Championship 2025/26 Preview & Predictions Week 15: Featuring Ryan Hurst | OneFootball

The Championship’s weekend fixtures are back. Can Coventry retain their lead at the top of the table? Can Southampton win again under interim Eckert? Will Sheffield United finally climb out of the relegation zone? It’s all to play for and more.

Last week, writer Christian scored the highest with 6, beating writer Alex and guest Sam.

This Week’s Guest

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by football analyst content creator, Ryan Hurst. Make sure to check out his YouTube channel, he makes excellent videos!

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 15 Preview & Predictions

WATFORD V BRISTOL CITY

Mid-table Watford host a Bristol City side who could enter the play-off places with a victory on the road. The Robins have lost just once on their travels.

Alex’s Prediction: Watford have been excellent at Vicarage Road this season, but Bristol City have been as good on their travels. Struber’s side are a decent watch, but Javi Gracia is making more tactical sense than predecessor Pezzolano. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Gerhard Struber’s Robins have hit a stumbling block as of late, losing to Stoke 5-1, followed by a shock defeat at home to Blackburn. Despite this, their transition-based football has guided them to the fourth-highest goals per match, and they have also kept four clean sheets. But Watford have been instrumental at home, winning four of the past four and accumulating 16 points at Vicarage Road thus far. A close contest, but one that will be defined by Watford’s stronghold on home turf, 3-1.

Ryan’s Prediction: Bristol City coming off the back of six goals conceded in their last two, whilst Watford are on a decent goalscoring run, and the in-form Imran Louza convinces me that Friday night, under the lights, Watford will take a 2-0 win to kick off the weekend.

BLACKBURN ROVERS V DERBY COUNTY

Blackburn, fresh off the back of three wins in-a-row, host John Eustace’s Derby County, who are also in excellent form, winning their last four games themselves. One of the sides has to finally lose out in the form table in this one.

Alex’s Prediction: Rovers have been decent since beating Southampton late-on at Ewood Park, and will look to build on that here. A visit from Eustace’s Derby will be difficult to navigate, as he returns to his former-club. 1-0 to Derby, just.

Christian’s Prediction: Before last season, Blackburn hadn’t lost to Derby since 2020. With John Eustace making the switch from Blackburn to Derby mid-season, tensions will linger. But Blackburn, despite being 18th, have recently turned it around. Defeating Southampton, Leicester, and Bristol City in their past three games has elevated them significantly from a mere 22nd position. 2-1 Blackburn.

Ryan’s Prediction: The John Eustace derby. Blackburn have been pretty good recently, excellent off the ball display at Leicester last weekend but I see Derby taking the win here. There’s more match winners & goals in this Derby team especially with Carlton Morris. 2-0 Derby. 

HULL CITY V PORTSMOUTH

Hull City lost in midweek, for the first time in over five matches. They host a Pompey side winless in their last five and struggling to stay away from the bottom end of the table.

Alex’s Prediction: Pompey have been pretty rubbish recently, which is always amusing as a Saints fan. Mousinho is struggling to find a winning system and chopped and changed midweek. They’ll come into this one knowing that a draw will appease the fans. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Hull have been revitalised under Sergei Jakirov, who has placed a focus on their off-the-ball work, which has gained them 22 points already. The Tigers have scored nine in the past five, compared to Pompey, who have only scored two. With the third-highest average goals per game, expect a Hull win. 2-0.

Ryan’s Prediction: Portsmouth have been quite underwhelming recently, a real struggle to create chances and formulate any sort of fluidity on the ball despite improvement midweek against Wrexham. 2-1 Hull City. 

MILLWALL V PRESTON NORTH END

Millwall, in the play-off places despite losing for the first time in weeks against Birmingham City, will look to regain their form against Preston North End, who sit one place above them on a winning run of three matches.

Alex’s Prediction: Two sides who have gone above and beyond so far this season, but Millwall have to improve their form at home if they wish to finish the campaign as they’ve left off. I think Heckingbottom will have them numbered, and grab a 1-0 win for Preston.

Christian’s Prediction: Two sides that are clinging to each other in playoff positions. Neither side was expected to have such a bright start, but recent form has shown a slight dip for Alex Neil’s Millwall. Preston are on a three-game winning streak, averaging more goals and conceding a lower average too. Predicting a confident North End outing, 3-1.

Ryan’s Prediction: Preston have been fantastic this season – a real surprise package. Iversen, Armstrong, Small have been in quality form but Millwall will look to bounce back after a poor result at Birmingham. I think Millwall edge a 2-1 win here, late winner against a strong Preston defence.

MIDDLESBROUGH V BIRMINGHAM CITY

Middlesbrough, dropping off after their great run of form, are now out of the automatic spots and face a Birmingham City side who were rampant in a 4-0 win over Millwall. A win could take the visitors into the play-off spots.

Alex’s Prediction: This is going to be a really interesting game, especially for neutrals. Birmingham will attempt to dominate proceedings, but the hosts are brilliant without the ball, shutting down attacks in a decent press. It really is an unpredictable one. Mistakes are likely. 2-2.

Christian’s Prediction: Boro need to show character this weekend. Without a win in three, managerial uncertainty has dampened their early season. Birmingham have finally worked out all the tweaks in their 4-2-3-1 system, and have won 4-0 in both of their previous games, sitting only five points off their Teesside opponents. Boro are yet to lose at home, with Birmingham looking to maintain their form. 2-2.

Ryan’s Prediction: Boro have been strong at home this season, Rob Edwards side definitely more accustomed to conceding possession rather than dominating it. A high-scoring Birmingham could take charge on the ball, I can see a 2-2 draw. 

NORWICH CITY V LEICESTER CITY

Norwich, winless in their last ten league matches, have a tough test in hosting Leicester City, who are winless in their last five. It’s a battle between two managers under pressure, at Carrow Road.

Alex’s Prediction: Norwich have to start getting results. I feel as if I say this every week, but now surely is make or break time for Liam Manning. Leicester just look to have a poor squad, and didn’t have the means to refresh it over the summer. Is Cifuentes the man? He’ll probably get them a win here. 1-0 to Leicester.

Christian’s Prediction: Marti Cifuentes is on thin ice amongst the Leicester fanbase, given their lowly 18 points. At this stage, under Maresca, they already had 39! Norwich have endured their toughest starts in a while, sitting 23rd and scraping a draw against Sheffield Wednesday in midweek. The Foxes haven’t been great, but should be comfortable enough to pick up a result. 2-0.

Ryan’s Prediction: Both Norwich and Leicester have been in rotten form for a while now. But if Norwich sit back, perform the basics well enough, double up on Fatawu, then move fast on the break, the likes of Winks, Ayew, Vestergaard, Soumare, Okoli, Thomas will physically and athletically struggle. That’s the formula that beats Leicester at the moment. Big chance for Norwich to hit some form. 2-0 Norwich.

SHEFFIELD UNITED V QUEENS PARK RANGERS

Chris Wilder hasn’t exactly restored the feel-good factor at Bramall Lane, with the Blades still sitting in the relegation zone after fourteen matches. They’re visited by QPR, a side with just one win in their last five.

Alex’s Prediction: The Blades haven’t had a steady ship, even with Wilder returning, but a visit from one of the league’s most inconsistent sides should be a chance to make amends. 1-0 to Sheffield United.

Christian’s Prediction: The Blades are still suffering, but have undergone major improvements under Chris Wilder. Gustavo Hamer has created four big chances this season, and his ability to unlock defences should be crucial. But QPR must see this fixture as a way to regain confidence. After losing to out-of-form Southampton, they’ll be eager to retrieve three points on the road. 1-0 to the Hoops. 

Ryan’s Prediction: Sheffield United have been laughably bad this season under both Ruben Selles and Chris Wilder. QPR should have made much more out the Southampton game but with the Blades at Bramall Lane, I can see Callum O’Hare pulling them through. 3-1 to Sheffield United.

SOUTHAMPTON V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

Hosts Southampton will be managed once again by interim Tonda Eckert, after winning midweek. They’ll be hoping to grab a more comfortable win, against a side in negative points at the bottom of the table.

Alex’s Prediction: The Saints need to win back-to-back for the first time in over eighteen months, and now is surely the time to do that. I’ll back them to get a result against an already down-and -out Owls. 2-1 to Saints.

Christian’s Prediction: The Saints finally gained their third win of the season against QPR in midweek. Goal scorers Leo Scienza and Jay Robinson are their main threats and will be relied upon once again. Signing Romeu will likely provide a morale boost, especially as they face the Owls, who haven’t won since September when they beat Southampton rivals Portsmouth. The Saints will need to build upon their win with another victory this weekend. 1-0 Southampton. 

Ryan’s Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday feel like Wayne Rooney’s Derby a few years back. Respectable effort in recent encounters with Pederson doing his very best. Saints need to build off the win at Loftus Road with a more convincing performance. I think they’ll get that. 3-1 Southampton. 

STOKE CITY V COVENTRY CITY

It’s a face-off between the top two sides in the division – top versus second. Coventry’s two most recent managers will attempt to topple one another, both doing remarkably well in the league.

Alex’s Prediction: Both very good sides, who play differently. You can see the different places that each respective team is in – Stoke are in their Robins rebuild era, whereas Cov are building towards the Premier League under Lampard. I can see Cov winning (again). 2-0 to Coventry.

Christian’s Prediction: Both sides occupy the automatic spots, with Lampard’s Sky Blues just edging it at the top. Coventry have only lost once this season, averaging almost 3 goals per game. Stoke have found their goal-scoring rhythm too, and will pose a massive threat. Expect chaos, 3-3.

Ryan’s Prediction: Stoke with nine scored in their last three and Coventry with eight scored in as many games. Not a good day to be a defender. I think Mark Robins gets one over Coventry and Stoke enjoy a 3-2 win over the league leaders.

SWANSEA CITY V IPSWICH TOWN

Extremely inconsistent sides, Swansea City and Ipswich town both side mid-table, and will be vying for a positive result to gain momentum at the Liberty Stadium.

Alex’s Prediction: Ipswich should have the quality to prevail, but both sides are so inconsistent that who knows what will happen. The attacking impetus that the Blues hold in Hutchinson, Szmodics and Walle Egeli should be enough. 2-1 to Ipswich.

Christian’s Prediction: Swansea are struggling defensively, unable to complete a clean sheet in five games. The Tractor Boys, meanwhile, have scored seven goals in that period and haven’t lost in their past three. 3-1 to McKenna’s side.

Ryan’s Prediction: Two underperforming teams facing each other here. Ipswich will be hoping they’ve turned a corner since that 3-0 thrashing to Nathan Jones, whilst Swansea have been riding luck with performances on a few occasions now. I think Ipswich snatch a 2–1 win this weekend. 

WEST BROMWICH ALBION V OXFORD UNITED

Two sides, who will be uncomfortable with their current placings in the table, meet at the Hawthorns. West Brom, the hosts, have won just one game in their last five, while visitors Oxford have won just two.

Alex’s Prediction: The Baggies need to improve both performances and results, and winning at home against the only club outside of Sheffield in the drop zone would be a decent start. 2-0 to West Brom.

Christian’s Prediction: Ryan Mason has slowly lost the support of the Baggies fan base, while Oxford sit just above the relegation zone under Gary Rowett. With neither side looking too strong, a goalless draw could be on the cards. 0-0.

Ryan’s Prediction: Ryan Mason is in desperate need of a win and a convincing performance, with some pretty dire displays on the eye recently. Oxford defensively are quite suspect. 2-0 West Brom. Isaac Price to ooze class.

WREXHAM V CHARLTON ATHLETIC

Welsh manager Nathan Jones will travel to his home nation in an attempt to further their league position. The Addicks sit in sixth place and are soaring past expectations. Meanwhile, fellow-promoted club Wrexham are doing a solid job in mid-table.

Alex’s Prediction: Wrexham have been solid, but nothing special this season. You could mistake fellow-promoted club Charlton for the ‘Hollywood club’, as they look exceptional under Nathan Jones. I can see it being honours even, 0-0.

Christian’s Prediction: A mediocre performance in midweek completely contrasted Wrexham’s performance prior, outperforming league leaders Coventry in a 3-2 win. Charlton have kept the most clean sheets in the League and operate with the 23rd lowest possession in the league, highlighting that they’re most effective in their direct style of play. Nathan Jones’s undeniable passion and hard work philosophy is paying off big time for the promoted side. 3-0 Charlton. 

Ryan’s Prediction: Charlton unbeaten in five and have only one loss at home so far this season. Away at Wrexham could be a tougher game than you think, especially since they didn’t play their best against West Brom. I’ll go for a 1-1 draw, to add to Wrexham’s four 1-1 draws already this season.

Writers vs Guests Table

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