The EFL Championship table since Derby County signed Ipswich Town’s Sammie Szmodics | OneFootball

FLW takes a look at how the Championship table looks since Sammie Szmodics made the switch to the Rams from the Tractor Boys in February.

Sammie Szmodics has made quite the impact at Derby County since completing his loan move to the club from Ipswich Town on deadline day in the January transfer window, as his new team continue to push for the play-offs.

The Rams are currently eighth in the Championship table, and with just seven games to go, John Eustace's side are only three points off the top six. This time last year, the East Midlands outfit were in the relegation zone, and there has been an incredible turnaround at Pride Park over the last 12 months.

The winter transfer window was an excellent one for those in DE24, with the likes of Oscar Fraulo, Derry Murkin and Jaydon Banel all making their way to the club. Yet, the most impressive deal was arguably the one for Szmodics, and he has already found the back of the net twice.

Now, Football League World has taken a look at the Championship table since the 30-year-old made the switch from Ipswich to Derby, with just over a month to go until the 2025/26 campaign comes to an end.

Derby County have been in fine form since Sammie Szmodics joined the club

The Rams have spent the last few months hovering just outside the play-offs, and while they have been in the top six for a couple of weeks, the majority of their season has seen the team playing the hunter.

Szmodics was brought in to help close the gap to those above, and while Derby remain just outside the most important positions, it is clear to see the improvements that have been made. Since his arrival, the Rams have picked up the seventh-most points in the division, closing the gap to fifth-place Hull City, and automatic promotion chasing Middlesbrough.

Eustace's side have played nine times since signing the Republic of Ireland international, and they have picked up 15 points during that time - winning five times and losing four. All but one of those victories has come at Pride Park, with Szmodics scoring the winner away from home in their 1-0 win over Portsmouth earlier in March.

Meanwhile, Ipswich have picked up 18 points, with Southampton leading the way on 23 points from nine matches. At the bottom of the table, Sheffield Wednesday have lost all but one of their 10 games since 2 February, drawing against Watford to pick up their only point in that time.

Sammie Szmodics has never finished a season in the Championship play-offs

This is Szmodics' sixth season in the Championship and his fourth full year at this level, having played for Bristol City, Blackburn Rovers, Peterborough United and Ipswich in the second tier prior to his move to Pride Park.

Yet, he is yet to finish in the top six in the division. His best campaign came with Rovers during 2022/23. His former club missed out on the play-offs on the final day, as Sunderland beat Preston North End 3-0 to secure sixth, with Szmodics' side beating Millwall 4-3.

Nevertheless, this is his best opportunity to win promotion to the Premier League, with Derby still having an excellent chance of overtaking at least two of the three sides above them in the league table right now thanks to a relatively favourable run-in.

More goals from the Republic of Ireland star will only help the Rams on their way as they return to action after the international break against league leaders Coventry City.