A Football League survey has concluded that Middlesbrough’s supporters are more optimistic than any other Sky Bet Championship fan base going into the new campaign.
Boro fans, on average, believe that their side will finish second in the Championship table and earn promotion to the Premier League.Middlesbrough fell short in the Play-Offs during the 2014/15 campaign when they lost 2-0 to Norwich City at Wembley in the Final, but that defeat has not dented their supporters’ confidence.
In League 1, Sheffield United fans are the most convinced that they are about to have a memorable season.
Like Middlesbrough, the Blades fell short in the Play-Off last term, at the semi-final stage, but the appointment of Nigel Adkins as manager seems to have galvanised their fan base, with optimism high around Bramall Lane.
There is also great anticipation for the new term at Kenilworth Road, with Luton Town followers believing that this year may be the one were they earn promotion.
The Hatters fell away towards the back end of 2014/15 but, with the likes of Craig Mackail-Smith and Paddy McCourt being snapped up this summer, they have more depth to their squad this time around and their fans are confident of a productive year.
Fan optimism ahead of the new season
Sky Bet Championship Ranking out of 5
1 Middlesbrough 4.71
2 Derby County 4.68
3 Burnley 4.35
4 Hull City 4.29
5 Brentford 4.28
6 Ipswich Town 4.19
7 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4.01
8 Fulham 3.95
9 Charlton Athletic 3.92
10 Sheffield Wednesday 3.84
11 Bristol City 3.78
12 Rotherham United 3.75
13 Birmingham City 3.74
14 Leeds United 3.72
15 Queens Park Rangers 3.63
16 Brighton & Hove Albion 3.63
17 Reading 3.60
18 Milton Keynes Dons 3.54
19 Preston North End 3.53
20 Nottingham Forest 3.38
21 Cardiff City 3.36
22 Huddersfield Town 3.36
23 Blackburn Rovers 2.83
24 Bolton Wanderers 2.71
Sky Bet League 1 Ranking out of 5
1 Sheffield United 4.69
2 Scunthorpe United 4.50
3 Doncaster Rovers 4.39
4 Wigan Athletic 4.32
5 Bradford City 4.28
6 Rochdale 4.22
7 Gillingham 4.12
8 Shrewsbury Town 4.06
9 Barnsley 4.03
10 Burton Albion 4.00
11 Bury 3.95
12 Southend United 3.81
13 Millwall 3.80
14 Port Vale 3.57
15 Oldham Athletic 3.53
16 Peterborough United 3.53
17 Walsall 3.42
18 Swindon Town 3.33
19 Fleetwood Town 3.26
20 Coventry City 3.23
21 Colchester United 3.04
22 Chesterfield 2.92
23 Blackpool 2.20
24 Crewe Alexandra 2.07
Sky Bet League 2 Ranking out of 5
1 Luton Town 4.66
2 Portsmouth 4.54
3 Oxford United 4.41
4 Cambridge United 4.39
5 Accrington Stanley 4.33
6 Plymouth Argyle 4.29
7 Wycombe Wanderers 4.22
8 Notts County 4.21
9 Northampton Town 4.18
10 Morecambe 4.14
11 Mansfield Town 4.10
12 Exeter City 4.06
13 Leyton Orient 4.05
14 AFC Wimbledon 4.03
15 Barnet 4.03
16 Bristol Rovers 3.92
17 Hartlepool United 3.79
18 Stevenage 3.77
19 Yeovil Town 3.75
20 Carlisle United 3.60
21 Crawley Town 3.20
22 York City 3.14
23 Newport County 3.09
24 Dagenham & Redbridge 2.67
The information in this story is based on an online survey of more than 5,000 fans by The Football League in the build-up to the new season.