After last night’s string of Championship fixtures, Sheffield Wednesday have become the only team in the Championship yet to do one thing this season.
Last night saw a bout of Championship fixtures, with Cardiff City playing out a goalless draw with Blackburn Rovers, West Brom winning 3-0 at Plymouth Argyle, Hull City winning 2-1 at Southampton, and Ipswich Town beating Sheffield Wednesday‘s South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United 4-3.
The Millers gave Ipswich a run for their money, coming from 3-1 behind to eventually get the scoreline to 4-3.
But Leam Richardson’s side remain in last place of the table and now 10 points behind Sheffield Wednesday in 23rd and 14 points from safety.
In last night’s game though, Rotherham did something that the Owls are yet to do this season, and are now the only team in the Championship yet to do so; be awarded a penalty.
Sheffield Wednesday yet to receive a penalty this season
As per Transfermarkt, Leicester City are the team with the most penalties this season with 11, and they’ve scored 100% of them too.
Then follows Leeds United on seven and Sunderland on five, whilst there are seven teams who’ve received just the one penalty this season; Blackburn Rovers, Watford, QPR, Millwall, Huddersfield Town, Plymouth Argyle, and now Rotherham United.
There’s a clear correlation between the top teams receiving more penalties and the weaker teams in the Championship receiving less, and it comes down to playing style.
Expansive Leicester City dominate penalty stats
The reason Leicester City get so may penalties is because they play so high up the pitch and likely spend way more time in the final third than any other team.
The reason why Sheffield Wednesday haven’t received a penalty, and why many of the bottom teams have received so few, is because they spend less time in the final third.
But for the Owls to have not received a single penalty all season is still surprising; especially under Danny Rohl, Wednesday are much more attacking and high-pressing, and they have a lot of fast attacking players like Anthony Musaba and Djeidi Gassama who are often the kind of players pulled down inside the penalty area.
Sheffield Wednesday though are still scoring goals and steadily climbing towards safety.
They’ve scored four in their last three games now (both in 2-0 wins either side of a 2-0 defeat against Leicester City), and look like they’re full of confidence ahead of a string of games which could present more chances to put some points on the board.
The Owls welcome Bristol City to Hillsborough this weekend, before games a trip to Rotherham United and a midweek home game vs Plymouth Argyle.