Championship Week 7 Preview & Predictions: Featuring Alfie House

It feels like week six only just finished, but we’re back again for another round of previewing and predicting the Championship games to come!

Last week was our worst yet in terms of predicting correct results – it just shows how unpredictable the Championship can be! Let’s hope for some improvement this time around.

Contents show

This Week’s Guest

This week, we’re delighted to be joined by the Daily Echo‘s Senior Southampton FC reporter, Alfie House. Make sure to give him a follow on X!

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 7 Preview & Predictions

West Bromwich Albion v leicester city

Two sides in and around the play-off places after six weeks of the season clash at the Hawthorns on Friday night, in what is sure to be a tasty clash. Both teams, fit with new managers this summer, have dropped points in the last couple of games and will be looking to make amends here.

Alex’s Prediction: Leicester have surprised me so far, but haven’t had the most jam-packed games, which they will be happy with. Cifuentes’ direct style is being implemented well and I think they’ll have the edge over West Brom. 2-1 Leicester.

Christian’s Prediction: In the previous ten fixtures between both sides, the Foxes have won seven and drawn twice, only losing once against Albion. Ryan Mason’s Baggies have currently hit a stumbling block, too – losing two of their past three, which should benefit Cifuentes’ men. 2-1 Leicester.

Alfie’s Prediction: Leicester have been by far the best of the relegated teams and until any potential points deduction lands in their lap, they will be fancied to go on and win promotion. The Foxes to hand the Baggies a third straight loss. 1-0 Leicester.

COVENTRY CITY V BIRMINGHAM CITY

Sixth-place Coventry, one of two sides still unbeaten so far this season, welcome Chris Davies’ Birmingham City to the CBS. Birmingham have had a fairly inconsistent start, scoring five and conceding the same, but sit in a healthy position just outside of the play-off places. It’s sure to be an interesting affair.

Alex’s Prediction: Coventry have continued their good run of form from last season to this campaign, which I didn’t completely expect. Birmingham have been good considering they just got promoted, albeit making a lot of signings to back it up. 2-0 Coventry.

Christian’s Prediction: Since Coventry thumped QPR 7-1, they have yet to win in their last three games. A worrying stat, considering Birmingham will be keen and full of confidence to pick up from last weekend’s dramatic victory against Swansea. 1-0 Birmingham.

Alfie’s Prediction: A close-run Midlands derby to look forward to. Both teams are on 10 points from six matches but Coventry are the league’s highest scorers with a ridiculous 15 goals. Birmingham, meanwhile, have only scored five. 2-1 Coventry .

SWANSEA CITY V MILLWALL

Perhaps predictably, both Swansea and Millwall sit in familiar mid-table positions in the Championship. Two outfits used to the division, they will be looking to use that experience to potential shock play-off bids.

Alex’s Prediction: I can see it being a tight one, two sides who know the division and have had very solid starts. I can see Swansea edging this one, given their better defensive record and ‘home advantage’ here. 1-0 Swansea.

Christian’s Prediction: Millwall are known for defensive stability, but Swansea have looked more solid at the back, conceding an average of only 0.83 goals per match. With Millwall yet to lose away from home this campaign, it will be an even matchup. 1-1.

Alfie’s Prediction: Another two teams who are well evenly matched with 10th-placed Millwall currently having the edge on Swansea in 11th by two points. Žan Vipotnik has been in exceptional form this season and he’ll bag again. 1-1.

WREXHAM V DERBY COUNTY

Two sides flirting with the drop zone, this game will serve as an early marker to where they’re at. Wrexham have just two wins altogether, while Derby have just the one. It could be a scrappy game!

Alex’s Prediction: Both sides have been pretty poor so far, so I can’t see this being the most spectacular of occasions. Wrexham will edge it, after their solid vein of form over the last few games. 2-1 Wrexham.

Christian’s Prediction: Phil Parkinson will be desperate to find form at Wrexham, especially after their ambitious transfer window. They’ll see this weekend as a must-win game, but Derby will too. 0-0.

Alfie’s Prediction: Derby County start the weekend in the relegation zone but could leapfrog Wrexham with a win at the Racecourse. Both teams know how to score goals but they also have among the leakiest defences in the league. 2-2.

CHARLTON ATHLETIC V BLACKBURN ROVERS

Blackburn Rovers, another side close to the drop zone, travel to the Valley to face a Charlton Athletic side that are silencing a lot of early doubters. Sitting in twelfth, Nathan Jones’ side have been tough opposition so far, and will look to keep it up in a game essential for both sides to win if they want to stay in the second tier.

Alex’s Prediction: I expected Charlton to be tough to beat this season, but I didn’t see them getting quite so many results. Blackburn continue to be extremely inconsistent, so I think Nathan Jones’ side will grind out yet another three points. 1-0 Charlton.

Christian’s Prediction: It’s the first time these sides have met since 2020 in the Championship. Blackburn have begun to hit their stride, winning two of the past three, whilst Charlton just defeated Chris Wilder’s Sheffield United. It’s a close call, but I think Blackburn will win. 2-0 Blackburn.

Alfie’s Prediction: Blackburn have spent the week feeling rather aggrieved that they may have to replay what would’ve looked like a crucial win against 10-man Ipswich Town due to a flooded pitch at Ewood Park. I think Nathan Jones will frustrate them here too. 1-0 Charlton.

IPSWICH TOWN V PORTSMOUTH

After a slow start to the season, Ipswich will be vying for consecutive home victories by winning this one at Portman Road. Portsmouth visit off the back of a disappointing loss to Sheffield Wednesday last weekend, they’ll be looking to bounce back here.

Alex’s Prediction: Ipswich should be beating of Portsmouth, especially considering Pompey fans acted as if they’d signed a world-beater in distinctly average footballer Conor Chaplin – and are without him in this one! They will also be without key players in Schmid and Murphy. Another battering is due – 3-1 Ipswich.

Christian’s Prediction: Portsmouth will be without loan signing Conor Chaplin due to him facing his parent club. The Tractor Boys have endured a mixed start, however, Portsmouth are yet to win away from home since opening day, 3-1 Ipswich.

Alfie’s Prediction: Portsmouth celebrated like they won the Championship when they registered one shot on target in a 0-0 at rivals Southampton. They were then humiliated 2-0 at home by Sheffield Wednesday, this one’s much harder. 3-0 Ipswich.

oxford united v sheffield united

Oxford United won for the first time last weekend, and host a Sheffield United side that has been winless so far. No side has ever stayed up when starting in this position, but if anyone can, Blades hero Chris Wilder can.

Alex’s Prediction: Chris Wilder will hope to secure the Blades’ first win in this one, and it is overdue. Despite being without a point as of yet, Wilder should have sorted them out by now. 2-0 Sheffield United.

Christian’s Prediction: The Blades sit at the bottom of the table with zero points out of a possible eighteen. A disastrous start that can only get better, right? Well, Oxford have just taken points off of Coventry, Leicester and Bristol City. Another loss for Wilder’s men wouldn’t be a shock this weekend, 1-0 Oxford.

Alfie’s Prediction: Chris Wilder was beaten 1-0 by Charlton in the first match of his third tenure at the Blades, but improvement will inevitably follow. Oxford are at home and in good scoring form with seven goals in their last three, but will come undone here. 2-1Sheffield United.

preston north end v bristol city

Another couple of teams who seem to finish mid-table every season, Preston and Bristol City have just one loss each so far, after excellent respective starts. Either side could end up in the play-off places with a win here.

Alex’s Prediction: Bristol City have been a very good watch this season, but lost heavily last weekend. It will be interesting to see how they bounce back against a decent Preston team, I think they will. 2-1 Bristol City.

Christian’s Prediction: Two identical starts to the season, with the only differences being that Bristol City have scored six more goals and conceded two more than North End. An even match-up, with a win up for grabs for either side, 2-1 Bristol City.

Alfie’s Prediction: The Championship’s two eternal midtable teams go head to head. Only difference this time is Bristol City are third and Preston are fifth, both believe they can qualify for the play-offs. Robins striker Emil Riis scores on his return to Deepdale. 1-1.

sheffield wednesday v queens park rangers

Sheffield Wednesday beat a terrible Portsmouth side to win their first league game of the season last weekend, and will hope to rise above the relegation zone with yet another win here. QPR have gone three wins in a row, looking as if they’re recovering from a rocky start.

Alex’s Prediction: Sheffield Wednesday have been admirably resilient so far this season, but I can’t see them getting anything against a QPR team flying at the moment. The Hoops will make it four-in-a-row and win here. 2-0 QPR.

Christian’s Prediction: QPR look to have settled under new manager Julien Stephen, with the humiliating 7-1 loss to Coventry seemingly a turning point, leading to three wins on the bounce. The Owls will not be relegated this season without a fight, unlike their Sheffield counterparts as of now, but may be second best this Saturday, 3-0 QPR.

Alfie’s Prediction: Julien Stéphan has made a promising start to life in the dugout at QPR, and they have won their last three since the 7-1 hammering at Coventry. Another win can get them into the top six and they should get it despite Sheffield Wednesday’s improvement. 2-0 QPR .

southampton v middlesbrough

The Saints host top of the table Middlesbrough, as one title favorite meets the early shock contenders. Rob Edwards’ Boro are unbeaten so far this season, but dropped points away to Preston North End in their last away game. After their tumultuous start, Will Still’s Southampton will hope to put out a statement performance at home here.

Alex’s Prediction: Still’s team has lacked all of the characteristics of a direct and high-pressing outfit so far this campaign, but there was improvement against Liverpool. I’d expect so see Nathan Wood and Elias Jelert come in and steady the ship, but Middlesbrough are a tough test, sat at the top of the table. Both sides will come away happy with a point. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: A match that, at the start of the season, would’ve favoured Southampton. The Saints have managed merely one win, which came on the opening day of the campaign and are in a massive period of transition. Rob Edwards has created a well-oiled machine at Teeside, and they’ll be as confident as ever when they travel to St. Mary’s. 2-2.

Alfie’s Prediction: Boro are currently the Championship’s leaders and they have taken an impressive 16 points from the first 18 available. They have done that by being a stern defence, while David Strelec looks a quality signing up front. Difficult game for Will Still’s side. 1-1.

stoke city v norwich city

Liam Manning will hope to relieve some of the early pressure on him with a victory against a Stoke side who have looked extremely exciting in the early weeks of the season. Stoke sit in the automatic promotion spots despite losing two of their last three league games.

Alex’s Prediction: Stoke were the best side I’ve seen visit Southampton this season, looking solid defensively but exciting on the counter- very Mark Robins. I can see them beating a struggling Norwich who have a few injury problems at the moment. 2-1 Stoke.

Christian’s Prediction: The Canaries are in the midst of an injury crisis, with key players like forward Mathias Kvistgaarden and defender Ben Chrisene out for the foreseeable future. Stoke have undergone their best start to a League season in 27 years under Mark Robins. 2-0 Stoke.

Alfie’s Prediction: Keeping Josh Sargent gives Norwich a chance in any game and I’ll never back against them scoring as a result, even with Liam Manning in charge. Stoke are currently second in the league though, conceding just four all season. 2-1 Stoke .

watford v hull city

Two sides who will hope to avoid a relegation battle this season meet at Vicarage Road. Watford sit just one place out from the relegation zone, whilst an excellent victory for Hull steered them away from the drop zone last weekend.

Alex’s Prediction: Both sides who provided tough tests at their home ground against Southampton, Watford and Hull are solid but offer different threats up front. I will go with the balance and say it’ll be a draw. 1-1.

Christian’s Prediction: Off the back of a superb win against Southampton, Hull will be eager to extend that gap from the relegation zone. Watford are slowly creeping down the table, sitting at 21st. Striker Oli McBurnie has already recorded three goals and three assists, and will likely be their main threat on Saturday. 2-1 Hull.

Alfie’s Prediction: Hull looked a very handy outfit in their surprise 3-1 win over Southampton last weekend, and Old McBurnie is more than capable as a Championship number nine. They will have too much for Watford, who sit in 20th with just five points. 1-0 Hull.

Writers vs Guests Table

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

Last week was… interesting with results!

	Alex	Christian	Guests
Week 1	7	2	4 (Jacob Horsfall)
Week 2	4	5	8 (Alan Nixon)
Week 3	4	10	3 (BenHD)
Week 4	4	3	5 (HCFootball01)
Week 5	4	3	8 (Martin Sanders)
Week 6	1	0	4 (Jake Beecher)
Week 7	–	–	– (Alfie House)
Total Points	24	23	32