5 Championship tips for the Weekend’s Action - 6/8/22

Burnley are tipped by many to bounce straight back from relegation with promotion straight back into the Premier League this season. The Clarets host another team hopeful of promotion, Luton Town, at Turf Moor on Saturday.

Vincent Kompany’s new-look Clarets got off to a perfect start last weekend, seeing off play-off finalists Huddersfield at the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday night. Burnley controlled the game with 70% possession and 599 passes en route to the 1-0 win – more than double the number of passes than the home side and a clear indication of Burnley’s style of play without Sean Dyche.

Veteran striker Ashley Barnes played the full 90 minutes for Kompany’s side and, despite a lacklustre one goal all season last campaign, has shown previously that he has the ability to find the net in the Championship and the Premier League.

After surpassing expectations and earning a play-off spot last season, Luton were unable to get off to a winning start against Birmingham in their opening game last weekend. The Hatters could manage a draw against the Blues in a stalemate with very little chances.

Cardiff will be looking to make it two wins from two on Saturday, when they go up against Reading at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

After surviving relegation by finishing just one place above the bottom three, Reading could be in trouble this season if they don’t improve. The 2022/23 campaign hasn’t got off to a good start, losing away to Blackpool in their opener last weekend.

Fortunes were different for Cardiff last week, who got their season off to a great start, by beating title favourites Norwich in their first game of the season. Romaine Sawyers had a good game for the Bluebirds and grabbed the winner.

Another side that are one of the favourites to push for promotion is Sheffield United. Paul Heckingbottom’s men will be looking to bounce back from their opening day defeat to Watford when they face Millwall at Bramall Lane.

The Blades were beaten 1-0 last weekend, in a game that was always going to be difficult against a Watford side that still has lots of Premier League quality within their ranks. Heckingbottom made a big difference when he came in midway through last season, and after guiding United to a play-off semi-final place, the South Yorkshire outfit will be confident of building on that this campaign.

Millwall began their season with a big win last weekend, seeing off Stoke at home. The South East London outfit will have hope of pushing for a top six place, after finishing three places adrift of the play-off spots last season. After a good result to kick off the season, they could cause Sheffield United some problems, but the Blades will be after their first win and could be too much for the Lions.

Norwich suffered a disappointing defeat in their first game of the season and will be hoping to bounce back strongly this week, against League One champions Wigan.

After finishing rock-bottom of the Premier League, the Canaries are another side that have ambitions of bouncing straight back into the top tier. They got off to a far from the ideal start last week though, losing 1-0 away to Cardiff as well as having a man sent off. Captain Grant Hanley’s suspension will be a big miss at the back, but Dean Smith’s side should have enough to get past Championship new-boys Wigan.

Teemu Pukki played 78 minutes in the opener last Saturday but failed to find the net. The Finish striker will be looking to make a big difference for Norwich again this season, after proving across the past few years just how prolific he can be. Pukki scored 26 and 29 goals in the last two seasons he played in the Championship, as well as scoring 11 times in both Premier League seasons with the Canaries.

Two sides that will be looking to improve on their bottom-half finishes last season and maybe even push for a play-off spot are Preston and Hull, who meet at Deepdale on Saturday.

Preston finished 13th last season and have made some improvements that could develop them further. Talented young prospects Troy Parrott and Alvaro Fernandez have joined on loan from Tottenham and Manchester United respectfully, Robbie Brady signed on a free from Bournemouth, and Freddie Woodman joined from Newcastle – and there looks like there could even be more on the horizon. North End drew their first game in a stalemate with Wigan last week and will be after a win in their first game this season on home soil.

Hull got off to a winning start in their first game, beating Bristol City 2-1 at the MKM stadium. The Tigers have also brought in some new faces to boost their chances of a play-off place, bringing in plenty of players from the Turkish first division, along with two good signings from Fulham and Nottingham Forest in Jean Michael Seri and Tobias Figueiredo.