Third-placed Middlesbrough kick off the weekend’s action at Bolton
Leaders Swansea will look to bounce back at QPR
In-form Stoke are at home to struggling Bristol City
The Championship season has reached Matchday 12, with one game on Friday and 11 on Saturday, and we have got key stats, team news and predictions for each fixture.
Bolton vs Middlesbrough – Friday October 23 (8pm)
Key stats
Bolton have lost their last nine games to Middlesbrough, including the last five at home
Middlesbrough have only lost one of their last 11 away games in the Championship (W4 D6)
Team news
Bolton could be unchanged from their 0-0 draw at Southampton with defender Chris Forino still sidelined by a groin injury.
Will Lankshear and Sebastian Berhalter should be recalled to the Boro lineup after coming off the bench last week, but Alfie Jones and Rokas Pukstas are still out.
Need to know
Bolton became the first side this term, and only the second in 2026 overall, to keep a clean sheet at Southampton last week but they now come up against Championship top scorer Lankshear.
The former Tottenham youngster struck in his third consecutive appearance last Saturday, bringing his tally to nine goals in 11 league games for Middlesbrough this season.
Score prediction: Bolton 1-2 Middlesbrough (23/4 with LiveScore Bet)
Charlton vs Norwich – Saturday October 24 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Charlton are unbeaten at home in the league this season but have drawn their last three at The Valley
Norwich have taken the lead in their last two Championship away games and lost both
Team news
Charlton changes are expected after a lacklustre display against Watford last time out with Amari’i Bell, Harvey Knibbs, Sonny Carey and Charlie Kelman all pushing for starts.
Norwich continue to be without top scorer Mohamed Toure, who is set to miss more time with a shoulder injury.
Need to know
One win in eight has seen Charlton tumble from top of the table after three games to 17th in the standings, four points worse off than at the same stage last season.
The Addicks will be looking for a response against a Norwich side that has lost four of five on the road and gone 18 league games without a clean sheet.
Score prediction: Charlton 1-1 Norwich (5/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Portsmouth vs Millwall – Saturday October 24 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Portsmouth beat Millwall 3-1 in both their home and away meetings last season
Millwall have scored in all five of their away Championship matches this term
Team news
Terry Devlin, Ebou Adams, Rocco Shein and Tyrese Shade replaced Zak Swanson, Marlon Pack, Ryan Kavuma-McQueen and Marko Milovanovic for Pompey against Wolves in midweek.
Millwall will be forced to make another change in goal after Filip Marschall damaged ankle ligaments against Lincoln last time out with Max Crocombe set for a recall.
Need to know
Pompey extended their unbeaten run to three at Molineux on Tuesday thanks to a late Devlin strike.
John Mousinho’s mentality monsters have scored the last goal in four of their last five games to either equalise or claim all three points.
Score prediction: Portsmouth 1-1 Millwall (9/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Sheffield United vs Derby – Saturday October 24 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Sheffield United have won three of their last four matches against Derby
Since the start of February, Derby have lost nine and won just three of their 13 Championship away games
Team news
Oliver Arblaster and Kalvin Phillips are set to keep their places after impressing for the Blades against Bristol City last weekend.
Midfielders Lewis Travis and Alex Mowatt are the latest players to be added to a lengthening Derby injury list while the Rams signed Jack Robinson on a three-month deal to cover at the back this week.
Need to know
The Blades’ rollercoaster season gained fresh momentum with a deserved 1-0 win at Ashton Gate last weekend and they will feel confident of backing that up against a Derby side in freefall.
The Rams have taken only two points from the last 21 on offer.
Score prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Derby (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Blackburn vs Wrexham – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Blackburn have won back-to-back home games against Cardiff and Millwall
Wrexham have failed to win four of their five Championship away games this term
Team news
Rovers left-back Yuri Ribeiro and centre-back Scott Wharton are edging closer to full fitness but Ryoya Morishita’s ever-present record looks likely to end after an ankle knock.
Max Cleworth, Nathan Broadhead, Ben Sheaf and Josh Windass remain Wrexham’s main fitness concerns, while George Thomason, Sebastian Revan and Liberato Cacace look set to miss out.
Need to know
Blackburn lost from 2-0 up at West Brom last weekend and have now allowed 13 points to slip from their grasp from winning positions this season.
Another high-scoring game could be on the cards when they meet a Wrexham side that restored some confidence in a 4-1 home thrashing of Preston last weekend.
Score prediction: Blackburn 2-2 Wrexham (17/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Cardiff vs Birmingham – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Cardiff are unbeaten in five at home this season
Birmingham have won three of their last four Championship road games
Team news
Cardiff’s Gabriel Osho is suspended and fellow centre-backs Dylan Lawlor and Calum Chambers are expected to be sidelined by injuries.
Kristoffer Lund and Paik Seung-ho have missed the Blues’ last three games but the latter could soon return to contention.
Need to know
Goals could be at a premium when the division’s tightest away defence takes on a Cardiff side that have been among the most miserly at home.
Both clubs have recorded a Championship-high five draws so far this season, so it would be no surprise to see the points shared.
Score prediction: Cardiff 0-0 Birmingham (21/2 with LiveScore Bet)
Lincoln vs Burnley – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Lincoln have failed to win their opening five home games of a Football League season for the first time since 2004-05
Burnley have conceded 21 goals in the league, the joint-worst defensive record alongside Norwich
Team news
Lincoln’s Freddie Draper and Tom Hamer are suspended, but Conor McGrandles will be available again after serving his suspension at The Den and Deji Elewere can play after a successful appeal against his Millwall dismissal.
Jamie Vardy could be on the bench for Burnley after Nicky Hayen revealed he is nursing a slight problem.
Need to know
This match could be make-or-break for Lincoln and Burnley boss Hayen, who is under pressure to fix a leaky defence with goalkeeper Max Weiss short on confidence and individual errors costing the Clarets in defeats to Swansea, Norwich and this month’s 2–2 draw against Charlton.
Score prediction: Lincoln 0-2 Burnley (8/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Preston vs West Brom – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Preston have made their worst start to a campaign at this stage since 1924-25
West Brom have won six of their last seven games against Preston
Team news
Preston defender Harry Clarke will miss another game with a knee issue while Liam Gibbs has also been ruled out, but striker Johnny Kenny could be available to feature off the bench.
Albion boss James Morrison could include Aune Heggebo from the start after he helped to complete the comeback win against Blackburn.
Need to know
With six wins and a draw from their last seven meetings against North End, West Brom will be confident of claiming all three points at Deepdale.
Preston have lost five of their last six games at home and all three under new head coach Graham Alexander.
Score prediction: Preston 1-1 West Brom (24/5 with LiveScore Bet)
QPR vs Swansea – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
QPR have won only two of their last eight home league games
Swansea's average of 2.4 points per game on the road is the best of any side in the division
Team news
QPR’s options to change the side that lost to Birmingham are limited by injuries to Nicolas Madsen, Tariq Lamptey and Rumarn Burrell.
Flip Lissah’s return from suspension should see him replace Ronald in the Swans starting XI and enable Ross Stewart to take a spot on the bench.
Need to know
Swansea's attractive attacking football has made them one of the Championship's most entertaining sides this season.
QPR have improved steadily and possess enough creativity to contribute to an open match. Goals at both ends would not be a surprise.
Score prediction: QPR 2-2 Swansea (8/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Stoke vs Bristol City – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Stoke have won six of their last eight league games
Bristol City have suffered back-to-back 1-0 losses against Blackburn and Sheffield United
Team news
Stoke are likely to be unchanged as Mark Robins sticks with the side that have performed so well.
Bristol City boss Michael Skubala could recall Jed Wallace and Elijah Adebayo after introducing them both from the bench at half-time last week.
Need to know
Stoke are the Championship’s form side after bouncing back from a sticky start with a run of six wins in their past eight games, with their only loss during that run coming in added time against Middlesbrough.
Score prediction: Stoke 2-1 Bristol City (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
West Ham vs Southampton – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
West Ham won 4-1 at Southampton in the EFL Cup earlier this season
Southampton have won only one of their five Championship away matches this term
Team news
Keiber Lamadrid is unlikely to feature for West Ham, so Nuno Espirito Santo could name an unchanged side.
Flynn Downes is a major doubt for Southampton after sustaining an ankle injury earlier this month while Cyle Larin, who has scored seven Championship goals already, will have a hamstring issue assessed.
Need to know
Arguably the headline fixture of the weekend sees two clubs with Premier League pedigrees go head-to-head.
West Ham are in better form after beating table-toppers Swansea last weekend while the Saints were held to a draw by Bolton.
Score prediction: West Ham 2-1 Southampton (6/1 with LiveScore Bet)
Wolves vs Watford – Saturday October 24 (3pm)
Key stats
Wolves have failed to win their last two home league games, drawing with Portsmouth and losing to Bolton
Watford have lost nine of their last 10 away league games, scoring only once in their last four road trips
Team news
Kieran Trippier may miss a second straight game with a slight groin issue, but Wolves boss Cesar Peixoto is hopeful Alan Armstrong can return up front. Toti, Ghislain Konan and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde could be recalled after dropping to the bench in midweek.
Watford could be unchanged from the 2-0 win over Charlton with Stephy Mavididi on the bench and Edoardo Bove, Jeremy Ngakia and Kwadwo Baah still absent.
Need to know
Wolves are struggling for a cutting edge in attack with Raul Jimenez ruled out until January and Armstrong recently sidelined, too.
But one goal may be all they need to beat a Watford side that have lost their last four away matches 5-1, 1-0, 1-0 and 2-0.
Score prediction: Wolves 1-0 Watford (13/2 with LiveScore Bet)
