Fans from Aston Villa, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bolton, Brentford, Bristol City, Derby County and Hull City rate their seasons so far.
Friday 16 November 2018 10:17, UK
From best and worst performances to how the manager is getting on and their hopes for the rest of the season, we have asked fans from all 24 Sky Bet Championship clubs to assess their club's campaign so far.
Part one runs from Aston Villa to Hull City...
Dan Bardell (@TheVillaView_) - The Villa View YouTube Channel
Best performance?
Before last weekend I was struggling for one. But beating Derby 3-0 away from home was a statement performance and victory!
Worst performance?
Losing 4-1 away to Sheffield United. It could have been more. This was when Steve Bruce lost me. To see us that clueless at this level was appalling.
How is the manager doing?
Early days for Dean Smith but the improvement is apparent already. This is a long-term appointment but the steps made in the playing style are very encouraging already.
Best player so far?
John McGinn has been a bargain. Smith has unleashed a more rounded player that has stepped up a level from the Bruce days.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
One word: Promotion.
Joe Lombardi (@BrummieJoeHD) - BrummieJoe YouTube channel
Best performance?
Leeds away. We executed our game plan perfectly. Some fine finishing from Che Adams and solid defensive work earned us all three points.
Worst performance?
We haven't had many bad performances this season but Middlesbrough away at the start of the season wasn't great. We were outclassed and it could have been four or five nil.
How is the manager doing?
Garry Monk is exceeding expectations. With almost no money to spend, he has got us performing much better than we should be! Never leave us, Garry!
Best player so far?
Lukas Jutkiewicz. Nine goals for him already and he works so hard off the ball too. He is our most important player and we are praying he can stay fit.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Mid-table mediocrity, please! It would be a huge achievement keeping in mind our lack of depth. Hopefully we can sort our FFP issues in the meantime.
Daniel Griffiths (@TalkBlackburn)
Best performance?
Our win against Leeds - one of the best teams in the league - tops the lot. We started quickly and maintained that momentum throughout the whole 90 minutes.
Worst performance?
Swansea away was terrible. For us to go 1-0 up away from home, dominate for 40 minutes then crumble was shocking. Swansea showed their Premier League class that night but we shouldn't have rolled over so easily.
How is the manager doing?
Tony Mowbray is doing an amazing job both on the pitch and behind the scenes. We have off-field issues but Mowbray has united everyone at the club - a unity reflected in the team's playing style.
Best player so far?
At the start of the season, many critics doubted Bradley Dack - as did a few Rovers fans. But with 10 goals this season - the highest-scoring English midfielder in the top four leagues - I can see a lot of interest coming his way in January.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
At the start of the season, I was hoping for a top-12 finish. Now I would be hoping for seventh as I think the play-offs may be out of our reach - depending on how the January transfer window goes.
Ed Skelly (@LionOfViennaSte) - Lion of Vienna Suite
Best performance?
The 1-0 win against Derby was a great performance on an emotional day - the first home game after Stephen Darby announced his retirement after being diagnosed with motor neurone disease. Craig Noone's goal celebration hugging Darby in the crowd summed up everything I love about the club.
Worst performance?
The 3-0 defeat against Nottingham Forest. We just looked second best from start to finish.
How is the manager doing?
We've just slipped into the relegation zone after one win in 13, putting Phil Parkinson under some real pressure.
Best player so far?
I'd have to say Pawel Olkowski - signed from FC Köln on a free in the summer. His early form was integral to our great start.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Staying up again would be fantastic. But it would be even better if we could improve on where we finished last season.
Billy Grant (@billythebee99) - Beesotted Fanzine and Podcast
Best performance?
We hammered Rotherham 5-1 in our first game of the season and looked like world beaters. Everything we did went right that day.
Worst performance?
Our worst performances seem to come in spells during a match rather than for the full 90 minutes. At Derby, Preston and QPR we let in three goals within a short space of time. Blackburn away, however, when we lost 1-0, was a stinker.
How is the manager doing?
Thomas Frank has lost 80 per cent of his matches in charge, so on paper - not great. Saying that, he has only been the gaffer for five games and inherited a bad run. We stuck with Dean Smith through numerous lean periods and it's still early days.
Best player so far?
Neal Maupay with 11 goals and six assists - despite being suspended for three matches and stretchered off at half-time at QPR - has been particularly impressive.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Start winning away. Get back into the play-off zone. Cut out defensive mistakes. Start scoring from midfield. There is a real fear if we end up mid-table by January, we will lose some of our best players.
Rob Fernandes (@BS3Rob) - South Bristol
Best performance?
1-0 wins away at Swansea and at home to Sheffield United were the highlights of a four-match winning run. The performance at the Liberty Stadium was unexpected. But beating an in-form Blades side was possibly the most well-organised and tactically on-point match of Lee Johnson's era at City.
Worst performance?
Losing 1-0 at home to Preston was the culmination of weeks of deteriorating form and confusing tactics. Our first shot on target was in the 83rd minute, by which point most City fans were already asleep.
How is the manager doing?
The annual clamour for Johnson to go started early this season. It was always going to be hard to replace three key players but Johnson has no idea of his best side and doesn't seem to know how to get the best out of his players either.
Best player so far?
For a month Andi Weiman looked like an inspired signing up front and Niclas Eliasson brought a touch of class to proceedings. But the form of most players has fallen through the floor, leaving only centre-half Adam Webster as Mr Consistent at the back.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Expectations have rapidly reduced over the past month. The way we are playing, just avoiding relegation would be nice. Unfortunately, we could realistically be in the bottom three by Christmas.
Chris Parsons (@SteveBloomerPod) - Steve Bloomer's Washing podcast
Best performance?
West Brom away. Blitzed the title favourites with four equally brilliant goals. We were energetic, disciplined, skilful and ruthless. A night to remember.
Worst performance?
Aston Villa at home. We couldn't handle Villa's flair players, missed two sitters, misplaced untold passes and lacked the pressing and dynamic attacking of the previous six unbeaten matches.
How is the manager doing?
Frank Lampard is settling in nicely so far. He has revamped the side, made us more entertaining to watch and we're firmly in the promotion mix, despite occasional setbacks.
Best player so far?
Mason Mount. Classy in possession and scores goals. We're lucky to have him. He's destined for greater things. Honourable mention goes to Jack Marriott.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Play-offs are definitely achievable. Lampard has added promising youth to a Derby core familiar with promotion challenges. It's important that we trim the squad in January.
Les Motherby (@AmberNectarHull) - Amber Nectar podcast
Best performance?
The 1-0 home win against promotion contenders West Brom has been the finest result so far and has given Tigers fans an infusion of hope as we battle the drop.
Worst performance?
The West Brom result is in stark contrast to our performance at Reading who hadn't won at home until our arrival, and they rolled us over 3-0.
How is the manager doing?
Fans understand that Nigel Adkins was dealt a poor hand by the owners in the summer. Many feel he hasn't played that hand as well as he could. Saying that, in recent weeks we have seen some sense of a plan and togetherness.
Best player so far?
Tommy Elphick - the defender on loan from Aston Villa - has been at the heart of our recent improvement and is our most important player at this juncture.
Hopes for the rest of the season?
Our hopes seem capped at avoiding relegation. But recent games have shown we might just have what it takes to do that. Every single Hull City fan I know would take 21st place now if offered.
Catch all these fans giving their match-day verdicts on the EFL Championship Goals show, live on Sky Sports Football from 8pm on Saturdays. Also available on-demand.
