The Championship Predictions podcast!
Southampton vs Birmingham, Saturday 12.30pm – Live on Sky Sports Football
Usually any point earned in the last minute is a good one, but the top two are setting such a pace this season that Southampton need to go on a winning run, or it will be play-offs at best.
It has gone sour quite quickly under Wayne Rooney at Birmingham. It is so early in his tenure, but you can understand why considering the nature of his appointment. He had to hit the ground running, and he has not. I think it will be another defeat here as well.
Prediction: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Saturday 28th October 12:00pm
Kick off 12:30pm
Ipswich vs Plymouth, Saturday 3pm
Ipswich took a good win off Bristol City in midweek, and they already look outrageously well-placed in second. It has been the most remarkable start. Were they really only promoted this summer?
Plymouth finished above them! They took four points off the Tractor Boys last season, but this feels like a very different battleground. I just cannot see anything but a home win.
Prediction: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Middlesbrough vs Stoke, Saturday 3pm
Middlesbrough are flying now. Six wins on the bounce has seen them rocket up the table. They are ahead of schedule from last season but, as with all the others, have a long way to go to catch the top two if that is their aim.
Stoke have enjoyed a good week. Alex Neil will have loved beating Sunderland, and then they took an unlikely win against Leeds. Can they continue the good run? I am not sure, but I would say draw here.
Prediction: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds)
QPR vs Leicester, Saturday 3pm
QPR are bang in trouble. Five defeats on the bounce. They ship too many, and they cannot score. It really is that simple. Something has to change, and fast, or they are only heading one way.
Leicester are heading the other way. The conversation has shifted quickly to what records they may break, rather than if they’ll get promotion. This will be another three points. A ninth win in a row. Crikey.
Prediction: 0-2 (Sky Bet odds)
Sunderland vs Norwich, Saturday 3pm
Sunderland have endured a tricky couple of weeks, which is going to happen in this league at the best of times, but especially when you have got such a young side. They are also really missing a goal scorer. No one apart from Jack Clarke is really chipping in.
Norwich are where you go for goals this season. Only the top two have scored more, and no one has conceded more. This should be an open game, but I will go for a narrow Black Cats win.
Prediction: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Coventry vs West Brom, Monday 8pm – Live on Sky Sports Football
Coventry are having a tricky little spell, and they were really poor at Rotherham in midweek. They are still adapting to life after Viktor Gyokeres and Gustavo Hamer, as well as the play-off hangover.
West Brom enjoyed a decent win over QPR in midweek, but this is a far sterner test, even if Coventry are not in the best of form. Draw here.
Prediction: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds)
Monday 30th October 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Remaining Championship predictions
Leeds vs Huddersfield (Sat 12.30pm): 2-0
Blackburn vs Swansea: 1-0
Cardiff vs Bristol City: 2-2
Hull vs Preston: 1-1
Watford vs Millwall: 1-1
Sheffield Wednesday vs Rotherham (Sun 1pm): 0-0