Here are the top tackling teams so far in this season’s Championship – Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Aston Villa all make the top five.
QPR’s Massimo Luongo averages more tackles per game than any Championship player
Opta analysis shows that the Championship has a plethora of tough tackling individuals – Queens Park Rangers’ Massimo Luongo (who makes 4.7 tackles per game), Chris Cohen of Nottingham Forest (3.9) and Birmingham City’s Maikel Kieftenbeld (3.7) are top examples. But there are some teams who collectively revel in challenges. We examine the top tackling sides of the Championship so far this season.
Tackling data is only taken from players with total appearances greater than the average number of appearances in the Championship so far this season.
5 – Aston Villa (18.2 tackles per game)
Perhaps surprisingly for some, considering their stuttering start to life in the Championship, Aston Villa make the top five for tackles made per game so far this season. James Chester and Leandro Bacuna are Villa’s top tacklers, according to statistics, with both players currently making an average of 2.1 tackles per game. Steve Bruce will need his Villa side to remain one of the top tacklers in the division if he is to turn things around at Villa Park.
4 – Leeds United (18.4 tackles per game)
Fulham’s Emerson Hyndman (C) in action with Leeds United’s Souleymane Doukara and Leeds United’s Adryan (R)
Garry Monk’s side currently make an average of 18.4 tackles per game in the Championship, ranking them fourth in our list. In midfielder Liam Bridcutt’s four Championship appearances this season the Leeds man has made an impressive average of 5.0 tackles per game, placing him second in the league behind Derby County’s Max Lowe (an average of 7.0 tackles from just two games). Ronaldo Viera, who has made more than the average number of Championship appearances, has made 2.6 tackles per game for Leeds.
3 – Birmingham City (19.0 tackles per game)
Birmingham’s Maikel Kieftenbeld in action with Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish
The third highest ranked tackler in the Championship so far this season is Birmingham City’s Maikel Kieftenbeld, who has made an average of 3.7 tackles per game. Kieftenbeld’s team mate, centre-back Michael Morrison, has an average of 2.2 tackles per game. These are two significant contributors to Birmingham City’s combative start to the campaign under former defender Gary Rowett, which sees them make an average of 19.0 tackles per game – the third most tackles per game in the Championship.
2 – Huddersfield Town (19.2 tackles per game)
Huddersfield’s Jonathan Hogg in action with Sheffield Wednesday’s David Jones
Tough-tackling Huddersfield town take second spot with their average of 19.2 tackles per league game. Notable contributors to this feat include the midfielder pair of Jonathan Hogg (average of 3.0 tackles per game) and highly-rated Aaron Mooy (2.8 tackles per game). Huddersfield, who sit three points off the Championship summit, are experiencing a fantastic season – typified by only conceding nine goals all season, which shares the joint best defensive record along with Brighton & Hove Albion and Ipswich Town.
1 – Nottingham Forest (19.7 tackles per game)
Nottingham Forest are statistically the team that on average makes the most tackles per game in the Championship. Their 19.7 tackles per game as a team is supported by the tackling frequency of their individuals. Chris Cohen has averaged 3.9 tackles per game – which is the second highest in the division – and fellow Forest midfielders David Vaughan (2.8 tackles per game) and Patjim Kasami (2.5 tackles per game) are major contributors, alongside full backs Danny Fox (3.0 tackles per game) and Eric Lichaj (2.4 tackles per game).
Nottingham Forest’s Hildeberto Pereira has been sent off twice already this season
However, it is worth noting that high-tackling statistics seem to also carry the caveat of poor discipline. Nottingham Forest’s Hildeberto Pereira has received three yellow cards and two red cards this season, whilst Forest defender Damien Perquis has also been dismissed.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
