The second tier of English football is widely regarded as one of the toughest divisions to play in due to the fiercely competitive nature of the battle for promotion spots.
As domestic leagues across Europe mostly resume in the month of August, I thought it would be an opportune moment to talk about the EFL championship set piece takers who will be held responsible for dead ball delivery in the upcoming campaign.
It took a lot of research and many hours watching match footage in order to compile this information, so hopefully you find it very useful.
On a totally separate note, if you haven’t already, take a look at our updated set piece list for the Premier League.
Now with all that said, let’s get down to business…
EFL Championship competition set piece takers list
| Club | Penalties (Main) | Penalties (Alternate) | Free Kicks (Main) | Free Kicks (Alternate 1) | Free Kicks (Alternate 2) | Corners (Main) | Corners (Alternate 1) | Corners (Alternate 2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bournemouth | Junior Stanislas | TBC | Junior Stanislas | David Brooks | Arnaut Danjuma | Junior Stanislas | David Brooks | Arnaut Danjuma |
| Barnsley | Cauley Woodrow | TBC | Callum Styles | Cauley Woodrow | Marcel Ritzmaier | Callum Styles | Cauley Woodrow | Marcel Ritzmaier |
| Birmingham City | Jérémie Bela | Lukas Jutkiewicz | Iván Sánchez | Adam Clayton | - | Iván Sánchez | Riley McGree | - |
| Blackburn Rovers | Ben Brereton | TBC | TBC | - | - | Joe Rothwell | - | - |
| Blackpool | Jerry Yates | TBC | TBC | - | - | TBC | - | - |
| Bristol City | Nahki Wells | TBC | Alex Scott | Matty James | - | Alex Scott | Matty James | - |
| Cardiff City | Kieffer Moore | Joe Ralls | Joe Ralls | Lee Tomlin | Josh Murphy | Josh Murphy | Joe Ralls | - |
| Coventry City | Matt Godden | Tyler Walker | TBC | Martyn Waghorn | - | TBC | - | - |
| Derby County | Graeme Shinnie | TBC | Tom Lawrence | Jason Knight | Nathan Byrne | Tom Lawrence | Nathan Byrne | Jason Knight |
| Fulham | Aleksandar Mitrović | Ivan Cavaleiro | Harry Wilson | Tom Cairney | Joe Bryan | Harry Wilson | Tom Cairney | Joe Bryan |
| Huddersfield Town | Fraizer Campbell | Juninho Bacuna | Josh Koroma | Juninho Bacuna | Duane Holmes | TBC | Duane Holmes | - |
| Hull City | Josh Magennis | Mallik Wilks | Mallik Wilks | Callum Elder | - | Mallik Wilks | Callum Elder | - |
| Luton Town | Elijah Adebayo | James Collins | James Bree | Harry Cornick | Henry Lansbury | James Bree | Harry Cornick | Henry Lansbury |
| Middlesbrough | Uche Ikpeazu | Duncan Watmore | TBC | Paddy McNair | - | TBC | - | - |
| Milwall | Jed Wallace | TBC | Jed Wallace | Scott Malone | - | Jed Wallace | Scott Malone | Connor Mahoney |
| Nottingham Forest | Lewis Grabban | Lyle Taylor | TBC | Anthony Knockaert | - | TBC | Anthony Knockaert | - |
| Peterborough United | Jonson Clarke-Harris | TBC | Joe Ward | Jonson Clarke-Harris | - | Joe Ward | - | - |
| Preston North End | Daniel Johnson | Scott Sinclair | Ryan Ledson | - | - | Ryan Ledson | - | - |
| Queens Park Rangers | Lyndon Dykes | Charlie Austin | Ilias Chair | - | - | Ilias Chair | - | - |
| Reading | Lucas João | Michael Olise | John Swift | Michael Olise | - | Michael Olise | John Swift | - |
| Sheffield United | Billy Sharp | Sander Berge | Oliver Norwood | John Fleck | - | Oliver Norwood | John Fleck | - |
| Stoke City | Steven Fletcher | Sam Vokes | TBC | Jordan Thompson | - | Jordan Thompson | Sam Clucas | - |
| Swansea City | Jamal Lowe | Matt Grimes | Hourihane | Matt Grimes | Yan Dhanda | Hourihane | Matt Grimes | - |
| West Bromwich Albion | Callum Robinson | TBC | Grady Diangana | Matt Phillips | TBC | Grady Diangana | Matt Phillips | TBC |
Set piece takers from the EFL Championship’s newly promoted teams
As always, attention is drawn to the newcomers.
I’ve drawn up a brief outline of what these guys have to offer:
Hull City
Last season’s League one winners will be looking towards talisman Josh Magennis to hit the back of the net from the penalty spot.
The 30 year old Northern Ireland man scored 3 from 3 attempts in the past campaign and Hull’s backup option in Mallik Wilks also registered a 100% record from spot kicks.
When it comes to free kicks and corners, duties are expected to be shared between Wilks and left back Callum Elder.
Blackpool
The Tangerines had a dramatic playoff final victory against Lincoln City that saw them claim the final promotion spot.
Not much can be said of them when it comes to set pieces at this moment in time however, as Elliot Embleton – who was responsible for free kicks and corners – returned to Sunderland after his loan spell with Blackpool ended on May 31st 2021.
Although Jerry Yates can be expected to take the penalties for Blackpool as he successfully converted all his 6 attempts last season.
Peterborough United
The League One runners up will look to Jonson Clarke-Harris for penalties and some free kicks, with Joe Ward stepping in to take most of the corners and some free kicks as well.
Set piece takers from the Premier League’s relegated teams
What’s quite different in this article is the fact that there are teams who fell from the division above.
So, here’s a brief look at the sides who played Premier League football in the last campaign.
Sheffield United
Billy Sharp is still going strong for Sheffield United and when he’s on the pitch, penalty duties should be in his capable hands.
Free kicks and corners are expected to be shared by experienced professionals Oliver Norwood and John Fleck, who are likely to retain their spots in the starting squad for this coming season.
West Bromwich Albion
Although there have been transfer rumours linking Matheus Pereira with a move away from the club, he’s still expected to take penalties, free kicks and corners if he remains at The Hawthorns.
Matt Phillips and Grady Diangana should be able to step in for free kicks and corners when the Brazilian forward is absent, with Callum Robinson a likely candidate for penalties as well.
Fulham
The London-based side will be looking to bounce right back up into the Premier League this season, and they’re already showing signs that they mean serious business.
Having signed Harry Wilson from Liverpool for a fee of 12 million pounds, Fulham go into this campaign with a deadly free kick specialist amongst their playing roster.
Tom Cairney missed a lot of games in the Premier League campaign through injury but I expect him to take some free kicks and corners next season, with Joe Bryan also filling in here from time to time.
Penalties may be shared between Aleksandar Mitrovic and Ivan Cavaleiro based on last season’s evidence, as the other takers in Josh Maja and Ademola Lookman have moved back to Girondins de Bordeaux and RB Leipzig respectively.
Which team scored the most set piece goals in the 2020-21 EFL Championship season?
Cardiff recorded the most goals of off free kick and corner situations in the Championship last season with a massive haul of 26, followed by Reading and Barnsley who both managed 17 goals each.
I’d expect Fulham to be positioned quite high on this list in the 2021 campaign as new signing Harry Wilson could score and provide a fair amount of contributions from dead balls.
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Awesome! Do you mind if I reuse the information in this thread for a German Site that creates Fantasy Football Content? I would mention your source as well.
Thanks in advance for the good work.
Sure no problem as long as you credit my site with a do follow back link.