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Middlesbrough fans spend more than half the match waiting for the ball to be in play, new statistics have revealed.

The ball has been in play for just 48.6% of the time during the average Boro league game this season, according to data from the CIES Football Observatory.

That works out at 43 minutes out of a 90 minute match.

That’s below the league average of 52.3% and is the third lowest average behind Barnsley (47.1%) and Wigan (47.8%).

Swansea City, meanwhile, have the best record in the division for keeping the ball in play. The ball has been in play 56.5% of the time in the average Swans game this season.

Bristol City have the next best record (55.8%) followed by Derby (55.6%), Nottingham Forest (55.2%) and Reading (55.1%).

TABLE (club/average)

Swansea 56.50%

Bristol 55.80%

Derby County 55.60%

Nottingham Forest 55.20%

Reading 55.10%

Leeds 54.20%

Brentford 54.00%

Birmingham 54.00%

Stoke City 53.20%

WBA 52.60%

Luton Town 52.60%

Hull City 52.10%

Huddersfield 52.10%

Blackburn 52.10%

QPR 52.10%

Charlton Athletic 52.00%

Fulham 51.90%

Millwall 51.50%

Sheffield Wednesday 50.50%

Preston 49.00%

Cardiff City 48.90%

Middlesbrough 48.60%

Wigan 47.80%

Barnsley 47.10%

AVERAGE 52.3%