Bolton Wanderers overachieved and finished higher than they ought to have in the League One table based on their team value, according to a study.
BettingOdds used an algorithm that has broken down Team Value into individual positions (Goalkeeper / Defence / Midfield / Forward) to produce an average weighted score (the four average values of each individual positional field ranked in ascending order, combined and divided to produce an average) and measured it against their final position in League One for 2021/22.
Wanderers, a newly promoted side in the division this season after winning automatic promotion out of League Two in the 2020/21 campaign, finished the season ninth after a final day 4-2 victory over Fleetwood Town.
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But according to the study, the Whites should have been in the bottom half of the table as their squad value was ranked 17th out of 24 teams in the division, with a team value of £5.06million and a points average of 16.
It means that accoring to the study, Wanderers finished eight places higher than predicted.
Portsmouth, the side Wanderers crept in front of on the last day of the campaign to finish ninth, should have been challenging for a place in the top six as their squad value was ranked sixth out of 24 teams in the division, with a team value of £7.75million and a points average of 7.75.
Sheffield Wednesday, with a team value of £24.48million, were ranked first with a points average of just two, with Sunderland second with their squad valued at £16.43million and a points average of 3.5. Despite having the top two most valuable squads, both Wednesday and the Black Cats failed to secure automatic promotion as some may have expected.
They finished fourth and fifth respectively and Alex Neil's side booked a place in the play-off final last night after overcoming the Owls 2-1 on aggregate.
Ipswich Town, who finished behind Wanderers in 11th place, had the third-highest squad value (£16.13million and a points average of 4) in the division, while eventual winners Wigan had the joint fourth-highest squad value (£12.38million and a points average of 6.5), along with runners-up Rotherham United (£10.06million and a points average of 6.5).
According to the study, the best performers this season in League One were Accrington Stanley, based on the difference between predicted position and final position, finishing in 12th place when their squad value (£1.85million and a points average of 22.7) ranked them bottom of the 24 teams in the division.
Lincoln City ranked as the biggest underperformers this season, based on the study, with the Imps finishing 17th when their squad value was ranked eighth in the division.
After a positive first campaign back in League One, Ian Evatt will be aiming to get the Whites challenging in earnest for promotion back into the second tier of English football.
A busy summer transfer window lies ahead and the first acquisition was confirmed yesterday with the capture of defender Jack Iredale on a free after turning down a fresh deal at Cambridge United.
