Top 5 Defenders Of The Championship Season So Far
With the current season progressing beyond the halfway mark, the battle for the top places in the Championship is only intensifying. Like most other seasons, the fight for top-flight promotion has proven to be quite entertaining and there have been several players who have performed brilliantly to strengthen their team’s chances. Defence is a vital aspect of any club and here are five defenders who have stood out in the Championship this campaign so far.
Ryan Sessegnon – Fulham
The epitome of an attack-minded full-back, Sessegnon has impressed on several fronts for Fulham this season. Although he is primarily a left-back, the player can also play as a left-winger and he has been quite solid at the back. Despite having a penchant for finding the back of the net on any given day, Sessegnon never neglects his defensive duties and that is quite commendable for a player who is so young.
His best position is higher up the pitch but he’s made 20 of his 33 appearances at left-back so far. He’s been deployed in an advanced role for the past 3 games and in my opinion, he must continue there.
Barry Douglas – Wolverhampton Wanderers
The Wolves have one of the best defensive records in the Championship this season and a lot of credit for that must go to Douglas. The 28-year-old has displayed sublime leadership skills and defensive solidity to work his magic for the club at the back. In fact, he has had quite a positive influence on younger players as well and he already seems to be ready to play in the Premier League. The defender has also managed to score 4 goals in the Championship so far.
Aden Flint – Bristol City
Flint is most certainly one of the strongest at clearances and he makes an average of 6.4 clearances per game. Much like the others on this list, Flint is also quite adept at surging forward and getting his name on the scoresheet. In addition to making some solid defensive contributions to help Bristol City maintain a tight back line, Flint has also managed to score 7 goals so far.
Souleymane Bamba – Cardiff City
Bamba has been in impressive form for Cardiff this season. In fact, he has made 6.3 clearances per game so far this season, which is just behind what Flint has managed to do. Having scored 3 goals in the current campaign, Bamba is on the right path and if he continues this way, he can easily become one of the strongest and most reliable defenders in the Championship.
James Chester – Aston Villa
Chester has been one of Villa’s most reliable and consistent defenders this season. He is the undisputed king of clearances in the Championship as he makes about 8.2 of them per game. He is strong in the air as well and at 29 years of age, he is able to utilise his experience quite effectively to deliver solid results on the field and that has rather been evident in Villa’s overall performances this season.