Football Park's 2025/26 EFL Championship MW6 Preview

Football Park's 2025/26 EFL Championship MW6 Preview

Five games into the new season, the Championship table is starting to take shape. Early strugglers and front runners are starting to emerge from the pack, and although we are still in the embryonic stages of this year's campaign, fans are starting to get an idea of what they are in for this time out. With Middlesbrough continuing their unbeaten start last weekend and Sheffield United still without a point at the bottom of the table, the first five games of the season have been filled with action and drama. Here is a look at the 12 fixtures pencilled in for this weekend and what to expect for this round of games in England's second tier.

Middlesbrough vs West Brom

The Friday night kick off sees high-flying Middlesbrough welcome The Baggies , as they aim to continue their unbeaten start to the season. The replacement of Michael Carrick with Rob Edwards has proved to be a stroke of genius as the Welshman has his Boro side playing with confidence and swagger five games in. Off the back of a transfer window filled with incomings and investment in the squad, things look to be on the up at The Riverside.

Magic from Sverre in the build-up to our first goal on Saturday 💫

Watch Inside Matchday here ⤵️

— Middlesbrough FC (@Boro) September 15, 2025

As for the visitors, they will be eager to put a shock home defeat to Derby last weekend behind them. The Baggies' confidence should be buoyed by their start to the season. Ryan Mason has already made a positive impact at The Hawthorns and will already be eyeing a top six push this campaign. Spearheaded by their talismanic midfielder Isaac Price, Mason has a talented squad at his disposal and will head to Middlesbrough confident of getting something.

QPR vs Stoke

In one of three 12:30 matches on Saturday, QPR welcome Stoke in a fascinating clash in London. Rangers have started to turn their early season struggles around , and with back-to-back wins against Charlton and Wrexham respectively, they have begun to climb the Championship table. Still without a clean sheet in the league, manager Julien Stephen will know that their defensive efforts must also improve if they are going to continue their run of wins against the in-form Potters.

Sat second in the table, Stoke have perhaps been a surprise package with their earlry season form. It is fair to say that we are now seeing the impact of Mark Robins on his team after joining in January. After an incredibly impressive win over Birmingham last weekend, Stoke will be hoping to continue their perfect away record on Saturday. With optimism and excitement rising around The Potters, they are continuing to prove that they will have a lot to say in this year's Championship season.

Grit, togetherness, determination and digging in.

Potters' match winner has his say 👇 pic.twitter.com/zQUDgyxbBH

— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) September 13, 2025

Leicester vs Coventry

Marti Cifuentes' Leicester side has turned a corner in recent weeks. Seven points from their last three games has transformed an underwhelming start into a relatively decent one as they sit fourth in the table after five games. A red card to midfielder Aaron Ramsey in their trip to Oxford last Saturday meant that they could only manage a draw at the Kassam Stadium. The Foxes will know the visit of Coventry will require an improvement once more, if they are to pick up all three points.

Frank Lampard, like so many others, would have been in disbelief watching his Coventry side 1-0 down to Norwich last weekend. A 96th minute Haji Wright equaliser was enough to prevent a first league defeat on Saturday, but Lampard will be seeking a more ruthless tone from his team this weekend. There is an argument that the Sky Blues have been the superior side in all five of their games this campaign. But with three draws in this time, Lampard will be hoping his team's performances can begin to translate into wins more consistently going forward.

Haji Wright earns us a point at the death. ⏹️ pic.twitter.com/BX3h5XCLnc

— Coventry City (@Coventry_City) September 13, 2025

Birmingham vs Swansea

Newly-promoted Birmingham host Swansea in the third 12:30 kick off this Saturday. Things have taken a worrying turn for Birmingham in recent weeks as consecutive losses away from home have dampened an exciting start for the champions of League One. The visit of Swansea provides an ample opportunity to get back on track, and with an impressive home record so far this term, manager Chris Davies will be expecting a reaction from his team.

Preppin’ for the next test.

Can’t wait to be back home on Saturday. 🔵 pic.twitter.com/sg7WfKDYI5

— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) September 16, 2025

As for Swansea, their EFL Cup comeback over Ange Postecoglou's Nottingham Forest will provide a great platform to build on. A cup run in the midst of a decent start to their league campaign will have delighted fans of the Swans and they will be eager to improve upon their eleventh placed finish last time out under the guidance of gaffer Alan Sheehan.

Sheff Utd vs Charlton

Chris Wilder is back, and so you would think are Sheffield United. Their Ruben Selles experiment failed and they now turn to Wilder once more to guide them back to the top flight of English football. Sitting bottom of the table and yet to register a point this time out, The Blades will be hoping a change in management translates into a change in fortune. With a squad that should be challenging for promotion, fans will be hoping Wilder can instigate a rise up the division that starts with a first three points on the weekend.

Chris Wilder has returned to Bramall Lane. ⚔️

He has signed a contract until the summer of 2027 to kick-off a third spell as Sheffield United manager. 🤝

— Sheffield United (@SheffieldUnited) September 15, 2025

A 1-1 draw to Millwall last time out meant that Charlton continue to wait for a second league victory this season. After defeating Watford on the opening day, Nathan Jones' men have endured a tough time of things and sit 18th after five games. Jones will know they will most likely face a much-improved Sheffield United side as they search for a first away league win.

Portsmouth vs Sheff Wed

Portsmouth have made a solid start to their league season, and with a solid away performance to rivals Southampton last Sunday, will be very pleased with how they have negotiated the early stages of their Championship campaign. With just three goals conceded so far this time out, Mousinho has built a solid defensive unit to build on. They will be eager to continue their positive start as they welcome a struggling Sheffield Wednesday team to Fratton Park.

The Owls are a sorry sight. With off-field problems continuing to affect the club, Wednesday boss Henrik Pedersen has a wafer-thin squad to choose from which is ultimately lacking the experience and quality to compete in the Championship. Even the most optimistic of Wednesday fans would be realistic of their chances of staying in the league come what May. They travel to Portsmouth still winless in the league and having exited the EFL Cup to Grimsby on Wednesday. The Owls will be hoping of a shock result as they search for some sort of positivity in the midst if so much disappointment.

💬 “They all play with a big courage, big confidence and a discipline. I’m proud of what they have done..”

— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) September 17, 2025

Norwich vs Wrexham

Inconsistency has followed Liam Manning's arrival from Bristol City in the summer as The Canaries currently sit 10th in the table after games. Manning's side have shown signs of real promise in parts of their start to the season but will be keen to string together some results in the coming weeks. As mentioned earlier, they were slightly fortunate to come away with a point from Coventry last weekend and Manning will be demanding an improvement for the visit of Wrexham this Saturday.

This weekend 🆚🐉 pic.twitter.com/GDhn0w8h6W

— Norwich City FC (@NorwichCityFC) September 15, 2025

Pressure is already starting to rise on Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson after picking up just for points from their opening five fixtures. After heavy investment in the summer, Wrexham's American owners will be demanding an immediate upturn in results, as the North Wales side have failed to really get going this term. With a trip to Norwich coming after a disappointing 3-1 home loss to QPR, to heat has been turned up on Parkinson even after his successive promotions.

Hull vs Southampton

The Tigers have found their goal scoring touch in recent weeks but still continue to drop points in the early stages of their Championship season. With four goals scored in their last two games, fans will be hoping their defensive displays will be soon to follow after already shipped 11 goals in their opening fixtures.

Contrastingly, Saints fans will be hoping their team can find their goal scoring form after a 0-0 stalemate against Portsmouth at St Mary's last weekend. It is fair to say manager Will Still will be expecting a lot more from his Southampton side. Without a win since the opening day, Still will be hoping the likes of Armstrong, Archer and Azaz can help make this underperforming Southampton side more clinical in front of goal.

Will Still reflects on a St Mary's stalemate:

— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) September 14, 2025

Derby vs Preston

Derby fans will have been delighted with a 1-0 away win at The Hawthorns last Saturday. A late Andy Weimann winner secured all three points after soaking up pressure for large parts of the game. Manager John Eustance will be hoping to build on a first league win against visitors Preston. After a busy summer at Pride Park, The Rams will be looking to find some consistency as well as a first home win on Saturday.

"It feels brilliant." 🙌 @AndiWeimann

— Derby County (@dcfcofficial) September 14, 2025

Preston, on the other hand, succumbed to a late goal which robbed them of another home last time out. Their home performances are the reason why they sit just outside the top six, with their struggles away from home being the problem. They travel to Derby in search of a first victory on the road, hoping to break into the play-off places with a win.

Blackburn vs Ipswich

You get the sense that things are finally starting to click for Valerien Ismael and Blackburn Rovers. Consecutive away wins against Hull and Watford have been performances of real solidity and quality. They welcome the travelling Ipswich knowing that it is their home form which needs to follow suit to continue to head in the right direction. Losses against Birmingham and Norwich have meant that Rovers have failed to pick up a point at Ewood Park so far this season, something that must change if they are going to achieve anything.

Ipswich, who are fresh off a 5-0 dismantling of Sheffield United, will be looing to make their mark going forward. An underwhelming and disappointing start to their campaign has been largely due to the sheer amount of new signings through the door at Portman Road, and manager Kieran McKenna will be hoping his team can gel on the pitch sooner, rather than later. With an abundance of attacking talent at his disposal, the Ipswich manager will be hoping the three points on Friday will act as a springboard for aim to get back in the Premeir League.

Building up to Blackburn. 💪 pic.twitter.com/kDMSLA3dK3

— Ipswich Town (@IpswichTown) September 18, 2025

Bristol City vs Oxford

The Robins have enjoyed a fantastic start to life under Gerhard Struber. Undefeated in the league, they sit third in the table with only Coventry scoring more goals in the first five games. With notable performances coming away from home against both Sheffield Clubs, the challenge for the red side of Bristol will be to continue their exciting start to the season and maintain their high level of performances.

Building every week. 🧱

🤝 @GoSkippy pic.twitter.com/zw3jAFdfSR

— Bristol City FC (@BristolCity) September 14, 2025

Oxford however are still yet to taste victory this term and find themselves in the bottom three. Although there have been signs of life with back-to-back 2-2 draws against two good sides in Coventry and Leicester, manager Gary Rowett will be keen to ensure that their first league win does not continue to allude his side, as they aim to climb out of the relegation spots with a positive result.

Millwall vs Watford

A rare Monday night game in the Championship sees a fiery London derby between Milwall and Watford at The Den. The home side have enjoyed a steady start to the campaign but are still yet to win at home, a stat they will be eager to put right on Monday. A late equaliser against another London side Charlton last game will have pleased manager Alex Neil, however, Millwall fans will be expectant of a lot more when it comes to their home performances.

Away side Watford come into this one with just one league win to their name. Accumulating just five points, fans of The Hornets will also be expectant of a lot more from their side. With young talent Nestory Irankuda set to play again on Monday, much of this expectancy will be placed on the Australian's shoulders as they look to get their season going after a slow start.

Monday night lights in South East London ⏭️ pic.twitter.com/XyYAdlTofP

— Watford Football Club (@WatfordFC) September 18, 2025