EFL Championship 2025/26 Preview & Predictions Week 19: Featuring TacticalToffee | OneFootball

Welcome back to the 2025/26 Championship preview and predictions! We’re nearly twenty editions in now!

Who will come on top in this week’s Championship action?

Last week, Alex and Christian took on the Championship Supercomputer – that didn’t end up being so super, scoring just 4 points in our league table (see at end of article). Can this week’s guest beat that score?

This Week’s Guest

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by TacticalToffee, a great football analyst and Everton fan over on X/Twitter – make sure to check him out!

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 19 Preview & Predictions

HULL CITY V MIDDLESBROUGH

Second-place Middlesbrough travel to the MKM Stadium to face a Hull City side who have lost just twice at home so far this season. The away side’s form on the road hasn’t been as good as their record at the Riverside, and will hope to resolve this under new boss Kim Hellberg.

Alex’s Prediction: Hull have a good home record, but Middlesbrough look better already under Kim Hellberg. A tight draw. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Injuries have piled up for both sides. Kim Hellberg gained his first win last weekend but faces a tougher challenge tonight, 2-2.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Hull looked good in their turnaround against Stoke, and will carry that confidence with them against Boro, who have a good squad that will score goals. 1-1.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC V PORTSMOUTH

Both Charlton and Portsmouth have just one win apiece in their last five games, in poor periods. The away side have lost three of their last four.

Alex’s Prediction: Portsmouth are a poor side, and I think Nathan Jones’ Charlton will be desperate to get back on form. 2-0 to Charlton.

Christian’s Prediction: Charlton remain unbeaten in six meetings with Portsmouth dating back to 2021. Sitting 17th, Nathan Jones’ men will look to restore form against 22nd-placed Pompey. 2-1 Charlton.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Two poor sides, but I think Charlton have more quality and will win. 1-0 to Charlton.

DERBY COUNTY V LEICESTER CITY

Derby County’s record at Pride Park is completely even – three wins, three draws and three losses. They’re visited by a Leicester City side out of form; the Foxes have lost their last two games while conceding six goals.

Alex’s Prediction: The hosts are solid, and Leicester have been very poor as of late. I can only see this going one way. 2-1 to Derby.

Christian’s Prediction: Leicester haven’t kept a clean sheet in their past 12 matches under Martí Cifuentes. Derby are in superior form and average more goals per 90 (1.39) compared to Leicester’s 1.22. Having lost only once in their past five home games, Derby will look to keep that momentum. 1-0 Derby.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Leicester need a win and with their quality and I think with their quality they will shine and do it with a statement. 3-0 to Leicester,

WATFORD V NORWICH CITY

It’s been a mixed bag for hosts Watford, who have picked up points in four of their last five games, but have only won one in the process. They’re visited by Norwich City, fresh with new manager Phillipe Clement, who got them their first home win of the season last weekend.

Alex’s Prediction: The Hornets are better under Javi Gracia, but so are the Canaries under Clement. It should be a close encounter. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: The Canaries have won each of the past four meetings in this clash. Philippe Clement finally secured a home victory, beating QPR 3-1 and carving out four big chances, signalling a potential turn in form. With Watford’s stronghold at home, a tight contest at Vicarage Road is expected. 2-2.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Watford have some great prospects that just need gelling, they score, but concede and I think that’s where they slip up. 2-1 to Watford.

BLACKBURN ROVERS V SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY

After a vein of good form, Blackburn Rovers have waned again, winning one in five. They host a Sheffield Wednesday who sit on minus points, and playing for pride if nothing else.

Alex’s Prediction: Blackburn aren’t a great side, but they’re much better than an all-but depleted Owls side. 3-1 to Sheffield Wednesday.

Christian’s Prediction: The Owls are winless in their past twelve fixtures. Blackburn were unbeaten in this clash last campaign and will see this as the perfect opportunity to boost their home form to two wins. 3-1 Blackburn.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Two very bad sides, bad vibes from both and no threats whatsoever. 0-0.

BRISTOL CITY V MILLWALL

A clash between two sides in the play-off spots, both will be hoping to maintain their places in the top six.

Alex’s Prediction: The Robins are a good side, but Millwall are top-notch under Alex Neil. 1-0 to Millwall.

Christian’s Prediction: Despite being third, Millwall could be displaced by the Robins, who sit sixth, with a win on Saturday. Bristol City have scored more and conceded less, but Alex Neil’s men are two wins from two, involving a crucial victory last week against Southampton. 2-1 Millwall.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Bristol City have Mehmeti in great form and he’ll find the winner – and take MOTM. 1-0 to Bristol City.

IPSWICH TOWN V COVENTRY CITY

An inconsistent Ipswich Town host a Coventry City side looking destined for promotion, already twelve points clear in the automatic spots after eighteen games.

Alex’s Prediction: Ipswich could make a bit of a statement with a result here – and I have a feeling they may just do that. 2-1 to Ipswich.

Christian’s Prediction: Coventry have been superb but have yet to face one of the relegated sides from the Premier League. Ipswich are winless in two, following a poor performance against Blackburn in midweek. Ranking first for away record, Coventry will be the dominant force on Saturday, but McKenna’s men will fight. 3-2 Coventry.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Ipswich have had a dodgy backline at times this season, and Coventry will punish them with their extraordinary attack. 4-1 to Coventry.

PRESTON NORTH END V WREXHAM

The hosts sit in the play-off spots and are visited by an improving Wrexham, unbeaten in five and just three points off the top six themselves.

Alex’s Prediction: Wrexham are in great form, and I think they’ll cause an upset. 2-1 to Wrexham.

Christian’s Prediction: Wins have been a rarity on the road for Wrexham, though, with four draws and one loss in their past five away matches. Preston sit fifth for home form and have scored eight in their past five, conceding in each one. 2-1 Preston.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Dobbin and Jebbison link up very well and I think they can find holes in that Wrexham defence. 2-0 to Preston.

QUEENS PARK RANGERS V WEST BROMWICH ALBION

The Hoops keep looking as if they’ll hit form, but continue to hit woes. They sit thirteenth, winning and losing the same amount this season – seven games. The away side have the exact same results pattern.

Alex’s Prediction: The hosts need to reinforce their home advantage here, and against a struggling West Brom, could find this is the right time for that. 1-0 to QPR.

Christian’s Prediction: West Brom are unbeaten in the past six of this fixture, winning the previous two last season. Ryan Mason’s 3-2 win over Swansea bought him time but also showed potential. Backing them to continue on the up to go three unbeaten. 2-0 West Brom.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: QPR will score early, but West Brom dominate the game and get two late goals. 2-1 to West Brom.

SHEFFIELD UNITED V STOKE CITY

The Blades are starting to pick up form, rising to nineteenth last week, but will have a tough test in facing an on song Stoke City side who are fourth in the Championship table.

Alex’s Prediction: The Blades are much improved, but the Potters are the epitome of a Mark Robins team – solid whilst creative. 1-0 to Stoke.

Christian’s Prediction: Stoke have conceded just seven away, and the Blades have only scored seven at home. The Blades have seen an improvement in form under Wilder, with their last home outing a 3-0 cruise over Pompey. It won’t be an easy task for Stoke, and the Blades could pull off a surprise. 1-1.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: Sheffield United are regaining form, and will have that home backing, as well as having their players in sky-high confidence. Stoke won’t want to drop another three points. 2-2.

SOUTHAMPTON V BIRMINGHAM CITY

The Saints have won four out of five games under interim boss Tonda Eckert, and will hope to climb the table with yet another win at home against Birmingham City. The away side scored the joint-second most goals in the Championship last month, only behind the hosts.

Alex’s Prediction: The Saints will play most of this game without the ball, against Chris Davies’ possession-heavy style, I think this will suit the hosts more. 2-0 to Saints.

Christian’s Prediction: The Saints have been revitalised under Tonda Eckert, but a 3-2 loss against Millwall brought past defensive problems back into the spotlight. Expecting an open game between two goalscoring sides, 1-1.

Tactical Toffee’s Prediction: The score line won’t reflect how well Southampton actually played, it’ll be a shock win. 1-0 to the Saints.

SWANSEA CITY V OXFORD UNITED

Now with new manager Vitor Matos, Swansea City need results. They’ve lost their last five games, and will hope for a new lease of life to begin at home against Oxford United. The Yellows themselves are struggling, and have won just once in five.

Alex’s Prediction: Swansea will be looking for that new manager bounce – I think they’ll get it. 2-1 to Swansea.

Christian’s Prediction: Two sides hovering above the relegation zone, with just one point separating them. A clash with not a lot of expectations, but both should go for it. 3-2 Swansea.

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