What Championship records can Marco Silva’s title-chasing Fulham break?
After suffering an instant relegation back down to the Championship last summer, manager Scott Parker decided to trade Fulham for Bournemouth. In came Marco Silva as his replacement. The former Everton, Watford and Hull boss sought redemption after the disappointing end to his Toffees tenure and, so far, he’s been exceptional.
Given the calibre of players and experience nestled within their ranks, Fulham were never going to struggle. Yet, few could have predicted quite how good Silva's free-scoring entertainers have been this term.
With 10 matches remaining Silva's main priority is securing promotion back up to the Premier League, for which Fulham are now priced at 1/2500. Then the attention will turn to lifting the Championship title (1/40). Football is of course an unpredictable sport full of thrills and spills, but it’s difficult to see them slipping up.
We’ve already seen striker Aleksandar Mitrovic smash the Championship’s record for the most goals scored in a season - 35 and counting - but what notable slices of history can Silva’s side create before the season’s end? We take a closer look below…
Note: Records are from the Championship era: 2004/05 season onwards.
Most Points: 106
Fulham have so far accumulated 77 points from 36 games, a titanic tally which puts them 12 points clear of 2nd and 14 points clear of 3rd.
With 10 games remaining Fulham’s maximum total is 107 points, providing they win each of those 10 matches. Should they do just that, then they’ll break the total points record set by Reading (106) under Steve Coppell in 2005/06 by a single point.
In truth, it will be an extremely tough ask, especially given that seven of Fulham's final 10 games are against teams currently in the top-half fighting for the play-offs and promotion.
Another target to aim for is the 102 points haul set by both Newcastle United (Chris Hughton, 2009/10) and Leicester City (Nigel Pearson, 2013/14).
Meanwhile, Fulham’s 2000/01 squad under Jean Tigana surpassed the three-figure mark with 101 points - a club record - although that was prior to the Championship’s inauguration in 2004.
Fulham's Remaining Matches
- 15th March: West Brom (a)
- Nottingham Forest (h)*
- 2nd April: QPR (a)
- 6th April: Middlesbrough (a)
- 9th April: Coventry (h)
- 15th April: Derby (a)
- 18th April: Preston (h)
- 23rd April: Bournemouth (a)
- 30th April: Luton (h)
- 7th May: Sheff Utd (a)
*Postponed - rescheduled date not set yet.
Most Goals: 99
Reading’s history-making side of 2005/06 also stamped the most Championship goals on the board with 99.
Prolific Fulham already have 90 goals - 35 more than Bournemouth in 2nd. They are averaging 2.5 goals per game and need just 10 more goals from 10 games to surpass Reading and in the process become the first Championship side to reach the century.
Let’s be honest, if they continue on their current path they’ll probably break this record with games to spare.
Fulham have had 13 wins by a margin of 3+ goals, smashing in seven goals twice this season. Back in January a remarkable 7-0 thrashing away to Blackburn was followed by back-to-back home thumpings of Bristol City and Birmingham.
Meanwhile, it’s Kevin Keegan’s rampant 2001/02 Manchester City who hold the record for the most goals ever in second-tier history with 108. Fulham need just 19 more goals from 10 games to wipe this record out.
On a final note, Fulham can also still break their own club record of 111 goals in a season which has been in place since 1931/32 when they played in the Football League Third Division South.
Most Wins: 31
Only four clubs since 2004 have recorded 30 or more wins in a single Championship season.
Newcastle (2009/10) and Wolves (2017/18) both accrued 30 victories, with Reading (2004/05) and Leicester (2013/14) the joint record holders on 31 triumphs apiece.
Fulham have 23 wins to their name from 36 games so far, which equates to a win rate of 63.89%.
So, seven more wins will see them become the fifth team to reach the 30 win mark in the league's current form. Eight more wins will see them join Reading and Leicester on 31. And nine wins from their remaining 10 games will break the record: another big ask, but don’t rule them out.
Winning Margin: 16 points
We go back to Reading once again and that very special 2005/06 season.
Not only did the Royals accumulate the most points, goals, and joint-most wins in Championship history but their 16-point winning margin to 2nd-place is also No.1 in the rankings too.
Fulham are currently a sizeable 12 points clear of Bournemouth, who do have two games in hand, although it's worth noting how inconsistent the Cherries have been of late. Meanwhile, Huddersfield in 3rd, are 14 points behind Fulham having played one game more than the leaders.
