{"id":536077,"date":"2019-11-02T03:00:55","date_gmt":"2019-11-02T07:00:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonfootball.com\/?p=536077"},"modified":"2019-10-31T17:51:16","modified_gmt":"2019-10-31T21:51:16","slug":"championship-preview-matchday-15","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2019\/11\/02\/championship-preview-matchday-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Championship Preview: Matchday 15"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last Word on Football takes a look at the next round of fixtures in the Championship<\/a>. We’ve even had a go at trying to predict this week’s results for matchday 15.<\/p>\n

Championship Preview: Matchday 15<\/h2>\n

The Week’s Biggest Clashes<\/h3>\n

Charlton Athletic v Preston North End<\/h4>\n

It’s the battle of two sides who have enjoyed suprisingly good starts to the season.<\/p>\n

Preston currently sit in second place, as top-scorers in the league with 27 goals.<\/p>\n

Charlton, meanwhile, occupy ninth place, with their season hitting a recent rocky patch.<\/p>\n

Preston have lost just once in their last five games, while the Addicks have only one win in that period.<\/p>\n

The London side will need to be on the look-out for Daniel Johnson<\/a>, who is the league’s third-highest goal-scorer, with eight goals.<\/p>\n

His creativity from the midfield will frighten any of the league’s defences.<\/p>\n

Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers<\/h4>\n

Another intense battle nearer the summit of the league table, third-placed Leeds host eighth-placed QPR.<\/p>\n

Both teams will be looking for a win to strengthen their grip on a potential promotion place, with competition hotting up.<\/p>\n

This could be a matter of an immovable object coming up against a near unstoppable force.<\/p>\n

Leeds currently boast the league’s best defence (only eight goals conceded), while QPR have scored 24 goals (third highest in Championship).<\/p>\n

It will take a lot for the Hoops’ potent offence of Jordan Hugill<\/a>, Eberechi Eze<\/a> and Nahki Wells<\/a> to break through Leeds.<\/p>\n

The Yorkshire side, meanwhile, have struggled for goals recently, with just four in their past five league games.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The time is certainly ripe for Leeds to bag the goals to reignite their confidence.<\/p>\n

Championship Predictions<\/h3>\n

Barnsley v Bristol City<\/h4>\n

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.<\/p>\n

With the worst defence, and the second-worst offence, even a home a win for the Tykes would be a surprise.<\/p>\n

Barnsley 0 – 3 Bristol City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wigan Athletic v Swansea City<\/a><\/h4>\n

With defender Joe Rodon<\/a> ruled out for three months, Swansea have a hole to fill in their defence.<\/p>\n

A win over rivals Cardiff City<\/a> seems to have stopped their rot.<\/p>\n

They face a Wigan side with only 12 goals to their name, so may not need to worry too much about Rodon’s injury.<\/p>\n

Wigan 0 – 2 Swansea\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield Wednesday<\/h4>\n

The side in the worst form in the league comes up against one of those in the best.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Blackburn 0 – 2 Sheffield Wednesday<\/strong><\/p>\n

Brentford v Huddersfield Town<\/a><\/h4>\n

Brentford have finally managed to start scoring goals, with nine in their last three games.<\/p>\n

That haul has helped them to three consecutive wins, and they will hope they can make it four against the Terriers.<\/p>\n

Huddersfield, though, have their own upward momentum, unbeaten in six games.<\/p>\n

After only conceding three goals in their last five, they may have what it takes to shut out Brentford.<\/p>\n

Brentford 1 – 1 Huddersfield<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cardiff City v Birmingham City<\/h4>\n

Unbeaten at home so far this season, Neil Warnock will be hoping to push the Bluebirds closer to the play-off chase.<\/p>\n

Cardiff, though, have not won in four games, while Birmingham are seeking their third consecutive victory. This will be a well-fought affair.<\/p>\n

Cardiff 2 – 2 Birmingham<\/strong><\/p>\n

Derby County v Middlesbrough<\/h4>\n

A battle between two underperforming giants of the division, neither side will want to lose purely for pride’s sake.<\/p>\n

Middlesbrough have not won a league game in seven attempts, while Derby fell to Hull last time out.<\/p>\n

Their last two meetings have ended in draws, and this could very much go the same way.<\/p>\n

Derby 1 – 1 Middlesbrough<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fulham<\/a> v Hull City<\/h4>\n

Two of the division’s more potent attacks face off in this clash between two playoff hopefuls.<\/p>\n

Fulham are normally very strong at Craven Cottage, but keeping Jarrod Bowen<\/a> at bay should be a priority for them.<\/p>\n

Fulham 1 – 2 Hull City<\/strong><\/p>\n

Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers<\/h4>\n

After a sharp rise into play-off berths, clubs are beginning to target QPR’s weak defence.<\/p>\n

Though they have struggled at home, this could be a good opportunity for Leeds to grab a few goals.<\/p>\n

Leeds 2 – 1 QPR<\/strong><\/p>\n

Luton Town v Nottingham Forest<\/h4>\n

Two sides hoping to put consecutive defeats behind them.<\/p>\n

The Hatters know where the goal is, and may yet put Forest’s stern defence to the sword and pull away from the scrap.<\/p>\n

Luton 2 – 0 Nottingham Forest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reading v Millwall<\/h4>\n

This has the look of an important relegation scrap, with both sides battling nearer the wrong end of the Championship.<\/p>\n

On their day, Reading can be a handful for even the division’s better sides, but those days are few and far between.<\/p>\n

Reading 1 – 1 Millwall<\/strong><\/p>\n

Charlton Athletic v Preston North End<\/h4>\n

Buoyed by their 3-2 comeback against Blackburn Rovers, Preston should have enough to beat this Charlton side.<\/p>\n

They could go top with a win, and that incentive should see them past the Addicks.<\/p>\n

Charlton 1 – 3 Preston\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Stoke City<\/a> v West Bromwich Albion<\/a><\/h4>\n

Stoke seem to be enjoying a revival, with two consecutive wins over promotion-chasers Swansea and Fulham.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Form would not suggest so, though.<\/p>\n

Stoke 1 – 2 West Brom<\/strong><\/p>\n

Main Photo
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>