5 Championship Tips for the Weekend’s Action - 8/10/22

Swansea will be looking to continue their impressive form this weekend when they host Sunderland at the Swansea.com Stadium.

Swans boss Russell Martin has been nominated for the Championship Manager of the Month award for September, after seeing his side pick up wins against QPR and Hull whilst conceding just one goal all month.

The Welsh outfit’s form has continued into October, with a win last weekend away to West Brom, before coming from behind to emerge victorious against Watford on Wednesday. The four wins from their last five has seen Swansea rise up the table to sixth place and in the mix for a play-off spot.

Sunderland have won just once in their last five matches and are currently on a run of three draws on the bounce. The Black Cats have failed to score in both of their last two games following stalemates with Preston and Blackpool.

After a disappointing defeat in midweek, the league leaders travel to Stoke on Saturday aiming to return to winning ways and keep their place at the summit of the Championship.

Sheffield United go into the weekend on the back of a home defeat to QPR on Tuesday. The result was the Blades’ first loss in ten league matches, after their run of four straight league wins was cut to an end with the draw at home to Birmingham last weekend. Paul Heckingbottom’s side are still top of the table though, with a superior goal difference keeping them above Norwich.

Following two disappointing results over the past week, the Blades will be determined to return to winning ways and avoid slipping off the top spot. They come up against a Stoke side that are lying in 20th place after one win in their last six and without a win in their last three.

With Sheffield United slipping up in the past week, Norwich will be hot on their tail heading into their home clash with Preston on Saturday.

The Canaries are unbeaten in their last nine league games but could only manage a draw away to third-placed Reading on Tuesday night. The point put Dean Smith’s side level on points at the top, whilst keeping them two points clear of the Royals below them.

After 11 games, Preston have one of the most bizarre goalscoring records, with just four goals scored and four goals conceded! Ryan Lowe’s side went four games without a win, before picking up three points with a typically low-scoring 1-0 win over West Brom in midweek. The Lilywhites have shown so far this season that, even if their attack can’t find a way through, their defence isn’t likely to concede a lot.

Two teams lingering in the bottom half of the table meet this weekend, with Huddersfield and Hull set to battle it out for what would be a huge three points.

Huddersfield are 23rd, second-from-bottom, after just two wins from their 11 league fixtures this season. The Terriers managed to claim a point at Luton in midweek, twice going in front before finding a late equalizer to leave Bedfordshire with a point.

Hull ended a run of five straight league defeats on Wednesday with a home win over Wigan. It leaves the Tigers in 17th place on 14 points, four clear of the bottom three.

Oscar Estupinan will be the one that Huddersfield will have to keep an eye on. The Hull striker is the top scorer in the Championship, with eight goals in his 12 league appearances this season.

Just one point separates Wigan and Cardiff in the Championship table, with the teams locking horns this weekend.

The hosts are 12th in the standings on 16 points. The Tics have won three and lost two of their last five games following the midweek defeat to Hull.

Cardiff are in 15th spot and could climb above their opponents with a win. Mark Harris’ late goal was enough to earn the Bluebirds the three points at home to Blackburn on Tuesday night.

There have been nine goals in Cardiff’s last five league games, with the Welsh side scoring five. There have been 12 goals in Wigan’s last five, with Wigan scoring seven. It could be another high-scoring game between two evenly-matched sides this weekend.