Last Word on Football takes a look at the next round of fixtures in the Championship. We’ve even had a go at trying to predict this week’s results for matchday 15.
Championship Preview: Matchday 15
The Week’s Biggest Clashes
Charlton Athletic v Preston North End
It’s the battle of two sides who have enjoyed suprisingly good starts to the season.
Preston currently sit in second place, as top-scorers in the league with 27 goals.
Charlton, meanwhile, occupy ninth place, with their season hitting a recent rocky patch.
Preston have lost just once in their last five games, while the Addicks have only one win in that period.
The London side will need to be on the look-out for Daniel Johnson, who is the league’s third-highest goal-scorer, with eight goals.
His creativity from the midfield will frighten any of the league’s defences.
Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers
Another intense battle nearer the summit of the league table, third-placed Leeds host eighth-placed QPR.
Both teams will be looking for a win to strengthen their grip on a potential promotion place, with competition hotting up.
This could be a matter of an immovable object coming up against a near unstoppable force.
Leeds currently boast the league’s best defence (only eight goals conceded), while QPR have scored 24 goals (third highest in Championship).
It will take a lot for the Hoops’ potent offence of Jordan Hugill, Eberechi Eze and Nahki Wells to break through Leeds.
The Yorkshire side, meanwhile, have struggled for goals recently, with just four in their past five league games.
However, QPR’s leaky defence should fill them with confidence; the West London side have conceded 26 goals, the second-most in the league after Barnsley.
The time is certainly ripe for Leeds to bag the goals to reignite their confidence.
Championship Predictions
Barnsley v Bristol City
There aren’t many teams Bristol would rather face at the moment than Barnsley, rooted to the bottom of the league with just one win in 14 league games.
With the worst defence, and the second-worst offence, even a home a win for the Tykes would be a surprise.
Barnsley 0 – 3 Bristol City
Wigan Athletic v Swansea City
With defender Joe Rodon ruled out for three months, Swansea have a hole to fill in their defence.
A win over rivals Cardiff City seems to have stopped their rot.
They face a Wigan side with only 12 goals to their name, so may not need to worry too much about Rodon’s injury.
Wigan 0 – 2 Swansea
Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday
The side in the worst form in the league comes up against one of those in the best.
Blackburn will want to shake their six-game winless streak, to avoid getting any closer to the relegation zone; however, they will struggle past the Owls’ mean defence.
Blackburn 0 – 2 Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford v Huddersfield Town
Brentford have finally managed to start scoring goals, with nine in their last three games.
That haul has helped them to three consecutive wins, and they will hope they can make it four against the Terriers.
Huddersfield, though, have their own upward momentum, unbeaten in six games.
After only conceding three goals in their last five, they may have what it takes to shut out Brentford.
Brentford 1 – 1 Huddersfield
Cardiff City v Birmingham City
Unbeaten at home so far this season, Neil Warnock will be hoping to push the Bluebirds closer to the play-off chase.
Cardiff, though, have not won in four games, while Birmingham are seeking their third consecutive victory. This will be a well-fought affair.
Cardiff 2 – 2 Birmingham
Derby County v Middlesbrough
A battle between two underperforming giants of the division, neither side will want to lose purely for pride’s sake.
Middlesbrough have not won a league game in seven attempts, while Derby fell to Hull last time out.
Their last two meetings have ended in draws, and this could very much go the same way.
Derby 1 – 1 Middlesbrough
Fulham v Hull City
Two of the division’s more potent attacks face off in this clash between two playoff hopefuls.
Fulham are normally very strong at Craven Cottage, but keeping Jarrod Bowen at bay should be a priority for them.
Fulham 1 – 2 Hull City
Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers
After a sharp rise into play-off berths, clubs are beginning to target QPR’s weak defence.
Though they have struggled at home, this could be a good opportunity for Leeds to grab a few goals.
Leeds 2 – 1 QPR
Luton Town v Nottingham Forest
Two sides hoping to put consecutive defeats behind them.
The Hatters know where the goal is, and may yet put Forest’s stern defence to the sword and pull away from the scrap.
Luton 2 – 0 Nottingham Forest
Reading v Millwall
This has the look of an important relegation scrap, with both sides battling nearer the wrong end of the Championship.
On their day, Reading can be a handful for even the division’s better sides, but those days are few and far between.
Reading 1 – 1 Millwall
Charlton Athletic v Preston North End
Buoyed by their 3-2 comeback against Blackburn Rovers, Preston should have enough to beat this Charlton side.
They could go top with a win, and that incentive should see them past the Addicks.
Charlton 1 – 3 Preston
Stoke City v West Bromwich Albion
Stoke seem to be enjoying a revival, with two consecutive wins over promotion-chasers Swansea and Fulham.
However, two losses have put them right back in the mire, and they will hope they can repeat their luck against the table-topping Baggies.
Form would not suggest so, though.
Stoke 1 – 2 West Brom
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