Among the teams mentioned in that group are Leeds United, who are currently competing in the same bracket.
For clubs like Sheffield United, Burnley, and, to a slightly lesser degree, Sunderland and West Brom, the focus of astute observers in the second-tier will likely be on the goals conceded rather than scored when analyzing the current standings. The question arises: Will the two teams with the best defensive records at the end of the season secure automatic promotion?
This scenario played out in the 2020-21 season when Daniel Farke led Norwich to the Premier League. Norwich had the second-best goals against record (36), while Watford had the best (30).
Heading into their match against Middlesbrough on a Friday night, Burnley held the top defensive record with just six goals conceded in 18 matches. They arrived at the game with five consecutive clean sheets and four wins in a row without conceding.
Sheffield United also boasts impressive defensive statistics, keeping eight clean sheets at home and not allowing a goal since August 17. They have only conceded two first-half goals in the league this season, regardless of the venue.
Sunderland and Leeds have also been solid in defense, with both teams conceding only twice in the first 45 minutes of matches so far this campaign.
The battle for the Championship’s Golden Glove award is shaping up to be intriguing, with Leeds’ Illian Meslier, Sheffield United’s Michael Cooper, and Burnley’s James Trafford all racking up double-figure clean sheets. Alex Palmer of West Brom is also in contention for the award.
Regarding his team’s defensive capabilities, Farke stated, “From my experience in English football, the team with the best defensive record in the league usually gets promoted to the Premier League. This is something we always keep an eye on.”
Despite their attacking style of play, Leeds has only conceded seven goals in 16 league games, with a couple of outliers where they conceded three goals in a match.
Farke believes that Leeds tends to struggle in their first game after an international break, but they remain focused on maintaining their defensive strength. He also expressed his displeasure with early kick-off times, as it disrupts the traditional matchday atmosphere.
