Championship Roundup - 09/12/2025 – 10/12/2025

Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Oxford United

Coming off the back of a second abandoned match of the season, once again due to rain, Rovers welcomed Oxford United to Ewood Park. The pre-match forecast of further rain was concerning, but this time around the home side were able to complete a full match. A sparse crowd at Ewood were treated to a largely poor offering from both sides, with Rovers having now won just one home match in ten games. Worse still, Valerien Ismael’s men have now only picked up one win in their last six games overall. Gary Rowett’s Oxford side didn’t come into the match in much better form themselves, with their form even worse than Rovers – one win from seven.

It was the U’s who opened the scoring at Ewood Park. I would say it silenced the home crowd, but it’s not like there was much noise to begin with. The goal came in added time at the end of the first half. A free kick from just beyond the halfway line was launched into the area, and in the scramble that followed Oxford’s Northern Irish centre-back Ciaron Brown slammed the ball into the net from close-range. First of the season. In the second half Yuki Ohashi would miss a bafflingly easy chance to equalise – Ryan Alebiosu curled a perfect inswinging ball into the area and Ohashi met it with his head, unmarked, from six yards out. He inexplicably appeared to be aiming for the keeper rather than the net, though, and it ended up being an easy save. Fortunately in the 78th minute a handball from Oxford gave Rovers a penalty kick. Thank god Todd Cantwell was on the pitch – he never misses, and he scored once again here, sending the keeper the wrong way. A fourth of the season for Cantwell, and his first since the end of September – although he has been injured for pretty much the entire time since his last goal. We never go on to win in these kinds of situations, so this was as good as it was going to get, but a draw is better than nothing.

Rovers are 20th, five points from the relegation zone. Oxford are one place below in 21st, just two points from the bottom three.

Charlton Athletic 1-2 Middlesbrough

Nathan Jones’ Charlton team are in all sorts of trouble, with their solid start to life in the Championship rapidly unravelling in recent weeks. Defeat here made it five losses in a row for the Addicks, as they continue to tumble down the table. Kim Hellberg’s perfect start as Middlesbrough boss continues, with this now making it three wins out of three. Rob who?

Boro took the lead in the 33rd minute. Midfielder Riley McGree scored his second of the season in as many games, slotting home from the middle of the penalty area. A deserved goal for Boro, who had dominated up until this point. They raced further ahead in first half stoppage time, with forward Morgan Whittaker firing home at the near post as McGree turned provider. A fifth goal in five games for in-form Whittaker, taking his overall tally to seven for the campaign. Boro defender George Edmundson steered a cross past his own keeper in the 81st minute to give the hosts some brief hope, but the game ended with the visitors rightfully taking all three points.  

Charlton tumble to 19th, now just six points from the relegation zone. Middlesbrough remain in 2nd, opening up a four point gap between themselves and Millwall.

Preston 1-1 Coventry

Does this count as a crisis for Coventry? A whole two games without a win, and only one goal scored in those two games. I think we’ll go with a blip for now, but it’s one to keep an eye on – especially as Middlesbrough with their new manager are hot on the Sky Blues’ heels. It’s a fourth draw for Preston in six matches, meaning they now have the second-highest number of draws in the division behind Wrexham. Despite just one win in their last six games, one imagines North End will still be satisfied with this point against the division’s dominant side. 

A goalless first half saw one incident of note – Preston defender Liam Lindsey earned himself a red card after shoving down Coventry’s Haji Wright to stop him from getting through on goal. Only thirty-nine minutes had been played, meaning Preston had a long second-half ahead of them. Luck truly seemed to have deserted them as a harmless shot from Sky Blues’ midfielder Jack Rudoni hit North End defender Andrew Hughes and wrong-footed the keeper to give Coventry the lead in the 70th minute. One would assume that would be that... but not quite. Just six minutes later North End right-back Pol Valentin raced down the right and set up forward Daniel Jebbison to poke in his fourth of the season to bring Preston level. Unable to come back from this, Frank Lampard’s men had to settle for a draw despite their numerical advantage for well over half the match. One must credit Preston keeper Daniel Iversen though, who gave an outstanding performance to keep his side in the match.

Preston are 5th, whilst Coventry are still top – although their lead is now reduced to five points.

Sheffield United 1-1 Norwich City

The Blades’ resurgence slowed here as they were held to a draw by Philippe Clement’s Norwich City side. United had been on a run of four straight wins, and despite this draw being a bit of a disappointment, they are now unbeaten in six matches and have given themselves a comfortable buffer from the relegation zone. Having only won three matches in twenty games, Norwich can ill-afford to drop points, but considering Sheffield United’s form this isn’t a bad point for them in isolation.

The Blades opened the scoring in this one five minutes into the second half. Experienced striker Danny Ings, who had denied Norwich striker Josh Sargent with a goal-line clearance at the other end in the first half, tapped in a low cross from Caracao midfielder Tahith Chong for his first goal after twelve league appearances. It would only take Norwich fifteen minutes to respond, as a low ball into the area from Canaries’ forward Jovon Makama was bundled into the net by the Blades’ Senegalese midfielder Djibril Soumare – an own goal to bring the scores level.  

Sheffield United sit in 17th. Norwich remain in 23rd, five points from safety.

Southampton 3-2 West Brom

Tonda Eckert’s magic shows no signs of dissipating, with the Saints picking up yet another victory under his impressive stewardship. Will Still’s departure has sparked a ridiculous run of form for Southampton, catapulting them to within a point of the top six. Madness. Ryan Mason sees his side lost their ninth match in twenty games, and Baggies fans will be wondering if their young, rookie boss has it in him to turn the ship around.

It was a brutal first half for the away side. They went behind after just twelve minutes when Saints’ Brazilian attacking midfielder Leo Scienza buried the ball into the corner of the net from inside the area after being put through by midfielder Tom Fellows for his third goal of the season. Fellows, a £10m signing from West Brom, had run half the length of the pitch for the assist. It must have stung for WBA fans to see an academy graduate of theirs play such a crucial part in the opening goal. The Baggies were the architects of their downfall for goal number two, only five minutes later. Callum Styles laid the ball back for Nat Phillips inside their own half – but the centre-back stumbled on the ball under pressure from Adam Armstrong, and the former Rover punished this mistake by stealing possession and firing the ball into the net. Armstrong would score again in the 35th minute, slid into the box by attacking midfielder Finn Azaz and putting the ball past WBA keeper Joe Wildsmith. A second brace in two matches for Armstrong, who now has eleven league goals.  Seven of those have come in his last six games. West Brom, to their credit, did come out fighting in the second half. Centre-forward Karlan Grant bagged his first of the season in the 62nd minute, picking up a corner clearance at the edge of the box, surging forward and firing the ball into the far corner with an excellent finish. It would take West Brom until the 86th minute to get another one, with Nat Phillips partially atoning for his earlier error with a close-range header. His second of the season ultimately only proved to be a consolation, however, as Southampton held on to take all three points.

Southampton are now in 9th and within a point of the top six. West Brom remain in 16th position.

Swansea City 1-0 Portsmouth

Vitor Manos picked up his second win in four matches, and this makes it two in a row for Swansea. These home matches against fellow strugglers are the ones you need to win, by hook or by crook, and the Swans got the job done here. It’s a fourth defeat in five games for John Mousinho’s Portsmouth side, who are really struggling in their second Championship season since being promoted from League One.

The only goal in this game came late, in the 78th minute. Vitor Manos’ substitutions in this one worked a treat, as all three of the players involved in the winning goal had come off the bench. Swedish winger Zeidane Inoussa drifted in from the flank and passed to Malick Yalcouye just outside the box. The Senegalese midfielder miscontrolled the ball, but fortunately for him it fell to forward Liam Cullen who lashed the ball high into the net from the edge of the area. A second goal in seventeen games for the Welsh international. Portsmouth put up a good fight in this one, but left Wales with no points to show for it.

Swansea move up to 18th, putting some daylight between themselves and the bottom three. Portsmouth remain stuck in the relegation zone, 22nd and two points from safety.

Watford 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday

This match had the potential to be a massive embarrassment for Watford, as they trailed for much of it before saving their skins in the dying seconds. Not that a draw against the division’s basement club, decimated by their owner pre-season, is anything to be proud of. It wasn’t a match Watford would have expected to struggle in, having only lost once at home all season. They are only behind Coventry in terms of points accrued on their own turf. Heartbreak for Owls’ fans in a season that must feel like a dark curse, but perhaps that pain is dulled somewhat by the knowledge that any struggle is realistically futile. Still nice to get a win every so often, mind, and they came so close here to adding to their solitary single victory so far this season.

The Owls took the lead in the 17th minute of the first half, stunning Vicarage Road. Wednesday right-back Yan Valery’s cross was only half cleared, and striker Charlie McNeill was on hand to drill the ball into the net for his third of the season. Watford dominated the match with 23 shots to the visitors 4, but it looked like they were going to leave this one empty handed – especially when normally reliable midfielder Imran Louza hit the post from the penalty spot. The home side’s blushes were spared with the last kick of the game, though, as young Portuguese forward Vivaldo Semedo pounced from twelve yards to hammer the ball home and rescue a point. A second of the season for him. A huge sigh of relief for the home fans, and bitter devastation for the long-suffering Wednesday faithful.

Watford are 12th – not much movement in the middle of the division, with only two sides from 8th all the way down to 24th winning a match during this round of games. Wednesday, of course, are bottom.

QPR 2-1 Birmingham City

QPR’s rough patch appears to be over, with this win meaning that Julien Stephan’s side have now won four of their last five matches, and only lost once in their last six. Some job the Frenchman is doing there so far. A frustrating result for Big Club, with this being their second defeat in a row and their third in six games. Whilst Brum have excellent home form, they are struggling on their travels. They’ve won just two of their eleven away games, losing seven times and only scoring eight goals. In contrast, they’ve only been beaten at home once.

The hosts took the lead in this one in the 40th minute. Hoops’ Irish right-back Jimmy Dunne beat his marker to leap high and head the ball home for his second goal of the season. Despite being in total control of this one, QPR weren’t able to find another goal for much of the second half, and it looked like their inability to extend their lead would cost them. In the 93rd minute Birmingham left-winger Demarai Gray flicked the ball across the box, and right-winger Patrick Roberts was on hand to fire the ball into the net, scoring what was Birmingham’s only shot on target in the entire game – with the away side only recording three shots overall. Roberts now has two goals in fifteen matches. Rangers, however, were not ready to accept giving an undeserved point to their opponents. In the 96th minute of the match, teenage substitute Kieran Morgan received the ball on the right-hand side of the edge of the area. The midfielder reared back and drilled a low, sizzling shot into the far bottom corner, sparking delirium at Loftus Road. Birmingham keeper James Beadle could have done better, as the ball slipped underneath him as it went in, but nobody could deny that QPR thoroughly deserved to take all three points home from this one. A memorable goal for young Morgan – his second of the campaign.

QPR are on the fringes of the playoffs in 7th position. Birmingham drop to 11th.

Bristol City 2-2 Leicester City

Two defeats in their last three games had seen the Robins begin to slip away from the top six, and a draw here means that just one win from four keeps them outside of the playoff places – albeit not by much. Leicester have also been struggling for form, with two losses from their last three games keeping them stuck in mid-table, and a single point here doesn’t do much to change that.

Experienced striker Jordan Ayew converted a penalty in the 17th minute to put the Foxes into the lead, after winger Stephy Mavididi was brought down in the area by Bristol City’s Scott Twine. It is Ayew’s third goal in eighteen appearances. Former Robin Bobby De Cordova-Reid would double the away side’s lead just before half time. The winger slotted home from inside the area after Leciester’s Ghanian forward Abdul Fatawu beat two men on the flank and cut the ball back for the Jamaican to strike. His second goal in as many games, giving him an overall tally of three for the season. City came out in the second half and immediately gave themselves a lifeline through right-midfielder Mark Sykes in the 46th minute, as he pounced inside the area to slot the ball home at the near post. The Robins would have to wait until the 83rd minute to draw level, courtesy of Emil Riis. The Danish forward powered a pinpoint header into the net to even the scores, just his second goal in ten games, and his sixth goal of the campaign.

Bristol City are 8th. Leicester are 13th.

Derby County 1-1 Millwall

Derby have started to fall down the table again after a solid run of victories had elevated them to within touching distance of the playoffs. Three defeats in their last four games had seen them lose sight of the top six, and a draw here means they have only won one of their last five games. Millwall had won three on the bounce going into this one, putting them in a fantastic position, but dropped points at Pride Parks means that the automatic places stretch further from their reach.

It took until late in the game for either side to find an opening. In the 81st minute Derby defender Matt Clarke turned Millwall winger Thierno Ballo’s cross into his own net, but he would somewhat make amends up the other end of the pitch seven minutes later. His pressure on Millwall captain Jake Cooper caused the Lions centre-back to also steer the ball past his own keeper from a corner. Two own goals, and the points ultimately shared.

Derby sit in 15th place. Millwall are 3rd, now four points behind Middlesbrough.

Ipswich Town 1-0 Stoke City

These teams came into this match in very different places. Ipswich put aside a poor performance at Ewood Park three games ago to record a resounding win against league leaders Coventry, and another victory here means they have now won their last two games and are catching up with third placed Millwall. Defeat at Portman Road means that Mark Robins’ men have now lost five of their last six matches, a dismal run of form which has seen them crash out of the top six entirely, having been competing for the top two places in the division only a short while ago.

This game’s only goal came very early on, just two minutes into the first half. Twenty-three-year-old winger Jaden Philogene exchanged a one-two with Chilean midfielder Marcelino Nunez before curling an exquisite shot past the despairing dive of Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. Scoring stunners is a trademark of Philogene, and all seven of his goals this season have come at Portman Road. Despite dominating possession for large parts of the game, Stoke created few actual chances, meaning the home side walked away with a clean sheet and three points.

Ipswich are now 4th. Stoke fall down to 8th.

Hull City 2-0 Wrexham

Hull’s recent form has been a mixed bag, with this result meaning they’ve won three and lost three of their last six games. This was an impressive victory, though, as before this match Wrexham had not lost in nine games. The Red Dragons have been proving themselves as a Championship calibre side, but a multitude of draws has meant they have not been threatening the top six despite a long undefeated streak.

It took just ten minutes for the Tigers to break the deadlock at the MKM Stadium. Matt Crooks’ saved effort fell kindly to Kyle Joseph, who took his chance to put the home side ahead. The Scottish forward now has four goals from nineteen appearances. Another Scottish forward, Oli McBurnie, would score the final goal of this one. Before that, however, Wrexham had a golden opportunity to equalise after being awarded a penalty ten minutes after the restart. The usually reliable Welsh striker Kieffer Moore saw his spot-kick saved, however, letting Hull off the hook. McBurnie would then make the Red Dragons pay for that miss, netting from a Ryan Giles cross just four minutes after coming off the bench. An impressive eight goals in twelve appearances for McBurnie.

Hull move into 6th place. Wrexham drop slightly to 14th.