# 2018–19 EFL Championship

The 2018–19 EFL Championship (referred to as the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the third season of the EFL Championship under its current name, and the twenty-seventh season under its current league structure. Norwich City were crowned champions on the final day, following a 2–1 win over Aston Villa.

## Team changes

The following teams had changed division after the 2017–18 season.

### To Championship

Promoted from League One
* Wigan Athletic
* Blackburn Rovers
* Rotherham United
Relegated from Premier League
* Swansea City
* Stoke City
* West Bromwich Albion

### From Championship

Promoted to Premier League
* Wolverhampton Wanderers
* Cardiff City
* Fulham
Relegated to League One
* Barnsley
* Burton Albion
* Sunderland

## Stadiums

| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
| Aston Villa | Birmingham (Aston) | Villa Park | 42,790 |
| Birmingham City | Birmingham (Bordesley) | St Andrew's | 30,015 |
| Blackburn Rovers | Blackburn | Ewood Park | 31,367 |
| Bolton Wanderers | Bolton | University of Bolton Stadium | 28,723 |
| Brentford | London (Brentford) | Griffin Park | 12,300 |
| Bristol City | Bristol | Ashton Gate | 27,000 |
| Derby County | Derby | Pride Park Stadium | 33,600 |
| Hull City | Kingston upon Hull | KCOM Stadium | 25,586 |
| Ipswich Town | Ipswich | Portman Road | 30,300 |
| Leeds United | Leeds | Elland Road | 37,890 |
| Middlesbrough | Middlesbrough | Riverside Stadium | 34,000 |
| Millwall | London (South Bermondsey) | The Den | 20,146 |
| Norwich City | Norwich | Carrow Road | 27,244 |
| Nottingham Forest | West Bridgford | City Ground | 30,445 |
| Preston North End | Preston | Deepdale | 23,408 |
| Queens Park Rangers | London (White City) | Loftus Road | 18,439 |
| Reading | Reading | Madejski Stadium | 24,161 |
| Rotherham United | Rotherham | New York Stadium | 12,021 |
| Sheffield United | Sheffield (Highfield) | Bramall Lane | 32,702 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Sheffield (Owlerton) | Hillsborough Stadium | 39,752 |
| Stoke City | Stoke-on-Trent | Bet365 Stadium | 30,089 |
| Swansea City | Swansea | Liberty Stadium | 21,088 |
| West Bromwich Albion | West Bromwich | The Hawthorns | 26,850 |
| Wigan Athletic | Wigan | DW Stadium | 25,133 |

## Personnel and sponsoring

| Team | Manager | Captain | Kit manufacturer | Sponsor |
| Aston Villa | Dean Smith | James Chester | Luke Sport | 32Red |
| Birmingham City | Garry Monk | Michael Morrison | Adidas | 888sport |
| Blackburn Rovers | Tony Mowbray | Charlie Mulgrew | Umbro | 10Bet |
| Bolton Wanderers | Phil Parkinson | David Wheater | Macron | Betfred |
| Brentford | Thomas Frank | Romaine Sawyers | Adidas | LeoVegas |
| Bristol City | Lee Johnson | Bailey Wright | Avon | Dunder |
| Derby County | Frank Lampard | Curtis Davies | Umbro | 32Red |
| Hull City | Nigel Adkins | Markus Henriksen | Umbro | SportPesa |
| Ipswich Town | Paul Lambert | Luke Chambers | Adidas | Magical Vegas |
| Leeds United | Marcelo Bielsa | Liam Cooper | Kappa | 32Red |
| Middlesbrough | Tony Pulis | George Friend | Hummel | 32Red |
| Millwall | Neil Harris | Steve Morison | Macron | TW Drainage |
| Norwich City | Daniel Farke | Grant Hanley | Erreà | LeoVegas |
| Nottingham Forest | Martin O'Neill | Ben Watson | Macron | BetBright |
| Preston North End | Alex Neil | Tom Clarke | Nike | 32Red |
| Queens Park Rangers | John Eustace (caretaker) | Toni Leistner | Erreà | Royal Panda |
| Reading | José Gomes | Paul McShane | Puma | Carabao |
| Rotherham United | Paul Warne | Richard Wood | Puma | Hodge Clemco |
| Sheffield United | Chris Wilder | Billy Sharp | Adidas | Ramsdens Currency |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Steve Bruce | Tom Lees | Elev8 | Chansiri |
| Stoke City | Nathan Jones | Ryan Shawcross | Macron | bet365 |
| Swansea City | Graham Potter | Leroy Fer | Joma | Bet UK |
| West Bromwich Albion | James Shan (caretaker) | Chris Brunt | Puma | Ideal Boilers |
| Wigan Athletic | Paul Cook | Sam Morsy | Puma | DW Sports Fitness |

## Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Ipswich Town | Bryan Klug | End of caretaker spell | 6 May 2018 | Pre-season | Paul Hurst | 30 May 2018 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Ian Holloway | Mutual consent | 10 May 2018 | Pre-season | Steve McClaren | 18 May 2018 |
| Swansea City | Carlos Carvalhal | End of contract | 18 May 2018 | Pre-season | Graham Potter | 11 June 2018 |
| Stoke City | Paul Lambert | Resigned | 18 May 2018 | Pre-season | Gary Rowett | 22 May 2018 |
| Derby County | Gary Rowett | Signed by Stoke City | 22 May 2018 | Pre-season | Frank Lampard | 31 May 2018 |
| Leeds United | Paul Heckingbottom | Sacked | 1 June 2018 | Pre-season | Marcelo Bielsa | 15 June 2018 |
| Aston Villa | Steve Bruce | Sacked | 3 October 2018 | 12th | Dean Smith | 10 October 2018 |
| Brentford | Dean Smith | Signed by Aston Villa | 10 October 2018 | 7th | Thomas Frank | 16 October 2018 |
| Ipswich Town | Paul Hurst | Sacked | 25 October 2018 | 24th | Paul Lambert | 27 October 2018 |
| Reading | Paul Clement | Sacked | 6 December 2018 | 21st | José Gomes | 22 December 2018 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | Jos Luhukay | Sacked | 21 December 2018 | 18th | Steve Bruce | 2 January 2019 |
| Stoke City | Gary Rowett | Sacked | 8 January 2019 | 14th | Nathan Jones | 9 January 2019 |
| Nottingham Forest | Aitor Karanka | Mutual consent | 11 January 2019 | 7th | Martin O'Neill | 14 January 2019 |
| West Bromwich Albion | Darren Moore | Sacked | 9 March 2019 | 4th | Slaven Bilić | 13 June 2019 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Steve McClaren | Sacked | 1 April 2019 | 17th | Mark Warburton | 8 May 2019 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion, qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Norwich City (C, P) | 46 | 27 | 13 | 6 | 93 | 57 | +36 | 94 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 2 | Sheffield United (P) | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 78 | 41 | +37 | 89 | Promotion to the Premier League |
| 3 | Leeds United | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 73 | 50 | +23 | 83 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 46 | 23 | 11 | 12 | 87 | 62 | +25 | 80 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 5 | Aston Villa (O, P) | 46 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 82 | 61 | +21 | 76 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 6 | Derby County | 46 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 69 | 54 | +15 | 74 | Qualification for Championship play-offs |
| 7 | Middlesbrough | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 49 | 41 | +8 | 73 | |
| 8 | Bristol City | 46 | 19 | 13 | 14 | 59 | 53 | +6 | 70 | |
| 9 | Nottingham Forest | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 61 | 54 | +7 | 66 | |
| 10 | Swansea City | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 62 | +3 | 65 | |
| 11 | Brentford | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 73 | 59 | +14 | 64 | |
| 12 | Sheffield Wednesday | 46 | 16 | 16 | 14 | 60 | 62 | −2 | 64 | |
| 13 | Hull City | 46 | 17 | 11 | 18 | 66 | 68 | −2 | 62 | |
| 14 | Preston North End | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 67 | 67 | 0 | 61 | |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 64 | 69 | −5 | 60 | |
| 16 | Stoke City | 46 | 11 | 22 | 13 | 45 | 52 | −7 | 55 | |
| 17 | Birmingham City | 46 | 14 | 19 | 13 | 64 | 58 | +6 | 52 | |
| 18 | Wigan Athletic | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 64 | −13 | 52 | |
| 19 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 14 | 9 | 23 | 53 | 71 | −18 | 51 | |
| 20 | Reading | 46 | 10 | 17 | 19 | 49 | 66 | −17 | 47 | |
| 21 | Millwall | 46 | 10 | 14 | 22 | 48 | 64 | −16 | 44 | |
| 22 | Rotherham United (R) | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 52 | 83 | −31 | 40 | Relegation to EFL League One |
| 23 | Bolton Wanderers (R) | 46 | 8 | 8 | 30 | 29 | 78 | −49 | 32 | Relegation to EFL League One |
| 24 | Ipswich Town (R) | 46 | 5 | 16 | 25 | 36 | 77 | −41 | 31 | Relegation to EFL League One |
* ↑ Four teams play for one spot and promotion to the Premier League.
* 1 2 Brentford were awarded a 1–0 win over Bolton due to Bolton's inability to hold the fixture.
* ↑ Birmingham City were deducted 9 points for failure to comply with the EFL profitability and sustainability rules.

## Play-offs

| Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Semi-finals | Final | Final | Final |
| 3 | Leeds United | 1 | 2 | 3 | | | |
| 6 | Derby County | 0 | 4 | 4 | | | |
| 6 | Derby County | 0 | 4 | 4 | 6 | Derby County | 1 |
| | | | | | 5 | Aston Villa | 2 |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 1 | 2 (3) | 5 | Aston Villa | 2 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 2 | 0 | 2 (4) | | | |

## Results

| Home \ Away | AST | BIR | BLB | BOL | BRE | BRI | DER | HUL | IPS | LEE | MID | MIL | NOR | NOT | PNE | QPR | REA | ROT | SHU | SHW | STO | SWA | WBA | WIG |
| Aston Villa | — | 4–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 5–5 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
| Birmingham City | 0–1 | — | 2–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | — | 0–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Brentford | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 1–0 | — | 0–1 | 3–3 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–0 |
| Bristol City | 1–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | — | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 |
| Derby County | 0–3 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | — | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Hull City | 1–3 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | — | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 |
| Ipswich Town | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–2 | — | 3–2 | 0–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Leeds United | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–0 | — | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–2 |
| Middlesbrough | 0–3 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 |
| Millwall | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | — | 1–3 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Norwich City | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–4 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 4–3 | — | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–4 | 1–0 |
| Nottingham Forest | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 1–2 | — | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 |
| Preston North End | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 4–0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 1–0 | 3–4 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–4 | — | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 |
| Reading | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | — | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 3–2 |
| Rotherham United | 1–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | — | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 |
| Sheffield United | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | — | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–2 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–4 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | — | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 |
| Stoke City | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | — | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–3 |
| Swansea City | 0–1 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | — | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 7–1 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | — | 2–0 |
| Wigan Athletic | 3–0 | 0–3 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | — |

## Top scorers

| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Teemu Pukki | Norwich City | 29 |
| 2 | Tammy Abraham | Aston Villa | 25 |
| 2 | Neal Maupay | Brentford | 25 |
| 4 | Dwight Gayle | West Bromwich Albion | 23 |
| 4 | Billy Sharp | Sheffield United | 23 |
| 6 | Che Adams | Birmingham City | 22 |
| 6 | Jarrod Bowen | Hull City | 22 |
| 6 | Oli McBurnie | Swansea City | 22 |
| 6 | Jay Rodriguez | West Bromwich Albion | 22 |
| 10 | Lewis Grabban | Nottingham Forest | 16 |

## Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date |
| Lukas Jutkiewicz | Birmingham City | Rotherham United | 3–1 (H) | 6 October 2018 |
| Billy Sharp | Sheffield United | Wigan Athletic | 4–2 (H) | 27 October 2018 |
| Che Adams | Birmingham City | Hull City | 3–3 (H) | 10 November 2018 |
| Tammy Abraham | Aston Villa | Nottingham Forest | 5–5 (H) | 28 November 2018 |
| Danny Graham | Blackburn Rovers | Sheffield Wednesday | 4–2 (H) | 1 December 2018 |
| Dwight Gayle | West Bromwich Albion | Rotherham United | 0–4 (A) | 22 December 2018 |
| Billy Sharp | Sheffield United | Aston Villa | 3–3 (A) | 8 February 2019 |
| Che Adams | Birmingham City | Queens Park Rangers | 3–4 (A) | 9 February 2019 |
| Saïd Benrahma | Brentford | Hull City | 5–1 (H) | 23 February 2019 |
| Martyn Waghorn | Derby County | Rotherham United | 6–1 (H) | 30 March 2019 |
| Andreas Weimann | Bristol City | Sheffield United | 2–3 (A) | 30 March 2019 |
| Mason Mount | Derby County | Bolton Wanderers | 4–0 (H) | 13 April 2019 |
| Dwight Gayle | West Bromwich Albion | Preston North End | 4–1 (H) | 13 April 2019 |
* ↑ Player scored 4 goals

## 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 | Marcelo Bielsa | Leeds United | Kemar Roofe | Leeds United | |
| September | Darren Moore | West Bromwich Albion | Dwight Gayle | West Bromwich Albion | |
| October | Steve McClaren | Queens Park Rangers | Lukas Jutkiewicz | Birmingham City | |
| November | Daniel Farke | Norwich City | Tammy Abraham | Aston Villa | |
| December | Nigel Adkins | Hull City | Jarrod Bowen | Hull City | |
| January | Tony Mowbray | Blackburn Rovers | Adam Armstrong | Blackburn Rovers | |
| February | Chris Wilder | Sheffield United | Ché Adams | Birmingham City | |
| March | Dean Smith | Aston Villa | Semi Ajayi | Rotherham United | |
| April | Chris Wilder | Sheffield United | Dwight Gayle | West Bromwich Albion | |