The clocks go back in a week, but the Championship table already looks like a time capsule from a decade ago — and this weekend’s fixtures could reshape the promotion race. Here are five storylines to watch across the EFL, with Swansea vs West Ham headlining Saturday.
Swansea (Credits: BBC Sport)
Swansea vs West Ham: First Against Third
Tuesday’s last-gasp winner at Millwall made it four straight wins for Swansea either side of the international break, keeping the Swans top of the Championship — 16 years since they last won promotion. Waiting for them on Saturday at 15:00 BST are title favourites West Ham, who sit four points back in third after a 6-0 romp at nine-man Lincoln.
The clash is a genuine style showdown. The Hammers are the leading scorers across the top four tiers of English football with 29 goals in 10 games, but they now face the meanest defence in the division, with Swansea conceding just seven. West Ham remain unbeaten in the league on their travels, while the Swans are yet to lose at home, conceding only twice in five games. Something has to give.
Birmingham vs QPR: Surprise Package Showdown
Not many tipped Birmingham as the leading West Midlands club, or QPR as the best in London, after 11 games — but that’s the table right now. Chris Davies’ Birmingham side romped to a 4-0 win over lowly Preston on Tuesday to go fourth, taking 10 points from a four-match unbeaten run. Fifth-placed QPR ended a four-match drawing streak by walloping Derby 4-1, and Rangers remain unbeaten in five league games on the road with the division’s best away defensive record.
Birmingham have not reached the Premier League since 2009; QPR’s last promotion came in 2014. Saturday’s result will show which side, if not both, is a genuine promotion contender.
Leicester’s Home Misery
Leicester City might have preferred an away game on Saturday. Last weekend’s dismal 3-1 defeat by lowly Peterborough was a third defeat in their past four home league games, during which they have shipped nine goals — and heaped pressure on Russell Martin, who admitted there would be “no quick fix” if he were sacked.
The Foxes sit 17th, one point off the drop zone, and midfielder John Lundstram has spoken of the team playing with “anxiety” at home. They remain unbeaten on the road, where six of their nine points have come, but visiting Doncaster — who have won their past three games in all competitions without conceding — will fancy their chances at the King Power.
League One’s Logjam
For unpredictability, look no further than League One, where just four points separate the top seven and any one of four teams could sit top on Saturday evening. Huddersfield conceded a 98th-minute equaliser at home to Sheffield Wednesday last time out, leaving them three points off the summit ahead of a 600-mile round trip to leaders Plymouth at 15:00 BST.
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Source: BBC Sport — read the full story there.
