Norwich City are the surprise leaders of the Championship after 21 games and history is well on their side as we approach the halfway mark of the league season. The Canaries are currently top by just a point but at this point in the season, every team that has lead the way in the Championship in the last ten years has ended up finishing in the top two.
That is an incredible record and should give hope to all of those at East Anglia and Daniel Farke could lead Norwich to an incredible promotion against all the odds. Looking back in history last season, Wolves were leading the division and won the division at a canter under Nuno Espirito Santo and the year before it was the turn of Rafa Benitez and Newcastle who tasted the sweet success of the Championship trophy at the end of the season, having lead after 21 games.
Other teams to have lead the way and won the league are Bournemouth, Wolves, QPR and Newcastle whilst Cardiff and Southampton all finished second whilst leading at this point, gaining promotion to the Premier League.
Norwich have all the history behind them to secure promotion and they have done it before in recent years but these stats spell bad news for fellow promotion challengers Leeds United, Aston Villa and Sheffield United.
Leeds are currently the closest contenders just a point off Norwich whilst Villa and Sheffield United are in the chasing pack. Leeds are looking strong under Marcelo Bielsa but whether they can keep up with Norwich’s relentless pace over the winter months will be a real test to their Premier League credentials.
