Championship Predictions: 1-24 preview as second tier begins

If you’ve been across Betfred Insights over the past week, you will have seen my extensive range of Championship club previews. Those previews have featured a predicted league finish, and so to make your life easier, I’ve collated them all into a 1-24 predictions table. 

With Birmingham vs Ipswich kicking us off on Friday night, we can’t wait for the action to get underway, while you can see myself and other EFL experts discuss the second tier action every week on The Sportman Untited. 

Right, let’s get stuck into it. 

Football Odds

24th: Sheffield Wednesday

Barely any senior players. An owner set on ruining the football club. Danny Rohl left and has been replaced by his assistant Henrik Pedersen and it will be a miracle if they make it to 40 points - let alone finish anywhere other than rock-bottom. 

Sheffield Wednesday season preview

23rd: Preston North End

Paul Heckinbottom saw his side sink like a stone at the end of last season as they won just one of their final 15 league matches. They’ve lost Emil Riis, Ryan Ledson and Freddie Woodman this summer and the summer overhaul has been absolutely massive. They scraped safety last season but I don’t think they will be so lucky this time around. 

Preston North End season preview

22nd: Hull City

Acun Ilacali’s strange ownership of Hull continues, and he sacked yet another manager this summer as Ruben Selles was dismissed. He kept the Tigers up last term, but now they have appointed Sergej Jakirovic - an unknown quantity in England. They are under a soft transfer embargo and I just can’t see them improving on last season - where they only just stayed up. Relegation beckons.

Hull City season preview

21st: Oxford United

Oxford had poor underlying numbers last season, but they defied the odds to stay up under Gary Rowett. He worked wonders and led the club on a superb run over Christmas, which proved to be enough. He is the main reason I’m backing them to survive again. 

Oxford United season preview

20th: Charlton Athletic

As the League 1 play-off winners, Charlton looked like the most likely promoted side to go down, but they have spent big this summer in order to make a go of things. Charlie Kelman and Harvey Knibbs should do well, while Nathan Jones has proven himself to be a top manager at this level. Should be fine. 

Charlton Athletic season preview

19th: QPR

Julien Stephan arrives with a cracking record in France, and the summer business has been intriguing. Kwame Poku should bring excitement but impressive loanee Ronnie Edwards has gone back to Southampton. They’ll be fine and could finish a lot higher, but this is a squad with a few question marks. 

QPR season preview 

18th: Blackburn Rovers

You never know what’s going to happen at Blackburn Rovers with the Venky’s in charge. The only reason I’ve got them this high is because Valerien Ismael did a cracking job at the end of last season and is a good manager. But they’ve lost Tyrhys Dolan and Callum Brittain and things could turn sour quickly. 

Blackburn Rovers season preview

17th: Stoke City

Sixteenth, 15th, 14th, 14th, 16th, 17th, 18th. They are Stoke’s last seven league finishes in the Championship so it’s no surprise that I’ve put them here. Mark Robins is a good manager but needs some time, while Wouter Burger is a big loss. This is a stronger league and Stoke will do well to improve. 

Stoke City season preview 

16th: Portsmouth

Portsmouth are incredibly solid under John Mousinho and could climb far higher this season, with some exciting new additions in the transfer market. However, I just feel their squad depth is lacking to push higher, especially if Colby Bishop gets injured - while there’s always the risk that Mousinho gets poached after a terrific start to life as a manager. 

Portsmouth season preview 

15th: Swansea City

Alan Sheehan did a brilliant job when he came in last season to fire Swansea up the table, but he is still relatively inexperienced as a first-team manager. The signings of Zeidane Inoussa and Ethan Galbraith are exciting and they won’t be anywhere near relegation, but I’m not yet willing to back them to get into the play-off picture. 

Swansea City season preview

14th: Middlesbrough

Rob Edwards will have to put the nightmare of last season behind him at Middlesbrough, but this squad doesn’t quite seem to fit his style of play. Adi Viveash should provide some good tactical know-how, but I am expecting a rough start and a slight drop-off from Boro this term. 

Middlesbrough season preview

13th: Bristol City

Bristol City made the play-offs last season but I don’t think their total of 68 points will be anywhere near enough this year. They’ve lost Liam Manning but retained most of their key players, so a drop off to mid-table is expected. 

Bristol City season preview

12th: Wrexham

Big money spent and big-name arrivals. Conor Coady, Kieffer Moore and Liam O’Brien should all do a good job in the Championship, but will Phil Parkinson’s style of play continue to work after three consecutive promotions? Top-half finish would mark success.

Wrexham season preview 

11th: Watford

I’m going to be positive about Watford for once. Yes, it could all go wrong, but there is the makings of a strong XI with the investment that has been made this summer. Paulo Pezzolano comes in as a promotion specialist, while Nestory Irankunda could be a gem from Bayern Munich. 

Watford season preview

10th: West Brom

Ryan Mason has stepped into the managerial arena, and it will be interesting to see how he fares at West Brom. It is certainly set to be a big change from the style of Carlos Corberan, but again, I’m going to take a positive view on things. The signings have been relatively slow, but Nat Phillips should do well in defence and Tom Fellows remains. Another play-off push. 

West Brom season preview 

9th: Norwich City

It’s been an enthralling summer so far for Norwich City. They’ve poached Liam Manning from Bristol City and their signings have been strong, with Mathias Kvistgaarden, Papa Amadou Diallo and Jacob Wright all joining up. Harry Darling is a great signing on a free and the Canaries could go close. 

Norwich City season preview

8th: Derby County

I’m strong on Derby this season. They’ve got one of the best managers in the league in John Eustace and they’ve spent big on Patrick Agyemang, while Carlton Morris and Rhian Brewster should also strengthen the attack. Eustace can have them flirting with the play-offs. 

Derby County season preview

7th: Millwall

So close but yet so far for Millwall again? Alex Neil is doing a brilliant job and they’ve got Mihailo Ivanovic up front who could score 20+, while Josh Coburn arrives for £5m after his loan deal. They should be very strong once more. 

Millwall season preview

6th: Leicester City

Even with a points deduction on the way, Leicester should be strong enough to make the top six. Marti Cifuentes is the new gaffer, and a lot of the players that fired them to the Championship title in 2023/24 remain at the club. Stephy Mavididi and Kasey McAteer should shine at this level. 

Leicester City season preview

5th: Coventry City

Coventry finished in the play-offs last season, and I’m backing them to make it three fifth-place finishes in the last four years. Not good enough to challenge the top two, but Frank Lampard has shown enough to get them in the play-offs again - with Jack Rudoni the key man. 

Coventry City season preview

4th: Sheffield United

Chris Wilder out, Selles in. 92 points on the pitch wasn’t enough to secure promotion, and now they have to go again. Slight concern about the exits of Vinicius Souza and Anel Ahmedhodzic, but this squad is still more than good enough to compete, especially if Gustavo Hamer stays.

Sheffield United season preview

3rd: Birmingham City

Birmingham got 111 points in League 1 last season and are making serious moves in the transfer market. With some exciting attackers already through the door, I expect them to be the closest challengers.

Birmingham City season preview

2nd: Southampton

Will Still gets a gig in England, and Southampton’s squad speaks for itself. If they can get early wins on the board to banish any lingering demons from last season’s 12-point haul, they should go well. Excited to see Shea Charles do his thing for a stronger team. 

Southampton season preview

1st: Ipswich Town

Best team in the league and probably the best manager in the league. They’ve got a ridiculous array of attacking talent full of Championship stars such as Sammie Szmodics, Jack Clarke and Jaden Philogene. There’s little risk here, I think the Tractor Boys are going to smash it. 

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