Fulham’s promotion push is being helped by some of the worst performances in years by the three relegated Premier League sides.

Middlesbrough, Hull and Sunderland are currently sixth, 18th and 23rd respectively.

This gives an average position of 15.7 in the table.

If the three clubs finish the season in these places then it will be the joint-worst collective performance by the sides coming down from the Premier League since the Championship was rebranded from Division One in 2004/05.

The 2012/13 season was the only other since then where the trio of ex-Premier League sides did as poorly.

That season Bolton, Blackburn and Wolves finished seventh, 17th and 23rd respectively.

Fulham 2-0 Leeds

It was the last time that none of the three sides to come down to the

Championship went back up again straight away to the Premier League - That season Wolves were also the last club to suffer consecutive relegations from the Premier League and the Championship - something Sunderland are in serious danger of repeating this season.

In five of the last six seasons at least one of the relegated sides has won promotion immediately.

This lack of competition from Hull, Boro and Sunderland is making life easier for Fulham as they chase promotion.

Middlesbrough, in sixth, are 12 points behind Slavisa Jokanovic’s side in third.

Since the second tier has been known as the Championship the average finishing position of a relegated Premier League side has been 8.1.

In 2006/07 Sunderland, Birmingham and West Brom finished first, second and fourth between them, the best collective performance.

When Fulham were last relegated from the Premier League they finished 17th in their first season in the Championship.

Season / Average finishing position of relegated PL sides

2004/05 / 12.7

2005/06 / 9.0

2006/07 / 2.3

2007/08 / 8.7

2008/09 / 8.0

2009/10 / 4.7

2010/11 / 11.7

2011/12 / 4.0

2012/13 / 15.7

2013/14 / 5.3

2014/15 / 10.3

2015/16 / 5.7

2016/17 / 7.3

2017/18 (current) / 15.7

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