one year ago by Sky Bet

CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS GIVEN WARNING AHEAD OF SOUTH WALES AWAY TRIP

Sky Bet Fan Hope Survey reveals fans’ pet peeves and it’s not good news for divers…

A NOTE to any Championship players planning on diving in a league match this season: You may get away with it in Rotherham, but avoid taking a tumble in Swansea at all costs.

The reason being is the Millers crowd will be far more forgiving of the cheating action than anywhere else in the second tier.

Whereas you are likely to be a pariah for it in South Wales.

Simulation, as it is diplomatically called, came out top when nearly 700 Championship supporters were quizzed over which in-game infringement annoys them most.

It came as part of Sky Bet’s Fan Hope Survey ahead of the new season, with diving taking 42 per cent of the vote, streets clear of time-wasting in second place (16 per cent).

Nearly every club picked it as what most gets on their goat, with the Swans army leading the charge.

Yet Rotherham followers were only mildly irked by it, finding players who purposely run down the clock far more irritating.

Blackburn’s supporters found both issues equally got on their wick.

Voters also had their say on which second-tier ground provides the best and worst atmospheres.

When the results to each question were put together, Sunderland’s Stadium of Light came out on top, showing how happy travelling fans are to have them back in their division.

Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane was second, followed by Cardiff’s eponymous stadium then QPR.

Wigan’s DW came bottom, just below fellow promoted side - and diving-tolerators - Rotherham. Coventry’s Building Society Arena was next.

Luton’s Kenilworth Road were fourth-bottom but to be fair to them they have plans to move into a new, 23,000-seater venue in the coming years.

Any real fan knows one of the great joys of football is travelling the length and breadth of the country following your team, come rain or shine, through thick and thin.

It helps though if the place you are voyaging to is good fun, though.

That perhaps explains why Blackpool, with its bright lights, tower and seaside merriment, topped the charts when fans were asked for the best Championship away day.

Sunderland came next, despite the epic journey for many clubs to get there, then, in descending order, Cardiff, Norwich, Burnley, Birmingham, West Brom, Bristol City and Middlesbrough.

Next to no one rated Rotherham, followed by Reading, then Wigan, Stoke and Millwall, although that is likely more due to the intimidating Den atmosphere.

Huddersfield, Watford, Preston and Hull were among the middle-of-the-road trips.



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