At the heart of any good promotion charge is a strong defence and if last year's campaign is anything to go by it is just as important as a good attack.

Middlesbrough and Burnley both won promotion off the backs of strong disciplined defending.

Ben Gibson and Daniel Ayala were the best partnership in the league for Middlesbrough whilst Michael Keane and Ben Mee impressed for Burnley.

Hull won the play-offs and ended the season with the second best defence in the Championship behind Middlesbrough largely owing to strong performances from Curtis Davies and Michael Dawson.

None of these sides - especially Middlesbrough and Burnley - scored goals in abundance so defence was key to their success while free-scoring Fulham showed last season that you can score as many goals as you like but if your defence is poor then you will struggle.

So far Brighton have the best defence with Newcastle up there as well so it is not surprising that they possess the top two spots.

Here are the 3 best central defensive pairing in the league.

 Jamaal Lascelles and Ciaran Clark

Newcastle currently sit top of the Championship and have the most potent attack in the league with Dwight Gayle hitting double figures already.

They're not bad at the back either with only 12 goals conceded: 22-year-old captain Jamaal Lascelles looks a fine prospect and is even attracting interest from Chelsea.

Clark struggled in the Premier league last year but looks comfortable at this level, Hanley is an experienced head on the bench and Mbemba is solid too.

This is without a doubt one of the best partnerships in the league.

 Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Statistically the best defence in the league is Brighton's with Chris Hughton continuing the good work he did at the AMEX last season.

The defence looks even stronger than last year with former Blackburn man Shane Duffy arriving in the summer and holding down a first team place ahead of Connor Goldson, who impressed last season.

Dunk is one of the best defenders in the Championship - he leads the back four, is excellent in the air and a threat from set pieces.

They are a compact unit protected excellently by Oliver Norwood and Dale Stephens and could lead Brighton to glory this season.

 Pontus Jansson and Kyle Bartley

One of the more surprising partnership successes has been this powerful and imposing Leeds duo.

Garry Monk has got Leeds challenging for the top 6 with the success built off their strong base at the back.

Bartley - on loan from Monk's old team Swansea - has been brilliant whilst the passionate Sweden international Jansson looks a force to be reckoned with.

Both are well over 6 foot tall, powerful and good in the air and Leeds have conceded just 5 goals in their last 9 games.

If they keep their defensive form up, it could be a memorable season for the Whites.

 

What are your thoughts on this? Are these the best three centre back pairings in the league? 

Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments below...