Championship Round Up – 16/01/2026 -17/01/2026

West Brom 2-3 Middlesbrough

New West Brom head coach Eric Ramsay made his debut in the dugout, and it was a baptism of fire against the second-placed team in the league. Ryan Mason was given his marching orders by the WBA hierarchy on January 6th, after a forth defeat in five games – and ten straight away losses. 34-year-old Welshman Ramsay was hired just five days later – a relative unknown with limited first team management experience. Working as a player development coach at Manchester United from 2021, he became an assistant coach for the Welsh national team in 2023 – although he departed the national team setup after six months. He took his first managerial role in the United States, hired by Minnesota United in February 2024. The young head coach broke numerous records during his spell in America, making his side a competitive force. This clearly caught the attention of the West Brom decision makers, leading to his appointment at the Baggies. Kim Hellberg began his reign at Boro with multiple victories, but a downturn in form threatened to drop Boro out of the automatic positions. This result makes it two wins out of two, however, suggesting the Teesiders are back on a more stable path.  

The first goal in this one arrived just before half-time. In the 42nd minute, Boro’s Irish midfielder Alex Gilbert struck a low shot from just inside the area which cannoned off the post. Unfortunately for Albion defender Charlie Taylor it bounced directly into his path before he could sort his feet out, and he ended up putting the ball into his own net. Boro would double their lead in the 58th minute. Left-winger Sam Silvera picked up the ball just outside the area and, with two WBA defenders backing off, was given time to line up a low strike which found its way into the far bottom corner of the net. A second goal of the season for the Australian. There was some controversy in the 75th minute as a foul was given as a free kick on the edge of the Boro area, despite the offence appearing to have occurred inside the box. Nonetheless, from the resulting free kick midfielder Isaac Price was teed up to hammer the ball through a crowd of players and past Boro keeper Sol Brynn. A sixth of the campaign for him. Five minutes later, the home side were level. A ball into the area somewhat fortuitously found its way to an onrunning Jed Wallace, who slotted the ball home. The experienced right-winger scores his second goal in ten appearances. The game seemed set for the home side to complete a thrilling comeback, but there ended up being a sting in the tail for Eric Ramsay and his men. In the 90th minute some intricate passing around the WBA box led to Dutch wideman Delano Burgzorg being slipped into the area, and he made no mistake to wrap up all three points for the visitors. A second goal for him in twenty-three appearances.

West Brom fall to 19th, now just four points from the drop zone. Middlesbrough remain in 2nd, six points off top spot and two points from 3rd place.

Coventry City 2-1 Leicester City

League leaders Coventry returned to winning ways after a run which had seen them win only once in their last five matches. With the teams below them beginning to catch up, it was imperative that the Sky Blues got something out of this match, and all three points will be a welcome relief for Frank Lampard and his men. No such relief for Marti Cifuentes and Leicester, who have now lost four of their last six matches and are still struggling to break out of mid-table. Leicester have not kept a clean sheet in their last twenty league games – only Sheffield Wednesday have a worse record in this regard.

The visitors took the lead in this one with ten minutes played. A clever pass inside the box from attacking midfielder Bobby De Cordova-Reid gave Welshman Jordan James a clear sight at goal, and he finished at the near post from close range. A ninth of the season for the on-loan Rennes midfielder, and his fourth in five games. The hosts levelled two minutes after the second half got underway. A low shot from the edge of the area from midfielder Jack Rudoni flicked off the calf of forward Ellis Simms, who had his back to goal inside the area, and the scores were once again even. Simms now has ten for the season, and has scored in each of his last three games. Substitute Haji Wright would score the winner in the 85th minute, having barely been on the pitch for five minutes. A deflected cross found its way to Sky Blues right-winger Tatsuhiro Sakamoto, who superbly turned his man and drove the ball across goal. American striker Wright slid in to convert, and that was enough to give the league leaders victory. It’s a ninth goal of the campaign for Wright, but it’s the first goal he’s scored in his last twelve appearances, with his last goal coming way back at the beginning of October.   

Coventry remain top with a six point gap from 2nd, and an eight point gap from 3rd. Leicester are 13th, six points from the playoff positions.

Ipswich Town 3-0 Blackburn Rovers

The Tractor Boys ran out as comfortable winners over a lacklustre Rovers side at Portman Road. It was technically the third league meeting between these two this season, with the first being abandoned after eighty-minutes at Ewood Park. In both fixtures at Ewood, Rovers were more than a match for Ipswich, but not in this fixture. It’s a fourth win in a five game unbeaten streak for Ipswich, keeping them within touching distance of the automatic places. Rovers, on the other hand, are on a miserable run which has seen them win just once in twelve league matches. Valerien Ismael can cite a large injury list, but the fact remains that as it stands Rovers are looking increasingly likely to drop unless there is a major upturn in form between now and the end of the season.

There were signs it was going to be a long afternoon for Rovers when Ipswich went ahead after just three minutes. A low cross into the box from Chilean midfielder Marcelino Nunez looked to be harmless, as there were no Town players in proximity to make use of it. Step up Rovers centre-back Eiran Cashin, making his league debut after cutting short a failed loan spell at Birmingham City. Under no pressure, the Irishman slid in and turned the ball into his own net. Not exactly the best way to introduce yourself. A second goal for the home side arrived after twelve minutes, when an Ipswich corner was headed back across goal and then prodded in by Jack Taylor in a goalmouth scramble. It’s the first goal of the campaign for the Irish midfielder. Rovers never really looked like getting back into the game after this, and indeed failed to have a single shot on target the entire match. The game was put to bed in the 88th minute, and of course it had to be former Rover Sammie Szmodics twisting the knife. With Rovers’ defence dozing, midfielder Wes Burns was slipped in, entering the Rovers penalty area and then squaring for Irish forward Szmodics to score a simple tap in. It’s a first goal of the campaign for Szmodics, in what has been an injury-hit season thus far. Szmodics, respectfully, had a muted celebration. Thankfully that was all she wrote in this one. Rovers were under-strength, as they have been for much of the last couple of months, and Valerien Ismael said he’s never seen a season like it in terms of injuries. One wonders if the club is looking into the potential reasons behind this, or whether they’re assuming it’s just bad luck.  

Ipswich are still 3rd, but continue to be hot on the heels of Boro in 2nd, just two points behind the Teesiders with a game in hand. Rovers toil in 20th, now just one point from the relegation zone.

Watford 0-2 Millwall

Watford’s run of four straight wins, part of a sequence which had seen them unbeaten in seven league games, came to a halt as Alex Neil’s Millwall took all three points from Vicarage Road. It’s the first time Watford have failed to find the net in fifteen league games. After a recent wobble, the Lions are now within sight of the automatic places, with this being their third win in a five game unbeaten sequence which has only seen them concede two goals. Since Neil took charge at Millwall, only Coventry have picked up more points than the Lions in the Championship, with the former collecting 96 and the latter gaining 83. Watford have now lost six of their last eight league games against Millwall.

It took until the 69th minute for the deadlock to be broken in this one. An outswinging cross from the visitors was headed into the middle of the box – at which point Millwall’s Femi Azeez showed why he is their top scorer by reacting first and firing the ball under Watford’s Norwegian keeper Egil Selvik. A seventh of the season for the right-sided midfielder. The points were wrapped up for the Lions in the 81st minute. A precise through ball from Algerian right-winger Camiel Neghli sliced open the Hornets’ defence, allowing substitute Josh Coburn to race onto the ball and finish confidently past Selvik. A second goal in nine appearances for the young forward.

Watford are in 8th, two points from the top six. Millwall remain in 4th, three points from the automatics.

Charlton Athletic 1-0 Sheffield United

After gaining just two points from the last twelve available, and more broadly enduring a run which saw the Addicks collect only six points from the last thirty-three available, a narrow victory here adds a crucial three points to Charlton’s league tally. Sheffield United have won three and lost three of their last six games, leaving them some way from the relegation zone, but far from where they were expected to be at the start of the season. It’s fair to say that in this game they shot themselves in the foot – twice – making Charlton’s victory a lot likelier than it otherwise would have been.

Let’s cover those bullets to the foot – two Sheffield United red cards - as both incidents came before Charlton’s winner, and before the home side had managed a single shot on goal. In the first instance, thirty-five minutes into the match, United defensive midfielder Djibril Soumare lost control of the ball and in an attempt to win it back he went in late on Charlton attacking midfielder Harvey Knibbs, with his foot coming down hard on Knibbs’ ankle. The Addicks player had to be taken off on a stretcher, and post-match Nathan Jones said the injury didn’t look good, suggesting Knibbs will be missing significant time. The referee deemed the challenge dangerous and sent off Soumare – his first red of the campaign. The second red card came in added time at the end of the first half. Blades’ captain Japhet Tanganga threw himself into an aerial challenge in the middle of the pitch somewhat recklessly, with the centre-back’s elbow catching Addicks’ forward Sonny Carey’s head. Another straight red given, which Chris Wilder disputed, saying it should have been a yellow. As with Soumare, this was Tanganga’s first red of the season. Things got even more difficult for Sheffield United when Carey put the hosts ahead a minute after the restart. A long ball from the half-way line was headed into the middle of the Sheffield United box by new signing Lyndon Dykes – on as a half time substitute - and then struck first time by Carey to rifle the ball home. Carey now has six goals for the season, with this being his first since early November. Charlton still didn’t look comfortable, even against nine men, but they held on to secure a precious three points. 

Charlton move up to 18th, five points clear of the drop. Sheffield United sit in 17th, also five points from the relegation spots.

Oxford United 0-0 Bristol City

The Oxford vacancy has been filled by Matt Bloomfield, who had been out of work since being sacked by Luton Town in early October. Bloomfield had been unable to save Luton from relegation the previous season, having been appointed in January 2025, and left the club in 11th place in League One. Time will tell whether Bloomfield suffers a second firefighting failure in a row, or whether he emulates Gary Rowett’s success last season and keeps the U’s in the Championship. Starting off with a draw against Bristol City is reasonable enough, and Bloomfield will likely be happy with a clean sheet. Oxford really will need to pick up some wins quickly, however, if they are to avoid dropping at the end of the season. This draw makes it four points picked up from the last eighteen available. After picking up some steam in recent weeks, this result is a setback for Gerhard Struber’s men, who have now only won once in their last four games, as their bid to re-enter the playoff places takes a hit.

No goals to talk about, but here’s some random notes. It’s a first clean sheet in seventeen games for Oxford, which has to be seen as a positive. U’s forward Stanley Mills had a golden chance in added time to win the match for the home side, but couldn’t beat Robins’ Czech keeper Radek Vitek. This wasn’t a match of attacking inspiration, to say the least, with the away side only managing a single shot on target. Oxford had three, but Mills’ late effort was by far the best of the lot. Overall, not a game that will be remembered.

Oxford remain in 23rd, with a five point gap from safety. Bristol City are 9th, three points from the top six.

Preston 0-1 Derby County

A loss here marks just a sixth defeat in twenty-seven league games for Preston, but ten draws – a record amount for the division alongside Wrexham – means that North End remain in a vulnerable position insofar as the top six is concerned. Derby have two wins and two defeats in their last four games, and whilst mid-table looks most likely for them this season, victory here does keep them within reasonable distance of the playoff places.

The only goal in this match came late, in the 82nd minute. The scorer, American striker Patrick Agyemang, atoned for an earlier open goal miss from seven yards. It was a deserved victory for the Rams, who outplayed the hosts over the course of the game. The goal was a result of a cross from former Rovers forward Ben Brereton Diaz, met by the unmarked figure of Agyemang to head home and seal the points for Derby. A seventh goal of the season for the £7m man.

Preston drop to 6th, still in the playoff spots by virtue of two points. Derby move up to 12th, five points from the top six.

Sheffield Wednesday 0-1 Portsmouth

Wednesday had been unbeaten in their last eight league games against Portsmouth, going back to 2002, but if any season was going to bring an end to that record, it would be this one. Portsmouth are in fact the only side this season that the Owls have recorded victory against, a 2-0 win at Fratton Park all the way back in September. Since the establishment of the Championship, only one team have gone twenty games without a win – Rotherham in the 2004/05 season. Wednesday now equal that record, and may well break in on Tuesday when they play Birmingham at Hillsborough. This was a vital win for Pompey, a third in six games – during which they’ve only lost once. John Mousinho’s men are certainly fighting hard for Championship survival, but the narrow scoreline in this game probably shouldn’t be a surprise. Other than Wednesday themselves, Portsmouth are the lowest scorers in the division with twenty-two goals in twenty-seven games. Wednesday have eighteen. This is Portsmouth’s second away win of the campaign, with their only other victory on the road coming against fellow strugglers Oxford on the opening day of the season.

Just the one goal in this game, too – only two matches across this group of fixtures had a team score more than two goals. Anyhow, a wide cross into the area in the 65th minute found Australian winger Adrian Segecic, who side-footed the ball first time into the near corner of the net. A first goal for Segecic since October 1st. It’s not a result that necessarily avenges the earlier season defeat to the Owls, but three points are three points for Pompey. They’re one of the in-form sides in the division at the moment, so as long as the momentum keeps going they’ll take a win any way they can get it.

Wednesday are bottom. Portsmouth are 21st, a point from the drop zone.

Southampton 1-2 Hull City

It’s now seven league games without a win for the Saints, with the side having reverted back to the poor form that saw former manager Will Still given the boot at the beginning of November. Things immediately picked up under caretaker boss Tonda Eckert, who was then given the job full-time on the back of an impressive run of victories. Since then, normal service has resumed. Hull are fourth in the division for points accrued away from home, so it perhaps shouldn’t be a surprise that they came out on top in this one. The Tigers record a fourth win in six games, firmly placing them within the top six and still within sight of the automatic places. It’s been a fantastic first season thus far for Bosnian manager Sergej Jakirovic.

The first goal in this one came after twenty minutes, and was a prime example of a team being gifted a goal. A suicidal, unnecessary backpass from Saints left-back Ryan Manning caught his own defence completely off-guard. The ball ended up at Hull striker Oli McBurnie’s feet inside the area, and he then set up fellow forward Kyle Joseph to lash the ball into an empty net. A seventh goal in twenty-five appearances for Joseph. Hull would get a second in the 34th minute, as centre-back Charlie Hughes headed in his first of the season direct from a corner. Boos rang out from the home supporters at St. Mary’s, as their team appeared to be on the way to yet another defeat. The home side did give their fans some hope in the 71st minute, as a dangerous ball was whipped into the area by Brazilian attacking midfielder Leo Scienza and tapped in by Scottish striker Ross Stewart. Due to a hamstring injury, this was only Stewart’s second appearance since early October, coming off the bench. It did ultimately end up being just a consolation, however, as the Tigers took all three points home with them. 

Southampton remain in 15th, six points from the relegation zone. Hull sit in 5th, three points clear of 7th.

Stoke City 0-0 QPR

It’s been a positive start to 2026 for Mark Robins’ Stoke side, with two wins on the bounce reigniting their faltering promotion charge. The automatics are unlikely at this point, but a top six spot is still very much up for grabs. A draw here isn’t ideal, but keeps them in the hunt regardless. A point doesn’t do a great deal for QPR either, as a run of eight points from the last eighteen available has seen them fall back into mid-table after spending some time threatening to break into the top six. The playoffs are still within their grasp, however, and a point away at Stoke certainly isn’t a bad result for Julien Stephane’s team.

Unfortunate scenes in this one for Stoke, as striker Divin Mubama – on loan from Manchester City – was stretchered off with a suspected broken leg after a challenge from QPR defender Jimmy Dunne. Just a yellow for an apologetic Dunne, and Stoke boss Mark Robins was none too pleased about this in the post-match interview. He called it a ‘terrible, terrible tackle’ and remarked on the poor quality of the officiating. It’s a running theme this season – well, in reality most seasons, but it does feel more concentrated at the moment. With three shots on target for Stoke and two for QPR, it wasn’t a match with a great deal of chances to score. Stoke put some pressure on their opponents in the first half, but the second was cagey and contained little in the way of openings for either side.

Stoke are in 7th place, a couple of points from breaking into the top six. QPR sit in 11th, four points away from the playoffs.

Wrexham 1-2 Norwich City

A run of four straight victories (a record for them at this level) came to an end for the Red Dragons, as relegation-threatened Norwich City continued their upturn in form under new boss Philippe Clement. This was Norwich’s first visit to Wrexham in the league since 1981 – they’ve never won a home match against Norwich, and that streak continued here. The Canaries have ten points from their last eighteen, and have hauled themselves from a seriously perilous position to be within just a point of clawing themselves out of the bottom three. Clement’s impact has been immediate and, should it continue in this fashion, will almost certainly see them get out of trouble. Josh Sargent was dropped from the squad in this match after recent events – he refused to play in last weekend’s FA cup match against Walsall. The American striker has made it clear he wants to leave the club, but Clement has stated he won’t be leaving during this window. It remains to be seen if either side budges in the next couple of weeks. One imagines a compromise will be found and Sargent allowed to depart, but if not then it will be an awkward reintegration period to say the least.

Norwich took the lead after just nine minutes. Canadian left-midfielder Ali Ahmed, a new £2m signing for the Canaries from MLS team Vancouver Whitecaps, drove into the Wrexham penalty area from out wide and put the ball across the box for Tunisian midfielder Anis Slimane to side foot into the net with a first time shot. A first goal in three appearances for Slimane. The Tunisian rarely featured under Liam Manning, but may find more opportunities under Philippe Clement. Wrexham fired back in the 24th minute, as a cross into the Norwich area was headed into the lower corner of the net by Sam Smith. A fourth of the season for him, with three of those having come in each of his last three games. The winner came in the 59th minute, as a Wrexham attack disintegrated and led to a Norwich breakaway. Midfielder Kenny McLean slipped the ball through to Jovon Makama, who drilled the ball into the far corner of the net from just inside the area. The twenty-one-year-old forward has been in sensational form since the arrival of Philippe Clement, with this being his tenth goal in twelve games in all competitions.

Wrexham are 10th, three points outside the top six. Norwich are still in 22nd place, but just a point from breaking out of the relegation zone.

Swansea City 1-1 Birmingham City

Vitor Matos shared the points for the first time since taking over at Swansea – encompassing eleven league games - with his new side having overall picked up a respectable ten points from the last eighteen available. The Swans haven’t won any of their last nine league games against Birmingham, and this now stretches to ten matches. They would have hoped this hoodoo might end in this match as they had been on a run of four home wins in a row, whilst Birmingham are the worst away side in the division excluding Sheffield Wednesday – albeit their away points haul is tied with West Brom and Oxford. Chris Davies’ Brum side managed a first win in eight league games last time out – against league leaders Coventry no less - but a draw here means they’ve still only picked up seven points from the last twenty-seven available.

The home side went ahead in this one with twenty-one minutes on the clock. The Swans’ Portuguese midfielder Goncalo Franco nicked the ball from Birmingham full-back Kai Wagner on the left hand side, then delivered a cross into the middle which was fired in by Slovenian striker Zan Vipotnik. He now has eleven goals for the season, having scored five in his last ten appearances. Swansea would go on to hit the woodwork three times, before the equaliser for the away side arrived in the 72nd minute. A ball into the area from out wide found Brum right-winger Patrick Roberts. His first shot was blocked, but he immediately got another chance and scored with his second bite of the cherry, slamming the ball into the roof of the net to earn his side a point with his third goal of the season.  

Swansea tick up to 16th place, six points from the drop zone. Birmingham are 14th, both eight points from the top six and eight points from the relegation spots. Early season predictions from some quarters of back-to-back promotions for Big Club seem unlikely to come true at this stage.

League Table c/o BBC Sport