{"id":535485,"date":"2019-10-18T11:54:32","date_gmt":"2019-10-18T15:54:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=535485"},"modified":"2019-10-18T13:00:52","modified_gmt":"2019-10-18T17:00:52","slug":"efl-championship-preview-matchday-12","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/10\/18\/efl-championship-preview-matchday-12\/","title":{"rendered":"Championship Preview: Matchday 12"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the twelfth edition of our Championship<\/a>\u00a0preview series for the 2019\/20 season. We will analyse the weekend\u2019s key fixtures as well as having a crack at predicting the results.<\/p>\n

Championship Preview<\/h2>\n

Key Clashes<\/h3>\n

Stoke City v Fulham<\/h3>\n

After the Potters gave Huddersfield their first win of the season on matchday ten, few people saw Nathan Jones<\/a> remaining in charge of bottom club Stoke for another game.<\/p>\n

But just a few days later, Scott Hogan<\/a>‘s late winner at high-flying Swansea gave them a long-awaited first victory of the campaign<\/a> – easing the pressure on Jones.<\/p>\n

Despite this, the Potters are still propping up the table and know that the wins must start coming consistently.<\/p>\n

The performances haven’t been too bad at all, which is the Stoke chief’s main frustration.<\/p>\n

But he knows as well as anyone that results must improve if he’s to keep his job.<\/p>\n

However, winning on Saturday will be no easy task.<\/p>\n

Fulham boast a squad full of exciting top-end Championship (and some Premier League) talent.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

But with a squad that includes the likes of Tom Cairney<\/a>, Anthony Knockaert<\/a> and Alexsandar Mitrovic, many Fulham fans will be unhappy with anything less than promotion this term.<\/p>\n

Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest<\/h3>\n

Sabri Lamouche’s Forest have been the surprise package in the Championship so far this season.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Since then they’ve won six and drawn four games.<\/p>\n

They’ll face a Wigan side who, despite their relatively low league position, generally fare pretty well at home.<\/p>\n

The Latics have won in three of their first five home outings, seeing off Cardiff, Birmingham and Charlton at the DW Stadium.<\/p>\n

If Paul Cook<\/a>‘s side could improve their away form, they’d be a midtable team.<\/p>\n

This televised clash promises to be an intriguing match-up and is a key part of this week’s Championship Preview.<\/p>\n

Championship Preview: Predictions<\/h2>\n

Cardiff City v Sheffield Wednesday<\/h3>\n

This Friday night fixture seems destined to end as a draw if history is to count for anything.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It’s close to call and because of that we think it’s going to finish a draw.<\/p>\n

Cardiff City 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stoke City v Fulham<\/h3>\n

On paper, the two teams aren’t worlds apart.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Stoke will take confidence from that win at Swansea, but Scott Parker<\/a>‘s men should have too much firepower for their opponents.<\/p>\n

Stoke City 1-3 Fulham<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wigan Athletic v Nottingham Forest<\/h3>\n

Although Wigan are expected to struggle this season, that’s down to their away form and not their home record.<\/p>\n

This will be a big test of Forest’s resolve, but they’ve been exceptional on the road this term.<\/p>\n

The Reds have a knack of grinding out a result, and we’ll think they’ll do that in Lancashire.<\/p>\n

Wigan Athletic 0-1 Nottingham Forest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blackburn Rovers v Huddersfield Town<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Danny Cowley seems to have injected new life into a squad devoid of confidence.<\/p>\n

Their opponents Blackburn have looked good in flashes this season, but their league position of 14th rightly reflects their lack of consistency.<\/p>\n

This 12:30 pm kick-off is a tough one to call so we predict a draw.<\/p>\n

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Huddersfield Town<\/strong><\/p>\n

Barnsley v Swansea City<\/h3>\n

This will be Barnsley’s first game since Daniel Stendel<\/a> resigned from his post, and caretaker manager Adam Murray<\/a> has a tough first assignment against Swansea.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Despite that, it’s hard to see the Swans not bouncing back against this young and naive Barnsley outfit.<\/p>\n

Barnsley 1-2 Swansea City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brentford v Millwall<\/h3>\n

Despite having high pre-season expectations, Brentford have been disappointing this season and find themselves in 17th place.<\/p>\n

Their visitors Millwall have fared slightly better this term, but recently lost manager Neil Harris<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Caretaker manager Adam Barrett<\/a> won his first game in charge against Leeds last time out, but not without a massive helping hand, after Leeds defender Gaetano Berardi<\/a> was wrongly sent off in the first half.<\/p>\n

Brentford have been good at home for the past few seasons, and we fancy them to edge this London derby.<\/p>\n

Brentford 1-0 Millwall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlton Athletic v Derby County<\/h3>\n

After a massively underwhelming start, Derby’s recent form has steadily improved.<\/p>\n

Recent draws at Leeds and Barnsley alongside triumphs over Birmingham and Luton has seen their league position rise to 13th.<\/p>\n

Charlton have exceeded expectations thus far.<\/p>\n

The newly-promoted side were tipped by many to go down, but they sit comfortably in 10th.<\/p>\n

It’s another difficult match to predict, but Charlton’s home advantage may sway the game in their favour.<\/p>\n

Charlton Athletic 2-1 Derby County<\/strong><\/p>\n

Hull City v Queens Park Rangers<\/h3>\n

Two managers in their first full seasons at their respective clubs meet as the Tigers take on the R’s.<\/p>\n

Mark Warburton has made an impressive start as manager of QPR.<\/p>\n

Rangers have played some entertaining football and are currently just one point off the play-offs.<\/p>\n

Grant McCann<\/a>‘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.<\/p>\n

Hull City 1-1 Queens Park Rangers<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeds United v Birmingham City<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Their opponents Birmingham have started relatively well and find themselves in 12th position under caretaker manager Pep Clotet.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Leeds United 3-0 Birmingham City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luton Town v Bristol City<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

They face a Luton side who have only won once in their last six matches.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Luton Town 2-0 Bristol City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Middlesbrough v West Bromwich Albion<\/h3>\n

Life at the Riverside Stadium may be about to get more tricky, as struggling Middlesbrough meet table-topping West Brom.<\/p>\n

Jonathan Woodgate<\/a> 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.<\/p>\n

The Baggies have picked up 22 points from 11 games, and they should pick up another three in Teeside.<\/p>\n

Reading v Preston North End<\/h3>\n

This will be new Reading manager Mark Bowen<\/a>‘s first game in charge, and it’s a tough ask for the Royals against a Preston team who are in red hot form.<\/p>\n

North End are currently on an eight-game unbeaten run which has propelled them to third in the league.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Reading occupy the bottom three and a 1-0 reverse at Bristol City saw manager Jose Gomes<\/a> lose his job.<\/p>\n

We expect no ‘new manager bounce’ in this clash.<\/p>\n

Reading 0-2 Preston North End<\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Championship Preview Main Photo<\/h3>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>