Championship matchday report: Round of 23 October to 24 October 2026
Every result from the round, set against what we predicted before kick-off.
Of the 12 Championship matches in this round, our predicted result was right in 5 (42%). There were 6 home wins, 3 draws and 3 away wins, with 36 goals scored (3.0 a match). The highest-scoring match was Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough (6 goals). The biggest winning margin was 5: QPR 5–0 Swansea. Our three most confident selections: Wolves to win (Wolves 1–0 Watford, right); Sheffield United to win (Sheffield United 1–1 Derby, wrong); Burnley to win (Lincoln 4–1 Burnley, wrong). Season to date in the Championship, our predicted result has been right in 5 of 12 published matches (42%).
Results and our predictions
| Match | Score | Our prediction | Right? | Draw view | Draw? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolves v Watford | 1–0 | Wolves to win | Yes | Typical draw risk | No |
| Sheffield United v Derby | 1–1 | Sheffield United to win | No | Typical draw risk | Yes |
| Lincoln v Burnley | 4–1 | Burnley to win | No | Typical draw risk | No |
| West Ham v Southampton | 2–3 | West Ham to win | No | Typical draw risk | No |
| Stoke v Bristol City | 0–0 | Stoke to win | No | Typical draw risk | Yes |
| Bolton v Middlesbrough | 1–5 | Middlesbrough to win | Yes | Typical draw risk | No |
| Blackburn v Wrexham | 2–0 | Blackburn to win | Yes | Typical draw risk | No |
| Preston v West Brom | 1–1 | West Brom to win | No | Typical draw risk | Yes |
| Cardiff v Birmingham | 1–0 | Birmingham to win | No | Typical draw risk | No |
| Charlton v Norwich | 1–3 | Norwich to win | Yes | Typical draw risk | No |
| Portsmouth v Millwall | 2–1 | Millwall to win | No | Typical draw risk | No |
| QPR v Swansea | 5–0 | QPR to win | Yes | Typical draw risk | No |
Match by match
Wolves 1–0 Watford
We predicted Wolves to win (confidence rank 1 of 12 in the round). That was right. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Sheffield United 1–1 Derby
We predicted Sheffield United to win (confidence rank 2 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did end level.
Lincoln 4–1 Burnley
We predicted Burnley to win (confidence rank 3 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
West Ham 2–3 Southampton
We predicted West Ham to win (confidence rank 4 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Stoke 0–0 Bristol City
We predicted Stoke to win (confidence rank 5 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did end level.
Bolton 1–5 Middlesbrough
We predicted Middlesbrough to win (confidence rank 6 of 12 in the round). That was right. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Blackburn 2–0 Wrexham
We predicted Blackburn to win (confidence rank 7 of 12 in the round). That was right. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Preston 1–1 West Brom
We predicted West Brom to win (confidence rank 8 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did end level.
Cardiff 1–0 Birmingham
We predicted Birmingham to win (confidence rank 9 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Charlton 1–3 Norwich
We predicted Norwich to win (confidence rank 10 of 12 in the round). That was right. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Portsmouth 2–1 Millwall
We predicted Millwall to win (confidence rank 11 of 12 in the round). That was wrong. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
QPR 5–0 Swansea
We predicted QPR to win (confidence rank 12 of 12 in the round). That was right. Draw view beforehand: typical draw risk; the match did not end level.
Championship table after this round
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Move |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middlesbrough | 12 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 17 | +10 | 25 | +2 |
| 2 | Southampton | 12 | 7 | 3 | 2 | 24 | 12 | +12 | 24 | +2 |
| 3 | Swansea | 12 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 23 | −2 |
| 4 | West Ham | 12 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 32 | 15 | +17 | 22 | −2 |
| 5 | Wolves | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 20 | 16 | +4 | 21 | +3 |
| 6 | West Brom | 12 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 13 | +3 | 21 | – |
| 7 | Birmingham | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 20 | −2 |
| 8 | QPR | 12 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 20 | 12 | +8 | 20 | +1 |
| 9 | Stoke | 12 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 18 | 16 | +2 | 20 | −2 |
| 10 | Blackburn | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 16 | +3 | 18 | – |
| 11 | Portsmouth | 12 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 18 | +2 |
| 12 | Sheffield United | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 16 | 15 | +1 | 16 | −1 |
| 13 | Millwall | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 19 | 20 | -1 | 15 | −1 |
| 14 | Bristol City | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 15 | -3 | 15 | +2 |
| 15 | Lincoln | 12 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 13 | 20 | -7 | 15 | +3 |
| 16 | Cardiff | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 14 | +3 |
| 17 | Wrexham | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 15 | 18 | -3 | 14 | −3 |
| 18 | Bolton | 12 | 4 | 2 | 6 | 16 | 23 | -7 | 14 | −3 |
| 19 | Charlton | 12 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 11 | 18 | -7 | 14 | −2 |
| 20 | Norwich | 12 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 20 | 22 | -2 | 12 | +1 |
| 21 | Watford | 12 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 20 | -10 | 11 | −1 |
| 22 | Burnley | 12 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 17 | 25 | -8 | 8 | – |
| 23 | Derby | 12 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 10 | 21 | -11 | 7 | – |
| 24 | Preston | 12 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 10 | 25 | -15 | 5 | – |
Our predictions for this round · All Championship matchday reports · Full results ledger · Next Championship round: Friday 30 October