 September 2012)
* Latest goal of the season: 98 minutes and 23 seconds, Troy Deeney for Watford against Leeds United (10 November 2012)
* Largest winning margin: 6 goals
** Blackpool 6–0 Ipswich Town (25 August 2012)
** Leicester City 6–0 Ipswich Town (17 November 2012)
** Barnsley 0–6 Charlton Athletic (13 April 2013)
* Highest scoring game: 9 goals
** Charlton Athletic 5–4 Cardiff City (6 November 2012)
** Peterborough United 5–4 Bolton Wanderers (22 December 2012)
* Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals
** Blackpool 6–0 Ipswich Town (25 August 2012)
** Leeds United 1–6 Watford (10 November 2012)
** Leicester City 6–0 Ipswich Town (17 November 2012)
** Leicester City 6–1 Huddersfield Town (1 January 2013)
** Nottingham Forest 6–1 Huddersfield Town (19 February 2013)
** Barnsley 0–6 Charlton Athletic (13 April 2013)
** Brighton & Hove Albion 6–1 Blackpool (20 April 2013)
* Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 4 goals
** Charlton Athletic 5–4 Cardiff City (6 November 2012)
** Peterborough United 5–4 Bolton Wanderers (22 December 2012)

### Clean sheets

* Most clean sheets: 18
** Cardiff City
* Fewest clean sheets: 5
** Bristol City

### Discipline

* Most yellow cards (club): 93
** Sheffield Wednesday
* Most yellow cards (player): 13
** Shane Lowry (Millwall)
* Most red cards (club): 5
** Nottingham Forest
** Watford
** Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Most red cards (player): 2
** Adlène Guedioura (Nottingham Forest)
** Nikola Žigić (Birmingham City)

## Monthly awards

| Month | Manager of the Month | Manager of the Month | Player of the Month | Player of the Month | Reference |
| Month | Manager | Club | Player | Club | Reference |
| August | Ian Holloway | Blackpool | Tom Ince | Blackpool | |
| September | Dougie Freedman | Crystal Palace | Glenn Murray | Crystal Palace | |
| October | Tony Mowbray | Middlesbrough | Charlie Austin | Burnley | |
| November | Kenny Jackett | Millwall | Sone Aluko | Hull City | |
| December | Steve Bruce | Hull City | Dwight Gayle | Peterborough United | |
| January | Nigel Pearson | Leicester City | Matěj Vydra | Watford | |
| February | Gianfranco Zola | Watford | Fraizer Campbell | Cardiff City | |
| March | Billy Davies | Nottingham Forest | George Boyd | Hull City | |
| April | Dougie Freedman | Bolton Wanderers | James Vaughan | Huddersfield Town | |

## Final day of the season

The final day of the season fell on 4 May 2013. Watford and Hull City were both fighting for 2nd place and automatic promotion to the 2013–14 Premier League. Crystal Palace, Leicester City, Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest were all fighting for 5th and 6th place, and for a play-off spot. However, on the final day, it was mathematically possible for any 2 of 7 teams to get relegated alongside already relegated Bristol City. These teams were Wolverhampton Wanderers, Peterborough United, Huddersfield Town, Blackburn Rovers, Millwall, Barnsley and Sheffield Wednesday.
Late drama occupied all three battles, with the headlines inevitably going to Hull, who won promotion to the Premier League after a 2–2 draw with newly crowned champions Cardiff City and Watford being beaten 2–1 by Leeds United. Hull were 2–1 up and in the 91st minute when they were awarded a penalty which could have sealed their 2nd place spot. Hull missed their penalty and in the 93rd minute, Cardiff were awarded a penalty, which was converted by Nicky Maynard, bringing the score to 2–2. After a serious injury delayed the match, the Watford game was fifteen minutes behind the other games, so with the score at 1–1, Watford knew that a win would secure their promotion to the Premier League. In the 89th minute Leeds scored to make it 2–1. The scores stayed that way and promotion for Hull was assured.
In the play-off battle between Leicester City, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest and Bolton, there was a late goal for Leicester (vs Nottingham Forest) that secured a 3–2 victory, meaning that the 2–2 draw between Bolton Wanderers and Blackpool left them in 6th place. As the other results turned out, Crystal Palace would have remained in 5th place with a loss, but also scored late on to beat Peterborough 3–2. This left Bolton in 7th place, missing out on play-offs via goal difference.
The relegation battle ended in disappointment for Wolves and Peterborough. The late goal for Crystal Palace against Peterborough meant that a 1–1 draw was enough for Blackburn, a 2–0 win for Sheffield Wednesday over Middlesbrough was enough to secure their safety, a 1–0 defeat for Millwall against Derby County was enough for them and a 2–2 draw between Huddersfield and Barnsley was enough for both teams. Wolves lost 2–0 to Brighton, having started the day in the most difficult situation of the threatened teams.