Exclusive: Don Goodman names the EFL Championship clubs he is most concerned about right now | OneFootball

Two Championship clubs are feared for by the Sky Sports pundit

The 2025/26 Championship campaign is in full swing and has already sprung several surprises.

At the October international break stage, only one club relegated from the Premier League last term finds itself within the top eight.

Charlton Athletic have outperformed Birmingham City and Wrexham, whilst strugglers from the previous season, such as Preston North End and Stoke City, fight towards the top of the table.

The second-tier is often famed for its unpredictability, but this year already looks like one for the ages, with Coventry City and Middlesbrough vacating the two automatic promotion spots at this moment in time.

Frank Lampard’s side have netted a whopping 27 times in nine matches and still remain unbeaten. Haji Wright tops the division’s goalscoring charts with eight strikes thus far, and the Sky Blues currently look the team to beat.

Things haven’t been so brilliant for a number of other sides in the division though, with some outfits already potentially gearing up for an unexpected relegation scrap.

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Sky Sports pundit and ex-EFL striker, Don Goodman, has highlighted the two Championship teams that he fears for the most at this stage in the 2025/26 campaign.

Don Goodman holds fear for the Steel City clubs

“The simple answer to that question is the two Sheffield clubs,” stated Goodman.

“Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, for very different reasons. With United, the most horrific start. Obviously, they get rid of Ruben Selles, brought in Chris Wilder and even Chris is unable to really turn it around.

“Scoring goals continues to be a struggle. Just three goals in nine games is unbelievable. I worry about them a little bit at the moment.

“I’m cautiously optimistic though that Chris can turn it around. Sheffield Wednesday speaks for itself really. Despite the heroic, valiant efforts of this squad, there is a little bit of a lack of quality that is probably going to see them in a relegation scrap all the way to the bitter end.”

Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday could both be under serious relegation threat

Coming into the 2025/26 campaign, Sheffield Wednesday were predicted by many people to face an uphill battle against relegation.

The Owls suffered a summer of torment, which saw players not getting paid for multiple months, allowing them to leave the club for free.

There were issues with Hillsborough’s North Stand and a reluctance from Dejphon Chansiri to sell Wednesday, setting his valuation of the side at an unreasonable £100 million.

Naturally, the Owls have struggled so far, with a lack of quality and experience costing them in a large majority of their encounters thus far. However, they are ahead of one team in the standings.

Sheffield United have been, by far, the biggest shock of the 2025/26 Championship campaign. After scoring 90 points last term and narrowly missing out on promotion via the play-offs, the Blades lost the first five games of a Football League season for the second time in their history.

New boss Selles was sacked, with Wilder reintroduced for a third stint as manager, but even he has struggled to get the Bramall Lane outfit firing, losing two of his first three matches back in the dugout.

Wednesday and United occupy the bottom two places in the Championship at the October international break stage and will need some massive changes to turn that around.

They have both looked seriously uncompetitive at times this season, and if they aren’t careful, could soon find themselves lodged in an intense relegation scrap.