Matthew O’Regan has four best bets for the second weekend of the 2025/26 Championship season.
Sheffield Wednesday vs Stoke
Sheffield Wednesday’s issues are well known. Players are leaving due to unpaid wages, the squad is wafer thin and popular manager Danny Rohl departed the club.
Despite this, the Owls have been defiant, losing 2-1 at Leicester in their Championship season opener, before a heavily rotated side saw them draw 3-3 at Bolton in the Carabao Cup. With Nathaniel Chalobah limping off injured in the first half at the King Power, Henrik Pedersen’s squad has got even weaker.
Stoke started the season with an emphatic 3-1 win over dark horses Derby. Mark Robins’ side scored all three goals from the 90th minute onwards – showcasing their fitness. If the scores are tight heading into the latter stages of the game, the Potters may just have the physical edge.
Sheffield Wednesday conceded in the 54th and 87th minute in the defeat against Leicester and two of the goals against Bolton came in the 77th minute onwards as their small squad became fatigued.
I expect this to be the case again, ultimately leading to Stoke winning the game.
Swansea vs Sheffield United
Swansea ended the season strongly under interim manager Alan Sheehan, ultimately leading to him getting the job full time.
The Swans hierarchy, to my surprise, have backed the 38-year-old and given him a strong squad to mould, with more incomings likely. While they lost 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the opener, it was a drab affair, with just nine shots and 0.45 xG combined.
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After their playoff final heartbreak, Sheffield United look to have had a summer of regression. Chris Wilder – a manager who brought the best out of his beloved club - has moved on, with his passion and endeavour perhaps papering over some worrying cracks behind the scenes.
Ruben Selles was appointed as manager and things have not started swimmingly. A 4-1 loss at home to Bristol City – a side they beat 6-0 over two legs in the playoffs a mere three months ago, and a 2-1 loss at Birmingham in the EFL Cup makes for grim reading for Blades fans.
Millwall vs Middlesbrough
Millwall are my dark horse in the Championship this season and backed up this claim with an impressive 2-1 win at Norwich on the opening day.
Under Alex Neil, the Lions have been in superb, only promoted duo Burnley and Leeds as well as Coventry have taken more points than them since the turn of the year. With a summer of strong recruitment as well as key retentions, Millwall look in a strong position to open their account at the Den with a win.
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The same cannot be said for Middlesbrough. A dramatic drop off from January saw them miss out on the playoffs and cost Michael Carrick his job – Rob Edwards was hired as his replacement. Incomings have been slow and this looks to have affected them in the early stages of the season.
Boro were poor but got the job done in the opener against Swansea, before they were stunned 0-4 by a heavily rotated Doncaster side in the EFL Cup.
Watford vs QPR
CEO Christian Nourry has been exemplary in his recruitment thus far, with QPR boasting an attack that would be the envy of most of the league. The season started with a disappointing 1-1 draw against Preston, but the Hoops are well versed to challenge up the league this season.
Watford sacked Tom Cleverly after a disastrous end to the season. No current Championship team (of those that were in the league last season) took fewer points than the Hornets in 2025.
Paulo Pezzolano was appointed as new manager to try and rejuvenate a growingly discontent crowd. Two losses to start the season hasn’t done himself any favours and with QPR likely to play on the counter attack, the disgruntled crowd could get on the home sides back.
