Latest edition · 23–24 October 2026
Burnley had the Championship’s highest share of shots on target this weekend and still lost 4–1. QPR ranked third by the same measure and beat Swansea 5–0. Burnley put four of eight attempts on target but scored once; QPR put five of 12 on target and scored five.
That contrast runs through this edition of Championship in Numbers. Middlesbrough’s 31 shots produced five goals and three points at Bolton, while Sheffield United’s 25 brought one goal and a draw. West Brom had 72% possession at Preston but also took only a point. Below, compare all 24 clubs and see how the figures translated into results.
Championship: highest share of shots on target
Burnley topped this ranking with 50% of their shots on target: four from eight attempts. But they scored only once and lost 4–1 at Lincoln, leaving with no points. Third-placed QPR had a lower on-target share of 41.7%—five from 12—yet scored five in a 5–0 win over Swansea and took all three points.
Southampton, second on 46.7%, put seven of 15 attempts on target and scored three in their 3–2 win at West Ham. Hitting the target more frequently as a proportion of attempts did not make Burnley the most effective finishers: their one goal and QPR’s five tell a very different story from the percentage ranking.
This is the share of shots that tested the target, rather than the share converted into goals. Burnley’s position in this ranking illustrates why it should not be used alone to judge a performance.
On-target share
1.  Burnley · Lincoln 4–1 Burnley |
50.0% |
2.  Southampton · West Ham 2–3 Southampton |
46.7% |
3.  QPR · QPR 5–0 Swansea |
41.7% |
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Championship: most shots
Middlesbrough took 31 shots at Bolton, put 12 on target and scored five to win 5–1 and collect three points. West Ham’s 28 attempts included ten on target, but their two goals brought no points in a 3–2 home defeat by Southampton. Sheffield United put ten of their 25 shots on target yet scored only once, taking one point from a 1–1 draw with Derby.
Wrexham took 23 shots at Blackburn but put only one on target, scored none and left with no points after a 2–0 defeat. Watford managed four attempts at Wolves, none on target, and also came away goalless and pointless in a 1–0 loss. Boro’s volume paid off; for West Ham and Wrexham, a busy afternoon in front of goal did not produce a result.
Shots
1.  Middlesbrough · Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough |
31 |
2.  West Ham · West Ham 2–3 Southampton |
28 |
3.  Sheffield Utd · Sheffield Utd 1–1 Derby |
25 |
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Championship: most shots on target
Middlesbrough turned 12 shots on target into five goals in their 5–1 win at Bolton. Sheffield United and West Ham both registered ten, but their returns were much smaller: United scored once in a 1–1 draw with Derby, while West Ham scored twice and still lost 3–2 to Southampton.
Southampton scored three goals from seven shots on target in that win at West Ham. Lincoln also recorded seven on target and scored four in their 4–1 victory over Burnley. The contrast is clear: United tested the target more often than either winning side, but finished with fewer goals and only a point.
QPR scored five from five recorded shots on target against Swansea. Bristol City and Watford both finished without a shot on target; Bristol City still took a point from a goalless draw at Stoke, whereas Watford lost 1–0 at Wolves.
On target
| 1. Middlesbrough · Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough |
12 |
| 2. Sheffield Utd · Sheffield Utd 1–1 Derby |
10 |
| 2. West Ham · West Ham 2–3 Southampton |
10 |
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Championship: highest possession
West Brom recorded the round’s highest possession share in their 1–1 draw at Preston. The hosts had 28% of the ball yet registered 19 shots to Albion’s 20, a reminder that possession alone does not describe the balance of chances.
Wolves and Stoke both had 63%. Wolves beat Watford 1–0, while Stoke drew 0–0 with Bristol City. Swansea’s 60% offered little protection from a five-goal defeat at QPR.
Possession
1.  West Brom · Preston 1–1 West Brom |
72% |
2.  Stoke City · Stoke City 0–0 Bristol City |
63% |
2.  Wolves · Wolves 1–0 Watford |
63% |
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Championship: highest expected goals
Expected goals (xG) adds up the estimated scoring probability of each recorded chance. Middlesbrough’s chances totalled 4.40 xG and they scored five in a 5–1 win at Bolton: a large chance total translated into a large score and three points. QPR scored five from 3.30 xG in their 5–0 victory over Swansea, finishing 1.70 goals above that modelled total.
Sheffield United’s result went the other way. Their 2.55 xG was more than double Derby’s 1.15, but both scored once in a 1–1 draw. United finished 1.55 goals below their chance total and took one point, showing that creating the higher-rated set of opportunities does not guarantee a win.
Burnley provide the sharpest contrast: they scored one goal from 2.37 xG, while Lincoln scored four from 1.94 xG and won 4–1. Lincoln finished 2.06 goals above their modelled total; Burnley were 1.37 below theirs and left with no points. Those gaps describe the difference between the chance estimates and the actual goals, rather than proving that finishing alone—or luck—caused the result.
Expected goals
| 1. Middlesbrough · Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough |
4.40 |
| 2. QPR · QPR 5–0 Swansea |
3.30 |
| 3. Sheffield Utd · Sheffield Utd 1–1 Derby |
2.55 |
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Championship: the last-five form table
Points from each club’s five most recent completed league games, including this round. Equal returns share a form rank. The separate league-position column shows the overall table after this round.
Points from five games
| Form rank · Club and result | League position | Points · last five |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Middlesbrough · Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough |
1 | 11 |
2.  Birmingham · Cardiff 1–0 Birmingham |
7 | 10 |
2.  Blackburn · Blackburn 2–0 Wrexham |
10 | 10 |
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