Championship Round Up - 04/01/2026 – 05/01/2026

Birmingham City 3-2 Coventry City

After picking up just three points from the last eighteen available, Birmingham found their fight again at St. Andrews. Their home form has been their saving grace this season, but recently that had also deserted them. Beating the league leaders at home, however, proves that Brum are still a force to be reckoned with on their own turf. With that said, they undoubtedly caught faltering Coventry at the best possible time. The Sky Blues’ blistering first-half of the season is yet to be replicated in the second-half, as they have not only dropped points but lost their goalscoring edge. This match was the first time in eight matches that they’ve managed to score more than one goal. Unfortunately for them, it coincided with their defence leaking more than one goal for the second time in two games. Before their 2-0 defeat against Ipswich in the game before this one, Coventry hadn’t conceded more than one goal in six games. Defeat here makes it just one win in five for Frank Lampard’s men.

The first goal came six minutes into the match. A swift Birmingham break from inside their own half caught the Sky Blues defence out, leaving German striker Marvin Ducksch unmarked near the penalty spot to carefully side-foot a volley past Coventry keeper Carl Rushworth. Coventry wasted no time responding, and within two minutes were level. Midfielder Josh Eccles received the ball around twenty-five yards out, and with no challenge coming from any Birmingham player, lined up a long-range shot and fired the ball into the far side of the net. A third goal of the season for him. The home side would go back in front in the 17th minute of this frantic opening period. A fantastic weighted through ball from winger Patrick Roberts slipped Liverpool loanee Lewis Koumas into the area. The wide man showed great composure to round the keeper and place the ball into an empty net for his first of the campaign. Fifteen minutes into the second half, Coventry made the game level for the second time. The Birmingham defence once again allowed a Coventry player – this time forward Ellis Simms – to line up a shot from just outside the area. Simms drilled it low into the near corner for his ninth of the season. The man who had opened the scoring in this game, Brum’s Marvin Ducksch, also provided the final goal. Just three minutes after Coventry had once again pegged their opponents back, they were undone by a smart pass into the area from out wide – again provided by Roberts – which was finished by Ducksch for his second goal of the season, taking his overall tally to five. Although he didn’t score in this one, Patrick Roberts certainly deserves plaudits for two outstanding through balls which unlocked a typically solid Coventry backline. There was one final kick in the teeth for the Sky Blues very late into the match. In the fifth minute of added time at the end of the game, a Coventry corner was cleared. Sky Blues defender Bobby Thomas got tangled with Brum right-back Phil Neumann, and kicked out at the German whilst on the floor. Neumann turned around to confront Thomas briefly, and Thomas would then lightly slap Neumann around the back of his noggin as the Brum player began to walk away. Neumann fell theatrically to the floor, and the ref produced a straight red card for Thomas. Just silliness all around, but Frank Lampard certainly won’t be amused.

Birmingham move up to 14th. Coventry remain in first place, but see their previously seemingly unassailable lead cut to six points.

QPR 3-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Having lost three of their last five games, it was important that QPR ensured they didn’t throw away points against the league’s bottom-placed club. Rangers’ boss Julien Stephane will know that the opportunity is there for his side to sneak into the playoffs this season, but in order to get there they cannot afford to stumble in matches like this. A comprehensive victory is exactly what they needed, and keeps them amongst the playoff hopefuls. This is the second game in a row where Wednesday have shipped three goals with none in response. It may be that the crushing hopelessness of a difficult season is beginning to drain the spirit from the Owls players. They still have just a single win this season.

After going on a goalscoring spree throughout November and early December, QPR’s Jamaican forward Rumarn Burrell has been going through a dry spell lately. His first goal in seven games arrived after fourteen minutes in this match, and got the home side going. A simple pass from midfield let Burrell in, with the Wednesday defence too slow to react before the forward pulled the trigger and put the ball past Pierce Charles at his near post. This put Burrell into double figures for the campaign. Unfortunately for him, he would injure his hamstring jumping for a ball in the 20th minute, ending his afternoon. Fortunately for QPR, however, his replacement would prove worthy of his place on the pitch. It would take until the 81st minute for the Hoops to get their second. Rangers would win possession on the flank, with the ball finding its way to the man who had replaced the injured Burrell - young Algerian forward Rayan Kolli - on the wide-edge of the area. The boy hit a low piledriver which once again beat Charles at the near post. Kolli wasn’t done yet, either. Seven minutes later he ran onto a ball that had been headed into the area, and proceeded to smash home a half-volley from close-range to secure all three points for the home side. Really bad defending from Wednesday on all three though, if we’re being honest. Rolli scores his first two of the season.

QPR are in 11th, three points from the playoff places. Wednesday remain bottom.

Sheffield United P-P Oxford United

Match postponed due to weather conditions.

Blackburn Rovers 2-2 Charlton Athletic

One win in ten games is horrendous form, and at most clubs would leave the manager and his staff under severe pressure. Not at Blackburn Rovers, though. There is not so much as a hint that Valerien Ismael is under any pressure at all, despite this awful run of form and the club’s season-long flirtation with the drop zone. Not that all of the club’s problems should be pinned on the manager, but still, it’s simply a fact that Rovers have been unable to beat any of the clubs they are scrapping it out with at the wrong end of the division. That pathetic streak continued here as they drew with a Charlton side who have recently been looking every bit like a League One club promoted via the playoffs. The Addicks will frankly come away from this match disappointed, having been two ahead against a side who hadn’t scored a goal in three games and rarely look like doing so. Nathan Jones’ side have managed just one win in their last eleven games, and this match was a good indicator as to why. One wonders if the two points dropped here may haunt Charlton at the end of the campaign.

The first goal in this one came after twenty-four minutes. A lofted ball into the Rovers box was headed against the bar by the Addicks’ Miles Leaburn, and the ball bounced out favourably to American forward Charlie Kelman. A simple opportunity to put the visitors ahead, and Kelman took it. Six minutes later things would go from bad to worse for Rovers. A long ball from Charlton’s keeper bounced into the Rovers box, and Charlton captain Lloyd Jones was alleged to have been brought down by Harry Pickering. It looked soft. Nonetheless, Kelman stepped up and sent Aynsley Pears the wrong way to double the visitors’ lead. It also doubled Kelman’s overall tally for the season, as he’d only scored two in the entire campaign before visiting Ewood Park. The comeback began for Rovers just three minutes later. French midfielder Moussa Baradji beat his man in the box to head home a pinpoint cross from attacking-midfielder Todd Cantwell. Rovers would have to wait until the 77th minute of the game to restore full parity. That man Baradji would step up again, this time connecting with a low cross into the area from Australian right-back Lewis Miller to slot the ball home from the middle of the box. A first two goals of the campaign for Baradji after eleven appearances – mostly cameos. Charlton were dealing with Miles Leaburn being off the pitch injured at the time of the equaliser, which will be a point of contention for them, but not something Rovers will have any sympathy over. Particularly as Charlton had been awarded a debateable penalty beforehand, and arguably got away with not conceding a spot-kick late on when a shot from young Rovers’ defender Tom Atcheson hit the hand of Charlton’s Macaulay Gillesphey inside the area. Appeals were waved away.  

Rovers remain in 20th, four points from the drop zone. Charlton are just about them in 19th, five points clear.

Bristol City 0-2 Preston

The usual one step forward and two back for Gerhard Struber’s Bristol City. A 5-0 demolition of Portsmouth could have been a catalyst for the Robins to really push on, but as has been standard for them (and in fairness, many other teams) this season, the result meant absolutely nothing beyond three points, as they immediately followed it up with a limp defeat. This makes it three wins and three losses in their last six games. North End are getting going again, with this being their third win in six – and of those games they’ve only lost once. It’s a second win on the spin for PNE and they’ve also managed three clean sheets in their last four matches.

Left winger Lewis Dobbin, on loan from Aston Villa, opened the scoring after just eight minutes for the away side. North End midfielder Jordan Thompson pounced on a poor kick out by City keeper Max O’Leary, feeding Dobbin who beat the keeper one-on-one to register his sixth of the campaign. Another Preston premier league loanee – Alfie Devine – would score his fifth of the campaign in the 70th minute to wrap up the points for the visitors. Receiving the ball in the area, an initial miskick from Devine fell back at his feet, and the second time around the attacking-midfielder steered the ball low into the far corner to finish off the home side and ensure all three points returned to Lancashire.

Bristol City drop to 10th, two points from the top six. Preston are in 4th place.

Derby County 1-2 Wrexham

After a solid victory against high-flying Middlesbrough, Derby’s inconsistent streak struck again as they were dispatched at home by in-form Wrexham. The Red Dragons have been on fire lately, soaring up the table as the wins have piled up. This is a fourth victory in as many matches, and Wrexham’s record of just six defeats all season puts them in the company of the division’s best teams. One has to concede that they seem to have a realistic shot at a playoff place. Amazing what buying experienced, proven-quality Championship players can do. Such aspirations appear beyond John Eustace’s current Derby team, who haven’t been able to get a consistent run of form going for some time now.

The Red Dragons took the lead after twenty-five minutes, as a chipped into the area from wide forward Nathan Broadhead found striker Sam Smith, who slid in to finish from just outside the six-yard box. A third goal of the season for Smith. The next goal came from Chilean-by-way-of-Stoke forward Ben Brereton Diaz. The former Rovers hitman is on loan at Derby from Southampton, and his stats read poorly thus far. This was just his second of the campaign, and his first since the end of September. This was a nicely taken goal though, it must be said. Wrexham had for some reason committed an absurd amount of men forward in the 33rd minute, and a simple ball through the midfield from Rams’ defender Matt Clarke found BBD in a lot of space just past the half-way line. Brereton ran into the opposition penalty area, tying another former Rover – Don Hyam – in knots before sliding the ball past Arthur Okonkwo. A rare glimpse of Diaz for the Derby fans. Wrexham would retake the lead in spectacular fashion three minutes after the restart. A poor clearance from the Derby defence came to Matty James around thirty-yards out, and the midfielder curled a worldie into the top corner. A goal worthy of winning any game, and it’s funny how often first goals of the season also happen to be stunners.   

Derby sit in 13th. Wrexham rise to 9th, just a point from the playoff positions.

Hull City P-P Watford

Match postponed due to weather conditions.

Middlesbrough 4-0 Southampton

Having watched his new side’s form spectacularly collapse over the past couple of weeks, Kim Hellberg will be relieved to see a wretched run of one point from twelve come to an end as Middlesbrough smashed out-of-form Southampton at the Riverside. The goalscoring on display here will have been gratefully received by the home side, considering they hadn’t scored a single goal in their last four matches. Southampton meanwhile are showing that their problems evidently run a lot deeper than the person in the managerial hotseat. Young German boss Tonda Eckert originally presided over a swift upturn in form for the Saints, with repeated victories making it seem like Will Still had been the main issue. As it turns out, no, it clearly isn’t that simple. Southampton are back to struggling, with this being their sixth game without a win – a run which has seen them pick up a measly three points from eighteen available. 

A goalless first half was not a sign of things to come as far as the second half was concerned. Nine minutes after the restart, Boro forward Morgan Whittaker would officially open the floodgates – after the best chances of the game had all fallen to the visitors. Receiving the ball just outside the box, left-back Matt Targett slid the ball through the Southampton defence – all of whom were somehow oblivious to Whittaker strolling in behind them. Under zero pressure just inside the six-yard box, the former Plymouth man made no mistake with a first-time effort. It was the first shot the home side had managed on target up until that point, and it seemed to galvanise them. In the 61st minute they would double their lead. The Southampton defence were yet again asleep, as a lofted ball over the top was latched onto by Australian left winger Sam Silvera. He charged into the box unchallenged and placed the ball into the far corner for his first of the campaign. Five minutes later, Boro had three, as the Saints continued to fall apart. The defence yet again appeared utterly confused as a mangled attempt at a clearance led to a ball being pulled across to Morgan Whittaker – once again running onto the ball inside the box totally unmarked by a static set of defenders. The forward slotted home his second of the game for his tenth of the campaign. After a streak of scoring six goals in six games, he’d then not scored in five games before this match. It should be noted, however, that no Boro player had scored in the last four matches. The game was well and truly put to bed in the 76th minute. Hayden Hackney danced into the area and hit a low shot which was saved by Gavin Bazunu – only for Irish midfielder Alan Browne to nip in to score his first for the club. Unsurprisingly, the Saints’ defence were found flat-footed one final time.    

With the Ipswich match being postponed, Boro temporarily move back into 2nd place – just six points off Coventry in top spot. Southampton slip back to 15th.

Millwall 2-1 Swansea City

The Lions have to win matches like this if they want to remain within the hunt for a playoff spot, and Alex Neil will no doubt be delighted that his side were able to come away from this one with all three points. It means they now have seven points from the last nine available, arresting what had been a sudden slide down the table. Under their new boss Vitor Manos, Swansea either win or they lose, and it was the latter this time around. It makes the last six games a mixture of three victories and three defeats – such form won’t get them into playoff contention, but would be enough to stave off a relegation battle.

After the Swansea defence failed to deal with a ball into the area in the 38th minute, Serbian striker Mihailo Ivanovic turned and fired in for his fifth of the season. Two minutes after the break, the visitors would level as Welsh centre-back Ben Cabango scored from close-range at the far post for his first of the season after twenty-five appearances. The game appeared destined to end with the points shared, but in the 92nd minute another centre-back would settle the contest. This time it was a defender from the home side, as Caleb Taylor beat his man in the air to head home a Marko Stamenic cross to give the Lions a late victory. A second goal of the season for Taylor.

Millwall claw themselves back up to 5th spot. Swansea are 17th, eight points from the drop zone.

Norwich City 0-2 Stoke City

A damaging defeat for a Norwich side who would have been buoyed by an away victory against QPR last time out. Philippe Clement has started collecting points for a Norwich side that had forgotten how to win before the Belgian arrived, but it’s clear that the path to safety is not going to be an easy one for Clement and his squad to traverse. Defeat here means they have seven points from the last fifteen available. With that said, if Clement’s Canaries continue accruing points at the rate they have done since his arrival, one would expect them to survive. Mark Robins’ Stoke side seem to have finally come out the other side of a dismal run of form, with this being their second win in a row. They still have some way to go to get back to where they were, but there ate tentative signs of a potential recovery gathering pace.

The deadlock was finally broken in this one with three-thirds of the game gone. A low cross into the area from pacy winger Sorba Thomas found Sam Gallagher in position to convert from extremely close-range in the 75th minute. It was actually quite surprising to see Gallagher showing some genuine striker’s instinct - in the right place at the right time and ahead of his man. It’s his first goal for Stoke this season, with appearances limited due to injuries. Thomas would transform from provider to scorer seven minutes later, connecting with another low cross – this time from Million Manhoef – to drill the ball into the bottom corner from the middle of the area to seal all three points for the Potters. A ninth of the season for Thomas.  

Norwich continue to peer from the edge of the relegation zone, in 22rd place and a point from safety. Stoke remain outside of the playoffs for now, in 8th, a point from re-entering the top six.

Portsmouth P-P Ipswich Town

Match postponed due to weather conditions.

Leicester City 2-1 West Brom

This match saw two sides whose managers are (or were) under increasing pressure. At clubs with ambition this is perfectly natural, although admittedly as a Rovers’ supporter it is sometimes easy to forget that very poor spells of form can actually result in a manager being sacked. Both Leicester and WBA are performing far below early season expectations, and although both started the season relatively well, results over the past few months have sunk them into mid-table obscurity. Whilst Marti Cifuentes will no doubt be relieved to get a victory, he’ll know this is a temporary reprieve and that his side will need to do much better than nine points from the last eighteen available if they are realistically going to gatecrash the tip six. This match saw a planned boycott visibly reduce the usual attendance at the King Power Stadium, a display of unhappiness from a fair portion of the Foxes’ fanbase surrounding the last few years of decisions from their ownership. For Baggies’ boss Ryan Mason, defeat here was the end of the line. The sands of time finally ran out for the rookie boss, whose first proper stint in management ended with a sacking after twenty-six league games. He leaves with WBA much closer to the bottom three than the top six. A loss in this match was a fourth in five games, and a tenth away defeat in a row. The Baggies’ board decided enough was enough, removing Mason from his position the next day.

Despite having the better of the opening stages, Albion fell behind after eighteen minutes. Experienced striker Jordan Ayew linked up with Welsh midfielder Jordan James in the area, leading to Ayew firing in from eight-yards out. A fifth of the campaign for the experienced Ghanaian. Baggies’ forward Karlan Grant would level the playing field in the 34th minute, finishing a precise WBA counter with an arrowed shot into the bottom corner after racing into the box unmarked. His third of the season, all of which have come in the last month. WBA would have a number of chances to go ahead in the second half, and if they’d taken any of them perhaps Ryan Mason would still be in situ – but they didn’t, and they were made to pay for their inability to take advantage of their dominance late on. A dinked cross from out wide into the penalty area from Foxes’ forward Stephy Mavididi was met first time by right winger Abdul Fatawu. A perfect volley soared into the roof of the net, with Fatawu’s fifth goal of the season condemning West Brom to yet another defeat. As it turned out, this strike would also be the one that sealed Ryan Mason’s fate.  

Leicester move up to 12th, four points from the playoff places. West Brom are 18th, seven points from the drop zone and now on the hunt for a new manager/head coach.

 League Table - c/o BBC Sport