2007–08 Football League Championship

The 2007–08 Football League Championship (known as the Coca-Cola Championship for sponsorship reasons) was the sixteenth season under its current league division format and its fourth with its current sponsorship. The leagues started in August 2007 and concluded in May 2008, with the promotion play-off finals.

Football League Championship
Season2007–08
PromotedWest Bromwich Albion (champions)
Stoke City (runners up)
Hull City (play-off winners)
RelegatedLeicester City
Colchester United
Scunthorpe United
Goals scored1,394
Average goals/game2.53
Top goalscorerSylvan Ebanks-Blake (23)
Biggest home winIpswich Town 6–0 Bristol City
(2007-11-10)
Highest attendance36,208
Sheffield Wednesday v Norwich City
Average attendance17,067[1]

The Football League is contested through three Divisions. The top divisions of these is the League Championship. The winner and the runner up of the League Championship will be automatically promoted to the Premiership and they will be joined by the winner of the League Championship play-off. The bottom three teams in the Championship will be relegated to the second division, League One.

West Bromwich Albion finished top of the league with 81 points, closely followed by Stoke City who had 79 points. Hull City were promoted through the play-offs. Colchester and Scunthorpe United were both relegated several weeks before the end of the season. However, in a very tight league, with a gap of only 29 points between top and 22nd place, the final team to be relegated, Leicester City, went down on the final day while six other teams were within three points of them, despite the fact that only Crystal Palace had conceded less goals.

Changes from last season

From Championship

Promoted to Premier League

Relegated to League One

To Championship

Relegated from Premier League

Promoted from League One

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Promotion, qualification or relegation
1 West Bromwich Albion (C, P) 46 23 12 11 88 55 +33 81 Promotion to the Premier League
2 Stoke City (P) 46 21 16 9 69 55 +14 79
3 Hull City (O, P) 46 21 12 13 65 47 +18 75 Qualification for Championship play-offs
4 Bristol City 46 20 14 12 54 53 +1 74
5 Crystal Palace 46 18 17 11 58 42 +16 71
6 Watford 46 18 16 12 62 56 +6 70
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 46 18 16 12 53 48 +5 70
8 Ipswich Town 46 18 15 13 65 56 +9 69
9 Sheffield United 46 17 15 14 56 51 +5 66
10 Plymouth Argyle 46 17 13 16 60 50 +10 64
11 Charlton Athletic 46 17 13 16 63 58 +5 64
12 Cardiff City 46 16 16 14 59 55 +4 64
13 Burnley 46 16 14 16 60 67 −7 62
14 Queens Park Rangers 46 14 16 16 60 66 −6 58
15 Preston North End 46 15 11 20 50 56 −6 56
16 Sheffield Wednesday 46 14 13 19 54 55 −1 55
17 Norwich City 46 15 10 21 49 59 −10 55
18 Barnsley 46 14 13 19 52 65 −13 55
19 Blackpool 46 12 18 16 59 64 −5 54
20 Southampton 46 13 15 18 56 72 −16 54
21 Coventry City 46 14 11 21 52 64 −12 53
22 Leicester City (R) 46 12 16 18 42 45 −3 52 Relegation to Football League One
23 Scunthorpe United (R) 46 11 13 22 46 69 −23 46
24 Colchester United (R) 46 7 17 22 62 86 −24 38
Updated to match(es) played on 4 May 2008. Source: The Football League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion; (O) Play-off winner; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated.

Play-offs

The Football League Championship Playoffs took place at the end of May 2008. They involved the teams that finished third to sixth in the table. Hull (3rd) and Bristol City (4th) qualified from their semi-finals against Watford (6th) and Crystal Palace (5th) respectively over two legs. Hull City won the final with a single Dean Windass goal to win promotion to the Premier League.

  Semifinals Final
                     
3 Hull City 2 4 6  
6 Watford 0 1 1  
    3 Hull City 1
  4 Bristol City 0
4 Bristol City 2 2 4
5 Crystal Palace 1 1 2  

Results
Home \ Away BAR BLP BRI BUR CAR CHA COL COV CRY HUL IPS LEI NWC PLY PNE QPR SCU SHU SHW SOU STK WAT WBA WOL
Barnsley 2–1 3–0 1–1 1–1 3–0 1–0 1–4 0–0 1–3 4–1 0–1 1–3 3–2 1–0 0–0 2–0 0–1 0–0 2–2 3–3 3–2 2–1 1–0
Blackpool 1–1 1–1 3–0 0–1 5–3 2–2 4–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 1–3 0–0 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–2 2–1 2–2 2–3 1–1 1–3 0–0
Bristol City 3–2 1–0 2–2 1–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–0 0–2 2–1 1–2 3–0 2–2 2–1 2–0 2–1 2–1 1–0 0–0 1–1 0–0
Burnley 2–1 2–2 0–1 3–3 1–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 1–0 2–3 0–2 2–0 1–2 1–1 2–3 0–0 2–2 2–1 1–3
Cardiff City 3–0 3–1 2–1 2–1 0–2 4–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–2 1–0 2–2 3–1 1–1 1–0 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–2 0–0 2–3
Charlton Athletic 1–1 4–1 1–1 1–3 3–0 1–2 4–1 2–0 1–1 3–1 2–0 2–0 1–2 1–2 0–1 1–1 0–3 3–2 1–1 1–0 2–2 1–1 2–3
Colchester United 2–2 0–2 1–2 2–3 1–1 2–2 1–5 1–2 1–3 2–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 2–1 4–2 0–1 2–2 1–2 1–1 0–1 2–3 3–2 0–1
Coventry City 4–0 3–1 0–3 1–2 0–0 1–1 1–0 0–2 1–1 2–1 2–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 0–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–2 0–3 0–4 1–1
Crystal Palace 2–0 0–0 2–0 5–0 0–0 0–1 2–1 1–1 1–1 0–1 2–2 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–0 3–2 2–1 1–1 1–3 0–2 1–1 0–2
Hull City 3–0 2–2 0–0 2–0 2–2 1–2 1–1 1–0 2–1 3–1 2–0 2–1 2–3 3–0 1–1 2–0 1–1 1–0 5–0 1–1 3–0 1–3 2–0
Ipswich Town 0–0 2–1 6–0 0–0 1–1 2–0 3–1 4–1 1–0 1–0 3–1 2–1 0–0 2–1 0–0 3–2 1–1 4–1 2–0 1–1 1–2 2–0 3–0
Leicester City 2–0 0–1 0–0 0–1 0–0 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 0–2 2–0 4–0 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 0–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 4–1 1–2 0–0
Norwich City 1–0 1–2 1–3 2–0 1–2 1–1 5–1 2–0 1–0 1–1 2–2 0–0 2–1 1–0 3–0 0–0 1–0 0–1 2–1 0–1 1–3 1–2 1–1
Plymouth Argyle 3–0 3–0 1–1 3–1 2–2 1–2 4–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 3–0 2–2 2–1 3–0 0–1 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–1 1–2 1–1
Preston North End 1–2 0–1 0–0 2–1 1–2 0–2 0–3 1–0 0–1 3–0 2–2 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 0–1 3–1 1–0 5–1 2–0 1–0 2–1 2–1
Queens Park Rangers 2–0 3–2 3–0 2–4 0–2 1–0 2–1 1–2 1–2 2–0 1–1 3–1 1–0 0–2 2–2 3–1 1–1 0–0 0–3 3–0 1–1 0–2 0–0
Scunthorpe United 2–2 1–1 0–1 2–0 3–2 1–0 3–3 2–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 0–0 0–1 1–0 2–1 2–2 3–2 1–1 1–1 2–3 1–3 2–3 0–2
Sheffield United 1–0 1–1 2–1 0–0 3–3 0–2 2–2 2–1 0–1 2–0 3–1 3–0 2–0 0–1 1–1 2–1 0–0 2–2 1–2 0–3 1–1 1–0 3–1
Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 2–1 0–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 2–2 1–0 1–2 0–2 4–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 1–2 2–0 5–0 1–1 0–1 0–1 1–3
Southampton 2–3 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–0 0–1 1–1 0–0 1–4 4–0 1–1 1–0 0–1 0–2 0–1 2–3 1–0 3–2 0–0 3–2 0–3 3–2 0–0
Stoke City 0–0 1–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 2–1 2–1 1–3 1–2 1–1 1–0 0–0 2–1 3–2 3–1 3–1 3–2 0–1 2–4 3–2 0–0 3–1 0–0
Watford 1–3 1–1 1–2 1–2 2–2 1–1 2–2 2–1 0–2 1–0 2–0 1–0 1–1 0–1 0–0 2–4 0–1 1–0 2–1 3–2 0–0 0–3 3–0
West Brom 2–0 2–1 4–1 2–1 3–3 4–2 4–3 2–4 1–1 1–2 4–0 1–4 2–0 3–0 2–0 5–1 5–0 0–0 1–1 1–1 1–1 1–1 0–0
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 2–1 1–1 2–3 3–0 2–0 1–0 1–0 0–3 0–1 1–1 1–1 2–0 1–0 1–0 3–3 2–1 0–0 2–1 2–2 2–4 1–2 0–1
Source: The Football League
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Top scorers
PosPlayerTeamGoals
1 Sylvan Ebanks-BlakePlymouth Argyle
Wolverhampton Wanderers		23
2 James BeattieSheffield United22
Kevin PhillipsWest Bromwich Albion22
4 Stern JohnSouthampton19
5 Kevin LisbieColchester United17
6 Clinton MorrisonCrystal Palace16
7 Fraizer CampbellHull City15
Ricardo FullerStoke City15
9 Liam LawrenceStoke City14

Team of the Year
Pos.PlayerClub
GKWayne HennesseyWolverhampton Wanderers
DFBradley OrrBristol City
DFDanny ShittuWatford
DFPaul RobinsonWest Bromwich Albion
DFRyan ShawcrossStoke City
MFBrian HowardBarnsley
MFMarvin ElliottBristol City
MFLiam LawrenceStoke City
MFJonathan GreeningWest Bromwich Albion
STRicardo FullerStoke City
STKevin PhillipsWest Bromwich Albion

Stadia
Team Stadium Capacity
Sheffield WednesdayHillsborough Stadium39,814
SouthamptonSt Mary's Stadium32,689
Coventry CityRicoh Arena32,609
Sheffield UnitedBramall Lane32,609
Leicester CityWalkers Stadium32,500
Ipswich TownPortman Road30,311
Wolverhampton WanderersMolineux Stadium28,525
Stoke CityBritannia Stadium28,383
West BromThe Hawthorns28,003
Charlton AthleticThe Valley27,111
Crystal PalaceSelhurst Park26,309
Norwich CityCarrow Road26,034
Hull CityKC Stadium25,404
Preston North EndDeepdale24,500
BarnsleyOakwell23,009
BurnleyTurf Moor22,546
Cardiff CityNinian Park22,008
Bristol CityAshton Gate21,497
WatfordVicarage Road19,920
Plymouth ArgyleHome Park19,500
Queens Park RangersLoftus Road19,128
BlackpoolBloomfield Road9,788
Scunthorpe UnitedGlanford Park9,183
Colchester UnitedLayer Road6,320

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Replaced by Date of appointment Position in table
Sheffield United Neil Warnock Resigned 16 May 2007[2] Bryan Robson 16 May 2007[3] Pre-season
Crystal Palace Peter Taylor Sacked 8 October 2007[4] Neil Warnock 11 October 2007[5] 19th
Leicester City Martin Allen Mutual consent 29 August 2007[6] Gary Megson 13 September 2007[7] 9th
Queens Park Rangers John Gregory Sacked 1 October 2007[8] Luigi De Canio 29 October 2007[9] 24th
Norwich City Peter Grant Mutual consent 8 October 2007[10] Glenn Roeder 30 October 2007[11] 22nd
Leicester City Gary Megson Signed by Bolton Wanderers 24 October 2007[12] Ian Holloway 22 November 2007[13] 19th
Burnley Steve Cotterill Mutual consent 8 November 2007[14] Owen Coyle 22 November 2007[15] 15th
Preston North End Paul Simpson Sacked 13 November 2007[16] Alan Irvine 20 November 2007[17] 21st
Plymouth Argyle Ian Holloway Signed by Leicester City 21 November 2007[18] Paul Sturrock 27 November 2007[19] 7th
Coventry City Iain Dowie Sacked 11 February 2008[20] Chris Coleman 19 February 2008[21] 19th
Sheffield United Bryan Robson Mutual consent 14 February 2008[22] Kevin Blackwell 14 February 2008[22] 16th
Queens Park Rangers Luigi De Canio Mutual consent 8 May 2008[23] Iain Dowie 14 May 2008[24] 14th

Notes
  1. "Football League Attendance Report" (PDF). The Football League. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 August 2012.
  2. "Warnock resigns as Blades manager". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  3. "Robson unveiled as Sheff Utd boss". BBC Sport. 16 May 2007. Retrieved 16 May 2008.
  4. "Crystal Palace boss Taylor sacked". BBC Sport. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  5. "Warnock appointed new Palace boss". BBC Sport. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  6. "Allen ends brief Leicester reign". BBC Sport. 29 August 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  7. "Megson excited by Leicester job". BBC Sport. 13 September 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  8. "Gregory sacked as manager of QPR". BBC Sport. 1 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  9. "Former Napoli boss takes QPR role". BBC Sport. 29 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  10. "Grant parts company with Canaries". BBC Sport. 8 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  11. "Norwich name Roeder as new boss". BBC Sport. 30 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  12. "Bolton target Megson leaves Foxes". BBC Sport. 24 October 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  13. "Holloway appointed Leicester boss". BBC Sport. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  14. "Burnley manager Cotterill departs". BBC Sport. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  15. "Coyle named new Burnley manager". BBC Sport. 22 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  16. "Struggling Preston sack Simpson". BBC Sport. 13 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  17. "Preston unveil Irvine as new boss". BBC Sport. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  18. "Holloway resigns as Plymouth boss". BBC Sport. 21 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  19. "Sturrock returns as Plymouth boss". BBC Sport. 27 November 2007. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  20. "Dowie sacked as Coventry manager". BBC Sport. 11 February 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  21. "Coleman unveiled as Coventry boss". BBC Sport. 19 February 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  22. "Blackwell in for Robson at Blades". BBC Sport. 14 February 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  23. "De Canio parts company with QPR". BBC Sport. 8 May 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
  24. "QPR bring in Dowie as new coach". BBC Sport. 14 May 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2008.
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