Welcome to the twelfth edition of our Championship preview series for the 2019/20 season. We will analyse the weekend’s key fixtures as well as having a crack at predicting the results.
Championship Preview
Key Clashes
Stoke City v Fulham
After the Potters gave Huddersfield their first win of the season on matchday ten, few people saw Nathan Jones remaining in charge of bottom club Stoke for another game.
But just a few days later, Scott Hogan‘s late winner at high-flying Swansea gave them a long-awaited first victory of the campaign – easing the pressure on Jones.
Despite this, the Potters are still propping up the table and know that the wins must start coming consistently.
The performances haven’t been too bad at all, which is the Stoke chief’s main frustration.
But he knows as well as anyone that results must improve if he’s to keep his job.
However, winning on Saturday will be no easy task.
Fulham boast a squad full of exciting top-end Championship (and some Premier League) talent.
Their start to the season wasn’t quite in line with their high pre-season expectations, but recent triumphs over Wigan, Reading and a draw with Charlton has taken them up to seventh.
But with a squad that includes the likes of Tom Cairney, Anthony Knockaert and Alexsandar Mitrovic, many Fulham fans will be unhappy with anything less than promotion this term.
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest
Sabri Lamouche’s Forest have been the surprise package in the Championship so far this season.
The Reds are second in the league and haven’t lost since their opening day reverse against West Brom, who they’re only behind by virtue of goal difference.
Since then they’ve won six and drawn four games.
They’ll face a Wigan side who, despite their relatively low league position, generally fare pretty well at home.
The Latics have won in three of their first five home outings, seeing off Cardiff, Birmingham and Charlton at the DW Stadium.
If Paul Cook‘s side could improve their away form, they’d be a midtable team.
This televised clash promises to be an intriguing match-up and is a key part of this week’s Championship Preview.
Championship Preview: Predictions
Cardiff City v Sheffield Wednesday
This Friday night fixture seems destined to end as a draw if history is to count for anything.
The two sides enter the fixture in Wales split by just three points as Sheffield Wednesday hold the advantage; however, the duo have an almost identical record over their last five fixtures.
A draw has been the end result from their previous two meetings, but the Owls have not shared the points in any of their last four matches.
It’s close to call and because of that we think it’s going to finish a draw.
Cardiff City 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday
Stoke City v Fulham
On paper, the two teams aren’t worlds apart.
But there is an 18 point gap in the league table, and if Fulham can hit top form not many teams will be able to live with them.
Stoke will take confidence from that win at Swansea, but Scott Parker‘s men should have too much firepower for their opponents.
Stoke City 1-3 Fulham
Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest
Although Wigan are expected to struggle this season, that’s down to their away form and not their home record.
This will be a big test of Forest’s resolve, but they’ve been exceptional on the road this term.
The Reds have a knack of grinding out a result, and we’ll think they’ll do that in Lancashire.
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Nottingham Forest
Blackburn Rovers v Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield failed to pick up a victory in their opening nine league matches, but have since picked up back-to-back wins over Stoke and Swansea.
Danny Cowley seems to have injected new life into a squad devoid of confidence.
Their opponents Blackburn have looked good in flashes this season, but their league position of 14th rightly reflects their lack of consistency.
This 12:30 pm kick-off is a tough one to call so we predict a draw.
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Huddersfield Town
Barnsley v Swansea City
This will be Barnsley’s first game since Daniel Stendel resigned from his post, and caretaker manager Adam Murray has a tough first assignment against Swansea.
The Welshmen sit fourth in the table after a flying start, but they did show their vulnerability by losing at home to Stoke before the international break.
Despite that, it’s hard to see the Swans not bouncing back against this young and naive Barnsley outfit.
Barnsley 1-2 Swansea City
Brentford v Millwall
Despite having high pre-season expectations, Brentford have been disappointing this season and find themselves in 17th place.
Their visitors Millwall have fared slightly better this term, but recently lost manager Neil Harris.
Caretaker manager Adam Barrett won his first game in charge against Leeds last time out, but not without a massive helping hand, after Leeds defender Gaetano Berardi was wrongly sent off in the first half.
Brentford have been good at home for the past few seasons, and we fancy them to edge this London derby.
Brentford 1-0 Millwall
Charlton Athletic v Derby County
After a massively underwhelming start, Derby’s recent form has steadily improved.
Recent draws at Leeds and Barnsley alongside triumphs over Birmingham and Luton has seen their league position rise to 13th.
Charlton have exceeded expectations thus far.
The newly-promoted side were tipped by many to go down, but they sit comfortably in 10th.
It’s another difficult match to predict, but Charlton’s home advantage may sway the game in their favour.
Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County
Hull City v Queens Park Rangers
Two managers in their first full seasons at their respective clubs meet as the Tigers take on the R’s.
Mark Warburton has made an impressive start as manager of QPR.
Rangers have played some entertaining football and are currently just one point off the play-offs.
Grant McCann‘s Hull have struggled for consistency, looking excellent in a 3-0 victory at Luton last month, but equally shambolic in a defeat by the same scoreline at Huddersfield in their last outing.
Hull City 1-1 Queens Park Rangers
Leeds United v Birmingham City
Leeds have been dominant in pretty much every game so far this campaign but have been plagued by similar issues that lost them the promotion race last season; an inability to take chances.
Their opponents Birmingham have started relatively well and find themselves in 12th position under caretaker manager Pep Clotet.
But if Leeds continue dominating games like they have been doing, it’s only a matter of time before they return to the top of the table.
Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City
Luton Town v Bristol City
Bristol City haven’t lost since the opening day of the season, and the 13 players who arrived in pre-season don’t seem to have much problem gelling.
They face a Luton side who have only won once in their last six matches.
As 18th host 6th, all the signs point towards an away win, but our gut feeling is that the Championship could throw up yet another surprise in this game.
Luton Town 2-0 Bristol City
Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion
Life at the Riverside Stadium may be about to get more tricky, as struggling Middlesbrough meet table-topping West Brom.
Jonathan Woodgate has tried to change to a more attacking style of play in his first full season as Boro boss, but the transition has been difficult and Boro have only won twice all season.
The Baggies have picked up 22 points from 11 games, and they should pick up another three in Teeside.
Reading v Preston North End
This will be new Reading manager Mark Bowen‘s first game in charge, and it’s a tough ask for the Royals against a Preston team who are in red hot form.
North End are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run which has propelled them to third in the league.
Meanwhile, Reading occupy the bottom three and a 1-0 reverse at Bristol City saw manager Jose Gomes lose his job.
We expect no ‘new manager bounce’ in this clash.
Reading 0-2 Preston North End
