What the EFL Championship's 'expected' table currently looks like | OneFootball

The EFL Championship table is expected to have a different outlook according to data

With seven matches to play in the Championship season for most teams, there is still plenty to be decided between now and the end of the regular campaign on May 2nd.

The Championship has lived up to all its usual stereotypes regarding entertainment and chaos in equal measure, with all three promotion spots still to be confirmed, including the drama which so often plays out in the post-season lottery that is the play-offs, which, of course, will change format next term.

The only team to currently know its fate heading into next season are, of course, Sheffield Wednesday, who suffered the earliest-ever relegation in the history of the EFL last month.

The Owls are currently in the midst of an unwanted 33-game stretch without a league victory, and will end the campaign with the second tier's lowest-ever points total, largely through the deduction of 18 points as they prepare for life in League One.

Aside from that, there have been many surprises occurring right throughout the Championship table, leaving many people to somewhat cringe at their pre-season predictions when it came to which sides would be automatically promoted, reach the play-offs and be relegated.

However, if the fortunes of all 24 sides aligned with the data which they have produced on Opta's 'The Analyst' supercomputer, how different would the promotion and relegation battles look heading into the final seven-game stretch which begins on Good Friday?

The EFL Championship's current top three would see key Middlesbrough, Ipswich Town alteration

At present, Coventry City have a nine-point cushion over second-placed Middlesbrough as a result of six wins in their last seven games, whilst Kim Hellberg's side have begun looking nervously over their shoulder at the chasing pack of Ipswich Town, Millwall and Hull City.

Boro currently occupy the second automatic promotion space with 71 points, whilst the Tractor Boys and Lions are currently two points behind, with Ipswich also having a game in hand.

However, based on the 'expected table' at this stage of the season, whilst Coventry would still top the table on 72 points, they would only have the lead by one, with Ipswich projected to be in second according to the data, four points in front of Middlesbrough and nine ahead of Southampton, who are currently sixth in reality after a 14-game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Sheffield United and Birmingham City have underperformed in the EFL Championship this season

As previously mentioned, four of the current sides within the top six picture are currently residing in similar positions within the expected table, whilst Hull and Millwall are not expected to be 'overachieving' as per Opta's statistics.

Whilst the Tigers are currently in an intriguing situation where their automatic promotion push is somewhat back on whilst their overall play-off spot isn't secure, the supercomputer's metrics state that the two sides who SHOULD be fifth and sixth with numerous on-pitch aspects factored in are Sheffield United and Birmingham City.

Truth be told, it has been an extremely mixed campaign for the Blades, who were able to guide themselves to relative safety under Chris Wilder after Ruben Selles' ill-fated six-game tenure at the beginning of the season.

However, after previously looking like potential 'dark horses' in a late dash for the play-offs, last term's beaten finalists are now sat in 17th, 13 points adrift with only 21 points to play for.

Blues, meanwhile, have lacked the consistency which many believed they would have at the start of the season after a continued raft of investment.

Last season's League One champions only signalled their intent further in January, but are now five places and 10 points away from sixth heading into the season's final month, with sections of the fanbase calling for Chris Davies to be dismissed as a result.

Hull City have continued to overperform expectations in the promotion race amid relegation claims

Meanwhile, Hull are still expected to be in the relegation zone at this point of the season on just 45 points, 17 places and 21 points worse off than in real life.

Ironically, the Tigers mathematically confirmed their safety in the division with a 3-1 success against Sheffield Wednesday last time out, with the Owls joined by Leicester City in the 'expected' relegation zone at present.

The Foxes, though, are expected to have six points more than their current total of 39, after the exact same tally, ironically, was wiped from their seasonal total in February after alleged PSR breaches.