Top 10 highest scoring Championship teams ever

Kevin Keegan is clearly the second-tier cheat code for goalscoring but Fulham are chasing down the only two centurions on this list.

With Fulham’s goalscoring exploits looking like breaking every record in the book, it seems a fairly good time to check in and see who they’re up against in the list of highest-scoring Championship teams ever. We’ve gone back through to the beginning of the Premier League era in 1992/93 to pick out the most prolific sides in second-tier history.

10) Fulham (2000/01) – 90 goals

It’s quite apt that the first name on the list is Fulham. What’s even more apt is that one of their star men from this season, Luis Boa Morte, is currently on the staff at Craven Cottage as they look to make this list. Boa Morte partnered with Louis Saha in Jean Tigana’s brilliant team, with Sean Davis and John Collins providing the midfield assistance.

Watford were famously promoted in 2014/15 having had four managers in the same season, with Slavisa Jokanvoic enjoying the majority of the campaign and getting them over the line. Troy Deeney, Odion Ighalo and Matej Vydra were devastating at Championship level and all went on to have good runs at the top level, too.

8) Sunderland (1998/99) – 91 goals

Here’s your textbook example of how to bounce back from a play-off final heartbreak. Sunderland had lost maybe the greatest Wembley showdown ever the previous season but stayed strong, kept their side together and dominated the following campaign. Niall Quinn and Kevin Phillips were a stunning partnership and I dare say this total would’ve been higher had Phillips not sat injured on the sidelines through the autumn.

Super Kev: the red-hot journeyman Little to Quinny’s Large

7) Newcastle (1992/93) – 92 goals

This season and team is pivotal in not just the second tier, but Premier League history. The 92-goal Magpies thrust Kevin Keegan into the managerial spotlight, as well as one of the greatest ’90s strikers in Andy Cole. David Kelly top-scored for Newcastle that year as one of England’s most beloved sides was starting to be built.

6) Norwich City (2018/19) – 93 goals

The most recent entry on the list is Norwich’s excellent title winners of three seasons ago. Nobody particularly knew much about Teemu Pukki and Emi Buendia prior to that season, but everybody did by the end. Pukki scored 29 goals with Buendia brilliantly creative in a hugely entertaining team coached by Daniel Farke.

5) Portsmouth (2002/03) – 97 goals

What a cast of characters Harry Redknapp put together at Pompey in 2002. He persuaded Jim Smith to join him on the pitch and coaxed some ageing but hugely talented players like Tim Sherwood and Steve Stone onto the pitch. Paul Merson’s best years were behind him but he was fantastic in providing the ammo for Svetoslav Todorov and a young Yakubu.

4) Bournemouth (2014/15) – 98 goals

Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth finished their charge up the divisions courtesy of their 98-goal Championship season in 2014/15. The subsequent FFP charge often comes up in reference to this side, but with Callum Wilson and Yann Kermorgant assisted by Matt Ritchie and Marc Pugh, there’s no arguing that they weren’t massively prolific and entertaining.

3) Reading (2005/06) – 99 goals

The oft-lauded Reading team of 2005/06 holds the record for the most points but they didn’t quite crack the 100-goal mark. When you look through the regular XI the names don’t quite have the star power of other teams in this list, but they were a formidable team perfectly set up by Steve Coppell. Kevin Doyle and Dave Kitson both hit 18 goals, while Steve Sidwell and James Harper dominated centrally in a side so well balanced it beggars belief.

2) Bolton Wanderers (1996/97) – 100 goals

All hail our first centurions in the list: Bolton 1996/97. Wanderers were well adrift at the bottom of the Premier League the previous campaign but lost just four games the following season under Colin Todd. Their goalscoring exploits were led by a prolific John McGinlay and Nathan Blake partnership that contributed 44 of their mighty 100-goal total.

1) Manchester City (2001/02) – 108 goals

Out in front by some distance on 108 goals and our number one team are Manchester City 2001/02. We’ve already hailed Keegan for his Newcastle exploits, but he came back from his England disappointment to create another absolute goal machine. Shaun Goater was fed by a frankly way too good for the league creative duo of Eyal Berkovic and Ali Bernabia. Lethal, joyous, and the most prolific Championship team ever…for now.