Burnley are streets ahead! The 11 best defences in EFL Championship history

The Championship has seen some brilliant attacking teams throughout the years, but the second tier has also provided some rock-solid defensive sides.

Burnley are on course to break all sorts of defensive records during the 2024/25 campaign under Scott Parker, with the Clarets keeping plenty of clean sheets at Turf Moor, conceding just 10 goals all season long at the time of writing.

But who are the best Championship defences over the last 20 years? We’ve looked at the sides who have conceded the fewest goals in a Championship season, with the Clarets featuring more than once.

11

Wigan Athletic (2004/05)

35 goals

The first of six teams to have conceded 35 goals in the Championship was Wigan Athletic back in 2004/05.

The Latics didn’t win the title, though, finishing seven points behind Sunderland. Under Paul Jewell, Wigan had the likes of Leighton Baines, Jimmy Bullard, Jason Roberts and Nathan Ellington, and spent eight years in the Premier League before being relegated in 2013.

10

Newcastle United (2009/10)

35 goals

Newcastle United bounced straight back to the Premier League in 2009/10, boasting a solid defensive record under Chris Hughton in the Championship.

The Magpies were automatically promoted by Easter and won the title on 102 points, keeping 22 clean sheets with Steve Harper in goal.

9

Burnley (2015/16)

35 goals

Sean Dyche and Burnley were a match made in heaven in the Championship, with the Clarets winning the title in 2015/16.

Michael Keane and Ben Mee formed a solid partnership at the back and Tom Heaton was in goal, resulting in Burnley keeping 20 clean sheets and going unbeaten in the second half of the season. However, they didn’t have the best defensive record that year.

8

Hull City (2015/16)

35 goals

Hull City matched Burnley’s tally of letting in just 35 goals in 2015/16, but had to settle for a place in the play-offs under Steve Bruce.

The Tigers had the likes of Harry Maguire and Andy Robertson at the back and Allan McGregor in goal, which helped them overcome Derby County over two legs to book their spot at Wembley.

Hull faced Sheffield Wednesday for a place in the Premier League, and their impressive defensive record was on show once again, keeping a clean sheet as Mohamed Diame’s strike made the difference.

7

Leeds United (2019/20)

35 goals

Under Marcelo Bielsa, Leeds United were extremely entertaining to watch, with plenty of goals scored and conceded in the Premier League. However, it was a different story in the Championship.

After falling short in his first attempt to take the Whites back to the top flight, Bielsa had Leeds solid at the back in 2019/20, with loanee Ben White starring in defence.

Leeds won the title by 10 points and kept 22 clean sheets, with 11 of their 35 goals conceded coming over the festive period, including a dramatic 5-4 win at Birmingham City.

6

Burnley (2022/23)

35 goals

The Clarets once again conceded just 35 goals in 2022/23 under Vincent Kompany, with the Belgian taking Burnley back to the Premier League at the first attempt.

It was Kompany’s first taste of management in England, and the former Manchester City centre-back passed all his experience to the likes of Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jordan Beyer.

Burnley ended on 102 points but came straight back down to the Championship, with Kompany leaving for Bayern Munich.

5

Reading (2005/06)

32 goals

The best team in Championship history had to feature on this list, with Reading winning a record-breaking 106 points under Steve Coppell, losing on just two occasions, one of which came on the opening weekend.

The Royals scored 99 goals during the campaign but were just as impressive at the back. Marcus Hahnemann was the man in goal, keeping 22 clean sheets, whereas Ibrahima Sonko and Ivar Ingimarsson formed a solid centre-back partnership, with Nicky Shorey and Graeme Murty excelling at full-back.

4

QPR (2010/11)

32 goals

Iconic Championship manager Neil Warnock took four teams to the Premier League during his career, one of which was QPR in 2010/11.

The R’s kept an incredible 10 clean sheets in their opening 12 games and didn’t lose until December, eventually winning the title ahead of Norwich City.

Warnock had a plethora of attacking stars including Adel Taarabt, who recorded a record 21 assists that season.

But the unsung defensive heroes that year were Clint Hill, Kaspars Gorkss, Matthew Connolly and goalkeeper Paddy Kenny. QPR even had Kyle Walker on loan from Tottenham that year, with the right-back making 20 Championship appearances.

3

Middlesbrough (2015/16)

31 goals

During the aforementioned 2015/16 season, Middlesbrough had the best defensive record ahead of Burnley and Hull City, conceding just 31 times as they finished in the second automatic promotion spot.

Aitor Karanka was the man in charge at the Riverside, with Boro finishing on 89 points and winning promotion on the final day against third-place Brighton & Hove Albion.

Goalkeeper Dimi Konstantopoulos played every minute of Championship action and kept 22 clean sheets, including nine in a row between November and January.

2

Preston North End (2005/06)

30 goals

You’d think conceding 30 goals in a 46-game campaign would guarantee promotion, right? Not in Preston North End’s case during the 2005/06 season.

Under Billy Davies, the Lilywhites kept 22 clean sheets, but had to settle for a place in the play-offs, with Reading and Sheffield United going up automatically.

Unfortunately for those at Deepdale, they couldn’t replicate their impressive defensive record against Leeds United in the play-off semi-final, losing 3-1 over two legs.

1

Watford (2020/21)

30 goals

Also conceding 30 goals in the 2020/21 season is Watford, but unlike Preston, the Hornets managed to win promotion to the Premier League, albeit in second place behind Norwich City.

Vladimir Ivic was the head coach until December when he was replaced by Xisco. Despite the change in the dugout, Watford finished second behind the Canaries on 91 points. They conceded just once in their first five games and kept clean sheets in 23 of their 46 matches.