The Championship is as competitive as ever this year, with the battle for promotion and survival intriguing to watch. 

As ever, the football on show is improving, whilst the atmosphere inside the stadiums continues to put the Premier League to shame.

Of course, home supporters fill the majority of a stadium, but the section of away fans, whether it is 1,000 or 5,000, often play a factor in whether the atmosphere is worthwhile.

But, who has the best away support in the Championship?

Leeds might take more, but are they the best? Or do they fall short just as they have done in the promotion race in recent years?

What about the likes of Luton Town? Back in the Championship this season - is their travelling support up there?

It’s a question that you’ll never get everyone agreeing on, but we attempt to rank the away followings in the Championship: Worst to best.

Take a look…

It isn't easy following Wigan away, but they do throw up the odd outstanding victory (see Leeds away in successive years + West Brom).

Credit to those that travel, but they struggle to make their presence known around the Championship.

A place nobody wants to be, but the Latics are coming in 24^th.

The Bees create a unique atmosphere at Griffin Park (or they will until they move out at the end of this season).

However, on the road, their following leaves a lot to be desired despite the side often performing well on the pitch.

They get the rough end of the deal with some long trips to the North, but it is the same for everyone in the Championship.

Rovers fans will have fond memories of the Premier League and trips to Anfield, Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge.

But now, it is Griffin Park, Kenilworth Road and Oakwell for Tony Mowbray’s men.

And, the support that follows them out of Lancashire isn’t the best, reflected in this lowly position.

We’ve got to admit, the Tigers can make some noise when they travel in numbers. Their festive trip to Elland Road last season was fantastic, with the Hull fans creating a great atmosphere as their side won 2-0 against high-flying Leeds.

However, it is their long-distance trips that let them down.

If they backed the side with the numbers they do at Leeds all the time, they’d be much higher in this list.

Like Hull, the Reading fans let themselves down when it comes to travelling a longer distance.

They enjoy trips to Brentford and Fulham, but when it comes to Leeds, Middlesbrough and Sheffield Wednesday, they get nowhere near their allocation.

Even their fans would admit they aren’t the best on their travels.

Craven Cottage is a great place to watch football and the Fulham fans add to the experience. However, on the road, they aren’t the best supported side in the Championship.

Like those below them here, there are often empty seats in the way end when the Cottagers travel past Birmingham, which leaves them low in these standings.

The Preston fans watch the Deepdale away end fill up with 4/5,000 supporters on a regular basis, which creates a great atmosphere at their home games.

However, on the road, they don’t match that enthusiasm to follow their side.

Low numbers follow them out of Lancashire, a lot like Blackburn.

Bigger hitters in terms of club stature, but Derby’s fans are so inconsistent on the road.

Take last year’s play-off semi-final at Leeds; a massive game, with the Rams faithful there in fine voice to watch an epic game of football.

However, fast-forward four months and they headed to Elland Road with limited numbers, creating a poor atmosphere in their section of the West Stand.

Chris Martin’s late equaliser created a bounce, but it epitomised their support on the road: inconsistent.

It's fair to say the atmosphere at the John Smith's Stadium has definitely improved in recent seasons, as a result of the new singing stand they have implemented.

However, away from home, the Terriers fans are lacking that impact and it's very rare to see a sizeable away following at a Championship fixture away from Yorkshire.

There are worse away fans in this league, but still plenty that are better.

The Tykes have a loyal, hardy away following, but it often lacks the numbers of other teams in the division.

Any Yorkshire-based clash, Barnsley do tend to bring a lot of away supporters and create a fair racket, but it's often when they travel down south, they simply do not pack out an away end.

Much like Huddersfield, their home support is pretty decent, but their away fans are behind many others in the division.

Swansea have an impressive away following, but just not enough to make our top ten.

The Jack Army are often backed by sizeable away followings up and down the country, but we see them around the middle of the pack.

They are a noisy bunch to be fair to them, and were particularly impressive at Millwall in September of last year, as highlighted in the picture above.

To be fair to the Hatters, they have impressed on the road this season in the Championship.

Not necessarily blessed with tonnes of numbers, the Luton fans do know how to make some noise though and are well worthy of their 13th spot on out list.

They are a passionate, loyal bunch that have stuck with their team as they have rose to the Championship all the way from the National League.

Millwall fans are often stereotyped a certain way, but there is no doubting their away support up and down the country.

They are a hardy, passionate set of fans that always get behind their team through thick and thin, however, they just miss out on a place in our coveted top ten.

Considering their position in the UK, Boro fans get themselves around.

The Middlesbrough fans follow their team in numbers more often than not, and as we've alluded to, it's one hell of a commitment for many Boro fans to get to matches down south - yet their away support rarely disappoints.

However, they just miss out on our top ten.

QPR fans are impressive on the road and of the London clubs in the Championship, are amongst the best supported clubs away from home.

The R's are enjoying a solid season under Mark Warburton so far this season, and they'll need to fans to be beside them through the many testing periods that await.

Charlton's away support has been superb so far this season, with the Addicks fans following Bowyer's boys in their numbers, whilst also bringing the noise.

They'll hope to see their side survive this season.

The Welsh have always been pretty handy singers and that is reflected in Cardiff City's support when they're away from home.

Form on the pitch hasn't been great outside of Wales so far this season but the fans no-less love a trip across the border every other week.

Birmingham fans have seen some pretty hectic times at their club in recent years but the Blues stay loyal to the cause.

When Keep Right On starts belting out, there are few chants that can match it, and it's time they have a team that can reflect that once again - Pep Clotet will be hoping he can provide it.

Bristol City are on the up in more ways than one right now.

With good financial backing, a strong squad and a progressive-thinking manager, the Robins have plenty to shout about and, more often than not, that is exactly what they do.

It's been pretty dire for Stoke fans this season but, in recent weeks, they have just started to show some signs of life.

The Potters can whip up quite the atmosphere at home and are very good away, too, with Delilah often being belted out in away ends up and down the country.

West Brom are in their second year in the Championship and look set for a Premier League return.

Back by a vociferous away support, the Baggies are boinging under Slaven Bilic at the moment.

Sheffield Wednesday fans are loud and proud, longing for the day the Owls return to the top flight.

They make the top three in our list and having that spot in the league this season would go down very nicely with their vocal support.

Forest are just another of the big clubs waiting to get back into the top flight and have a fanbase to back that up wherever they go.

The red wall arrives and makes plenty of noise wherever you are in the country.

They've not been in the Premier League for 15 years but the Whites' following around the country belongs in the top flight.

They might get jeers from rival fans for certain claims but, in fairness, Leeds really do take more.