Championship 2025/26 Preview & Predictions Week 9: Featuring Alex Oliva | OneFootball

We’re already 1/5 through the Championship season, and it’s all starting to heat up.

Last week, writer Alex scored 11, making it the best this season so far, beating his and Alfie House’s previous joint record. Can anyone top that this week?

This Week’s Guest

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by Alex Oliva, Southampton fan and Attacking Football contributor!

How It Works

Each week of the season, Attacking Football writers Alex and Christian will be joined by a special guest in previewing and predicting the twelve games to come. Each score matters, as there is a league table reflecting each correct outcome.

In this table, the points are rewarded accordingly:

2 points for guessing the exact scoreline, 1 point for guessing the correct outcome.

See the end of every article for the league table.

Gameweek 9 Preview & Predictions

WREXHAM V BIRMINGHAM

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Wrexham have improved upon their poor start to the season, and are starting to gel a relatively new team. Birmingham have also been solid since being promoted, despite winning just one of their last five. I can see this one being a draw. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Two sides that are under the Hollywood lights this Friday. Last year in League One, Birmingham went unbeaten with a win and a draw in this fixture. While Wrexham have started off slightly slower, they’ve posed a greater goalscoring threat. I’ll go 2-2.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: The Hollywood derby! It’ll end with the hosts taking all three points increasing the pressure on Birmingham manager Chris Davies. 2-1 to Wrexham.

BLACKBURN ROVERS V STOKE CITY

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Blackburn have been very poor this season, and look as if they’re on a spiral towards League One. Mark Robins is the perfect coach to have in a game like this, and he’ll get the Potters through. 1-0 to Stoke.

Christian’s Prediction: Defying past stereotypes, Stoke have only scored 1 set-piece goal this season, emphasising their long-ball style of play in full effect. Blackburn are at home, but I’m not sure that’ll be enough to stop the Potters. 1-0 to Stoke.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Mark Robins’ men continue their fine form to sink the out-of-sorts Rovers even further. 3-0 to Stoke.

HULL CITY V SHEFFIELD UNITED

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Sheffield United need to pick up points, and quickly. The Blades’ record against Hull is telling, and I can see them keeping it up here. Hull have a great talisman in Oli McBurnie, but I can’t see him being allowed too much service here. 2-1 to Sheffield United.

Christian’s Prediction: In the past eight meetings between these sides, Sheffield United have won seven times and conceded just once. However, Hull City have averaged the fourth-most goals per game this season, and with left-back Ryan Giles already on five assists — rekindling the form he showed at Middlesbrough three years ago — they’ll pose a serious threat to a Blades side out of form. 2-0 Hull.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: The Ruben Selles Derby ends in the visitors leaving the MKM with all three points and gathering their second win under Chris Wilder. 1-0 to Sheffield United.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY V COVENTRY CITY

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Coventry have been nothing short of impressive this season, leading in many of the attacking metrics. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, are really going to struggle, and I can see them ending the weekend at the bottom of the table. 3-0 to Coventry.

Christian’s Prediction: Frank Lampard’s Blues are flying, with their high-intensity approach guiding them to the most goals in the league — an eight-goal margin over second. Neither side relies on possession in their play but Coventry are far more decisive in both boxes. 4-1 Coventry.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: City take the points with a demolition job in Sheffield, taking them further points clear in the automatic spots. 4-1 to Coventry.

BRISTOL CITY V QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Struber’s Bristol City have impressed me, but have gone a few games winless. Alternatively, QPR have turned a miserable run of form around and are flying. I can only see this one finishing as a draw. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: QPR haven’t lost since their 7-1 defeat to Coventry, while Bristol City have hit a rough patch going winless in their past three. Gerhard Struber’s men will be eager to put an end to this at home, 2-1 Bristol City.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Honours even at Ashton gate as both teams cancel each-other out with an entertaining game. 1-1.

DERBY COUNTY V SOUTHAMPTON

Alex Comber’s Prediction: The Saints have had a much-improved two weeks, taking positive performances out of Liverpool away, Middlesbrough at home, and Sheffield United away. It’s a long period of games they’re having, but I can see them finally clicking here. 2-0 to Saints.

Christian’s Prediction: It’s a clash that hasn’t been played in six years, but the Saints will head in as favourites. After gaining their first away win against Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United, Southampton will be hoping to continue that momentum. 2-0 to Saints.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Will Still’s men finally get into flow and complete a battering of Derby County at Pride Park. 3-0 to Saints.

MILLWALL V WEST BROMWICH ALBION

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Two sides who will be looking to push on from mixed form, West Brom could even end the weekend in the top two. Millwall lost heavily midweek, so they will be looking to bounce back. A score draw. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: A fixture filled with draws, with neither team having won it since Millwall’s 2-1 victory in 2021. The Lions have only managed one win at home this season, and West Brom lead the table in terms of away form with three wins out of four. 1-0 West Brom.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: West Brom push on from their win midweek and secure another 3 points against a Millwall side that look a bit lost at the moment. 2-1 to West Brom.

PORTSMOUTH V MIDDLESBROUGH

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Pompey’s miserable run of form needs to come to an end for their sake, but Middlesbrough are flying, unbeaten. I can only see it going one way. 2-0 to Boro.

Christian’s Prediction: From clean sheets to goals scored, Boro dominate in almost every statistic ahead of this match. While surprises aren’t unusual, I don’t think Pompey will be the team to stop them. 2-1 Boro.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Boro continue their fine form whilst Pompey continue on their rather rubbish form of late. 2-0 to Boro.

PRESTON NORTH END V CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Charlton look brilliant, and James Bree already has four goal involvements from right back since reuniting with Nathan Jones for a third time. A battle of two solid units, but Preston’s quality should come through. 1-0 to Preston.

Christian’s Prediction: Preston have been one of the biggest surprises of the Championship, alongside their opponents Charlton. Nathan Jones has drilled a defensively compact side at Charlton, seemingly slotting into England’s second tier with ease. Paul Heckingbottom’s North End have yet to lose at home, I’ll go 1-1.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Stalemate at Deepdale as two stable teams form wise split the points in what could be an entertaining encounter. 2-2.

SWANSEA CITY V LEICESTER CITY

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Leicester have had a solid start, but have drawn their last four. They couldn’t make it five in a row, could they? They can! 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Swansea have held firm on home soil this season, whilst Martí Cifuentes’ side have drawn four straight matches. I could see Swansea edging this one 1-0.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: The Foxes come and slaughter The Swans at the Liberty, taking all three points home as they continue on their promotion push. 3-0 to Leicester.

WATFORD V OXFORD UNITED

Alex Comber’s Prediction: Watford’s manager is under immense pressure. If they fail to take anything out of this game at home, it’s a certainty that Pezzolano will be sacked. Oxford United are struggling, but I think they’ll snatch a victory and force the Watford boss to be sacked. 1-0 to Oxford.

Christian’s Prediction: Both sides have scored nine goals this season, but Watford have averaged fewer goals conceded per match (1.25), compared to Oxford’s 1.38. Last season, the home team won both fixtures, and Watford has looked strong at home this campaign. 2-1 Watford.

Alex Oliva’s Prediction: Pressure piles on for Watford manager Pezzolano as they are hitting a bump in the road, and fans are discontent. 1-0 to Oxford.

IPSWICH TOWN V NORWICH CITY

Alex Comber’s Prediction: There have been 6 Prime-Ministers, Oasis splitting and reuniting, and a pandemic since Ipswich last beat Norwich. For the first time in 16 years, they’ll beat their rivals, in tight fashion. 2-1 to Ipswich.

Christian’s Prediction: The East Anglian Derby is back, with Ipswich beginning to hit their stride while Norwich haven’t won in their last four fixtures. The Canaries have heavily dominated this derby. It has been 16 years since Ipswich emerged victorious, with a 3–2 win at Portman Road in 2009. I have a feeling they’ll defy that though, 1-0 Ipswich.

Make sure to check back each week for the latest predictions and guests, and see how the table develops!