EFL Championship 2025/26 Preview & Predictions Week 21: Featuring JamezQPR1 | OneFootball

It’s week twenty-one of the Attacking Football Championship predictions!

Last week, writers Alex and Christian climbed the writers v guests league table, and are closing in on the highest points tally! Can this week’s guest extend the lead, or will it be taken back?

This Week’s Guest

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by James, fan of Queens Park Rangers. Make sure to check him out on his X/Twitter account!

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 21 Preview & Predictions

WEST BROMWICH ALBION V SHEFFIELD UNITED

The Baggies are in desperate need of a win, and this is a game to do it in, with the country watching on Friday Night Football! Ryan Mason is a man under pressure, and faces off against the experienced Chris Wilder.

Alex’s Prediction: The momentum is currently with the Blades, who are steering away from relegation form and looking upwards. West Brom’s fairly decent start is starting to turn into a slow period of regression – I think they’ll lose again here. 2-1 to Sheffield United.

Christian’s Prediction: Sheffield United come into the game unbeaten in six, with far more momentum than a West Brom side that have managed just one win in their last five. The Baggies have been tough to crack at The Hawthorns, losing only once at home all season. Expect a tight contest, 2-2.

James’ Prediction: Sheffield United have had an upturn in form recently, and after watching West Brom’s performance in their 3-1 loss to QPR on Saturday, can’t see them winning this one. 3-1 to Sheffield United.

NORWICH CITY V SOUTHAMPTON

Norwich City, under new boss Clement, won their first home game of the season under the Frenchman recently, and will hope to do the same again against a good Saints side managed by 32-year-old Tonda Eckert.

Alex’s Prediction: The Saints are playing good football, as they should, under Tonda Eckert and look a force to be reckoned with, but this is not a good time to play a Norwich currently on a managerial bounce. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Norwich look set to be without Josh Sargent, a major blow as they prepare to face a Southampton side that both score more and concede fewer on average. It won’t be a rollover for Tonda Eckert’s men, but the form and balance of his side suggest a controlled showing. 2–0 Southampton.

James’ Prediction: With Norwich only winning once at home all season, and Southampton starting to turn around their season, this game seems to only be going one way. 2-1 to Saints. 

OXFORD UNITED V PRESTON NORTH END

Heckingbottom’s Preston, up in 5th place, play Oxford United, just outside the relegation zone at the Kassam. Both sides are in varied form, winning one in five each.

Alex’s Prediction: Oxford are one of the poorer sides in the division, and they host a Preston side who are one of the most organised under Paul Heckingbottom. It should be fairly routine for his side. 2-0 to Preston.

Christian’s Prediction: Oxford haven’t kept a clean sheet in ten matches, and while they went unbeaten against Preston last season, they face a much stronger Lilywhites side this time. Preston have won twice as many games as Oxford and have only lost twice on the road. 2–1 Preston.

James’ Prediction: With Preston conceding the 3rd fewest goals per 90, and going up against a struggling Oxford side, I cannot see this game going well for the hosts. 2-0 to Preston.

STOKE CITY V SWANSEA CITY

The Potters have just one win in five, and host a Swansea City fresh with new manager Vitor Matos. Who will come on top at the Stadium of Light?

Alex’s Prediction: The Potters are an extremely strong promotion contender, but I wonder how long it will be until their form runs low – one win in five shows it is starting to. It may continue against Matos’s improving Swansea. 1-0 to Swansea.

Christian’s Prediction: Swansea look rejuvenated under their new boss, taking two wins from two and beginning to build real momentum. Stoke, by contrast, have lost four of their last five and are struggling, but home advantage should be enough to steady them. 1–1.

James’ Prediction: Although Stoke haven’t been in fine form of late, needs putting into perspective who they’ve played, and with a game against a team struggling to live up to expectations this season, this talented Stoke side should get the win at home. 3-1 to Stoke.

BIRMINGHAM CITY V CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Both sides in poor form, the Blues host the Addicks, in a game where both newly-promoted sides will hope to climb from mid table positions.

Alex’s Prediction: Both sides are experiencing poor veins of form, Charlton especially, who are discovering how tough the second tier is. I think this game ends in a draw between the two newly-promoted sides. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Charlton’s bright start to the campaign is quickly falling apart, with 13 goals conceded in their last five matches highlighting how fragile they’ve become. Birmingham, meanwhile, have scored 14 goals in their past four home games and look a much more confident side. 3-1 to the Blues.

James’ Prediction: Very difficult game to predict this, as Charlton have put in some big performances this season when underdogs, but up against a side who score a fair few, and are at home where their form is very tidy, I can see the Blues winning this one. 2-0 to Birmingham.

COVENTRY CITY V BRISTOL CITY

Coventry have lost just twice so far this season, and host a Bristol City side in the familiar position of teetering outside the play-off spots.

Alex’s Prediction: Another game between two very good Championship sides this weekend, the Sky Blues need to regain some form. It will be an interesting test of their character, especially against Struber’s side. 2-1 to Coventry.

Christian’s Prediction: Coventry sit top of the home-form table and remain unbeaten on their own turf. Bristol City are winless in their last four against the Sky Blues, making this an uphill task. Frank Lampard’s side should have enough to extend their dominant run, despite cracks beginning to show. 2–1 Coventry.

James’ Prediction: Arguably the game of the week this. A Coventry team who have scored 51 by December against a Bristol city side who’ve been flirting with the playoffs all season. I expect a classic. 3-2 to Coventry.

LEICESTER CITY V IPSWICH TOWN

A match between two promotion hopefuls, the Foxes, in poor form, host an Ipswich Town side vying for the automatic promotion spots.

Alex’s Prediction: Both sides will see this as an important one to win if they want to stake claims for promotion, but the Foxes look dismal at the moment. 2-0 to Ipswich.

Christian’s Prediction: Six points separate these two former Premier League sides, but history has leaned heavily in Leicester’s way, who are unbeaten in the last six meetings. Ipswich haven’t been nearly as dominant on the road and could find themselves in a tight contest against Marti Cifuentes’ men. 2–2.

James’ Prediction: Two of the relegated teams last year face up against each other. Both who’ve not had the starts everyone would’ve expected, but with Cifuentes’ job potentially on the line, I’m going to punt at a draw for this one. 1-1.

MIDDLESBROUGH V QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Hellberg’s Boro, in the automatic positions already, host a QPR side in great form, with four wins in five and sat just outside of the play-off spots.

Alex’s Prediction: Boro look an exciting side under Hellberg, and QPR are in decent form, which sets this one up nicely. I think the home side will win, based on their good form at the Riverside. 2-1 to Middlesbrough.

Christian’s Prediction: Despite a setback against Norwich, QPR have been in superb form, claiming pivotal wins over Hull and Birmingham on home soil. Middlesbrough, however, have been equally impressive under Kim Hellberg and will be eager to keep their winning streak alive. 2–1 Middlesbrough.

James’ Prediction: Really hard to keep bias out of this one, but with QPR on a good run of form, and Boro having to travel down to the capital for their midweek fixture, I reckon this will be a closer game than expected! 2-2.

MILLWALL V HULL CITY

The Lions face off against the Tigers, and there will be plenty of bite in this face-off between two play-off sides.

Alex’s Prediction: Millwall’s home form at the Den is starting to improve, and against a Hull side who are goalscorers, this should be a tasty game. 3-2 to Millwall.

Christian’s Prediction: Hull have shown inconsistency lately, picking up wins against Stoke and Wrexham but suffering heavy defeats to Middlesbrough, Ipswich, and QPR. Millwall are in good form, unbeaten in four, but historically struggle against the Tigers, failing to win in their last six meetings. 1-0 Millwall.

James’ Prediction: A Millwall side who are hot on form at the moment, and sitting in 3rd, against a Hull side who, although have been good this year, have only won 3 on the road. I’m predicting a comfortable home win! 3-0 to Millwall.

PORTSMOUTH V BLACKBURN ROVERS

Pompey are struggling at the moment, with one win in five, yet so are Blackburn, the away side also have just one win in their last five.

Alex’s Prediction: Pompey are heading down. No investment and little quality, it’s not a Championship-level team. Rovers are on a similar spiral, but I think that they will edge this one. 1-0 to Blackburn.

Christian’s Prediction: Both Portsmouth and Blackburn have just one win in their last four matches, but Pompey’s home form has been shaky, with only one victory in their past four at Fratton Park. Blackburn boast the league’s third-best away record and should come away victorious in this encounter. 2–1 Blackburn.

James’ Prediction: 2 sides edging towards being in the relegation battle come the end of the season, and each scoring little, this feels like a bore fest is on the cards. 0-0.

WREXHAM V WATFORD

Wrexham are climbing the table, and both sides have lost just one game in their last five. It will be an interesting affair at the Racecourse.

Alex’s Prediction: Wrexham are in decent form, and against a Watford poor away from home and still slightly struggling under new boss Javi Gracia, I think the Welsh side come away victors. 1-0 to Wrexham.

Christian’s Prediction: Wrexham and Watford are neck-and-neck in midtable, separated by just a point. However, Watford’s poor away record (they sit 23rd in the away table) gives Wrexham the upper hand. 2–0 Wrexham.

James’ Prediction: Both having pretty similar seasons, but with Wrexham having a revival in the last 2 months, and Watford having an awful away record, I can see Phil Parkinson’s side taking the win here, but probably the most likely tie to really go either way this weekend. 2-1 to Wrexham.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY V DERBY COUNTY

The Owls, still on minus points in December, host a Derby County side managed by John Eustace, who have won just once in their last five.

Alex’s Prediction: The Owls are really struggling, and I can’t see them getting anything against a decent Derby County team. 3-1 to Derby.

Christian’s Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday haven’t won in 13 matches and dropped points midweek after conceding a late equaliser to Watford, highlighting their constant struggles. Derby have their own issues, but have generally handled teams around them with ease. 3–0 Derby.

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