Championship 2021-22

The 2021-22 Championship season was defined by one man: Aleksandar Mitrovic. The Serbian striker rewrote the record books with a staggering 43 league goals for Fulham, shattering the previous Championship record of 30 goals set by Ivan Toney. His incredible haul powered Fulham to the title with 90 points as Marco Silva's side played some of the most breathtaking attacking football the second tier has ever seen, scoring 106 goals in total.

AFC Bournemouth joined Fulham in securing automatic promotion, finishing second on 84 points under Scott Parker. The Cherries' solid defensive record of just 40 goals conceded provided the foundation for their return to the top flight, with Dominic Solanke contributing 20 goals from centre-forward.

The playoff picture produced compelling drama. Huddersfield Town, who had been in League One just two years earlier, secured third place on 82 points under Carlos Corberán. Nottingham Forest, managed by Steve Cooper, clinched fifth on 80 points after a remarkable second-half-of-season surge that saw them go from mid-table obscurity to playoff contention.

Forest's fairy tale continued in the playoffs. After beating Sheffield United on penalties in the semi-final, they defeated Huddersfield Town 1-0 in the final at Wembley through Levi Colwill's own goal, ending a 23-year absence from the top flight. It was one of the most emotional promotions in English football history as the City Ground erupted.

At the bottom, Derby County's plight was the season's saddest story. Despite Wayne Rooney's best efforts as player-manager-turned-manager, a 21-point deduction for entering administration and previous financial breaches made survival virtually impossible. The Rams showed immense spirit to accumulate 53 points on the pitch, but finished on just 34 after penalties. Peterborough United and Barnsley also went down, with the latter managing only seven wins all season.