This is one for the more statistically minded or insomniac.

We've played 27 league games this season. I thought I'd have a look and compare this season with the first 27 games of all Championship seasons played since promotion in 2003. These are our points tallies at this point in each 2nd tier season since 2003:

pointsafter27.jpg

Of 15 seasons in this division, this ranks 11th in terms of results after 27 games. Scoring goals hasn't been so much of a problem; this season ranks 7th in terms of goals scored (38), bettered only by our last promotion season (40), Malky's two seasons (44 and 48), Jones' last two seasons (52,45) and our first season back at this level under Lennie (45).

Conceding goals has been a bigger issue. The 40 we've let in this season is 2nd worst, behind the 41 conceded in 2016/17 when Warnock took over. With 78 goals scored and conceded in 27 games, only two seasons have seen more goals (both 82, 2003/04, 2009/10).

We are 4 points from the playoffs, the 6th biggest gap we've had from the top 6 in 15 seasons. In Russell Slade's full season, we had 2 more points than we do currently but were 5 points away from the playoffs. We've been on 38 points on 3 occasions and been 5, 4 and 1 point from the playoffs, showing the unpredictable nature of this division.

It might not be too surprising to learn that our biggest points gaps above 6th place were our two promotion seasons. In each of our playoff seasons, we were in the playoffs at this point. We have yet to make the playoffs from a position of being outside them at this point in the season. This season seems likely to continue that trend.