Championship Predictions: Can Coventry get back to winning ways?

We’ve got a complete list of Championship fixtures pending this weekend, and hopefully the weather doesn’t cause any postponements this time around. 

After a weekend of FA Cup action, we get back to the bread and butter, and below you can find my Championship predictions, as I look to close the gap on both Conor and Nick.

West Brom 1-2 Middlesbrough @ 17/2

Our Friday night clash this week sees West Brom host Middlesbrough, with a new manager at the helm. The Ryan Mason era is over, and now 34-year-old Eric Ramsay will take charge of his first match, having arrived from Minnesota United. We don’t know an awful lot about the former Manchester United coach, and WBA will hope they’ve unearthed a gem. 

Kim Hellberg’s Middlesbrough got back to winning ways against Southampton, and they are well in the automatic promotion race, with a win here turning the pressure up on league leaders Coventry. I think they can get it, based on the evidence we have seen so far - and the lack of any form from Ramsay’s new West Brom side.

Nick: 1-2

Conor: 1-2

Coventry 3-1 Leicester @ 10/1

An M69 derby on Saturday lunchtime and a game that Coventry simply have to win. They have dropped off in recent weeks, picking up just nine points in eight games as the chasing pack reel them in. However, the busy festive period is now over, they’ve made two loan additions in the form of Yang Min-hyeok and Romain Esse, and they are out of the FA Cup.

With 20 league games between them and the Premier League, I think the Sky Blues will get back to winning ways against a hit-and-miss Leicester outfit.

Nick: 3-0

Conor: 2-1

Ipswich 3-0 Blackburn @ 9/1

The predators in the pack. Ipswich are waiting to strike on any slip-ups from the top two, and with the strength of their squad, you have to fancy them to go up. They should absolutely hammer a Blackburn side in relegation danger, given they have won four of their last five in all comps.

Nick: 2-1

Conor: 3-1

Watford 3-2 Millwall @ 25/1

Watford have won four games in a row in the league, and despite a 5-1 hammering in the FA Cup, Javi Gracia’s men look set to feature in the play-off picture. Their attacking talent is some of the best in the league, and with Imran Louza pulling the strings, they could go far. 

They face fellow play-off contenders Millwall at home in what will be a tough test, but I’ll back them to keep on scoring in a thrilling encounter. 

Nick: 2-2

Conor: 2-1

Championship Odds

Southampton 4-3 Hull @ 66/1

More goals on the cards for me on the South Coast. Hull’s games have been pretty bonkers so far this season, as they have scored 40 and conceded 38, while Southampton have scored 38 and conceded 38 - so there should be goals. 

Am I massively confident backing Tonda Eckert’s out-of-form Saints to win? No. But they’ve got so much individual talent they could just edge Hull in a belting encounter.

Nick: 3-1

Conor: 2-2

Sheff Wed 1-2 Portsmouth @ 15/2

Sheffield Wednesday got their only win of the season away at Portsmouth, and they will be looking to do the double over John Mousinho’s struggling Pompey outfit. I just can’t bring myself to back Wednesday in any circumstances this season, but this will be a close one. If Portsmouth lose, there will be alarm bells chiming around Fratton Park, but I will back them to nick it 2-1.

Nick: 2-2

Conor: 1-1

Preston 1-0 Derby @ 5/1

Time to get on board with Paul Heckingbottom and Preston, as they currently sit fourth in the league. PNE have won their last two Championship games to nil, will be pleased to be out of the FA Cup and have a decent home record. Derby are an unpredictable beast this term, but one win in five doesn’t make for good reading. Home win. 

Nick: 1-1

Conor: 2-1

Oxford 3-1 Bristol City @ 22/1

We’ve already discussed one new Championship manager, but Oxford have another this weekend in the form of Matt Bloomfield. He has replaced Gary Rowett and, having almost kept Luton Town up last term, has another shot at the second tier. I’m not sure he will keep the U’s up, but I can envisage a first-match new manager bounce, against a strong Bristol City unit.

Nick: 1-2

Conor: 2-2

Stoke 2-1 QPR @ 7/1

Stoke have won their last three games in all competitions, but will now have to cope with injured goalkeeper Viktor Johansson. That could weaken their strong defensive record, but I will still back them to get the better of a hit-and-miss QPR side, which is not quite getting the most out of all their attacking talent.

Nick: 2-1

Conor: 2-1

Wrexham 3-1 Norwich @ 14/1

I’m a big fan of Wrexham and Phil Parkinson this season, and the Christmas period has seen them win four league games on the bounce and dump Nottingham Forest out of the FA Cup. It means that they are on the fringes of the play-offs and I think are well-placed to break into the top six. Norwich have improved under Philippe Clement but remain in the bottom three, with Josh Sargent looking likely to leave this winter.

Nick: 3-2

Conor: 3-1

Charlton 1-1 Sheff Utd @ 5/1

The Blades have been in fine form recently, and their points average could take them close to the play-offs if they can maintain it. Chris Wilder is doing a great job once again, but Charlton are difficult to beat at the Valley, and so I will back a rare draw for Sheffield United in this one. 

Nick: 1-1

Conor: 1-1

Swansea 1-0 Birmingham @ 7/1

Birmingham’s away form is dreadful, and Vitor Matos’ Swansea like to win home games by one goal to nil. Simple.

Nick: 1-2

Conor: 1-1

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