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Saturday's Championship predictions including Cardiff City vs. Swansea City

Sports Mole provides score predictions and previews for all of today's Championship fixtures, including Cardiff City vs. Swansea City.


Cardiff vs. Swansea (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Swansea City manager Luke Williams on December 21, 2024© Imago

The 119th South Wales derby is almost upon us, as Cardiff City and Swansea City prepare for a Championship showdown at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

The near neighbours are both seeking a return to triumphant ways, as the Bluebirds were held to a 1-1 draw by Watford in midweek, while their visitors have not played since losing 3-0 at Southampton in the FA Cup.

We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Swansea City


The freshest legs at the Cardiff City Stadium will no doubt belong to the visitors, but Williams could be working around a diminished defence yet again, and his side are hardly pulling up trees on the road.

As was the case in September, we can envisage another closely-contested derby ending all square, as the Bluebirds remarkably play out their fourth 1-1 Championship draw in succession.

> Championship Preview: Cardiff vs Swansea


Millwall vs. Hull City (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Millwall boss Alex Neil on January 4, 2025© Imago

Hull City will look to bounce back from their recent FA Cup exit when they travel to The Den for Saturday's Championship meeting with Millwall.

Meanwhile, the Lions will be hoping to claim a second straight victory after sweeping past Dagenham & Redbridge in the FA Cup.

We say: Millwall 1-1 Hull City


Millwall and Hull have drawn three of their last five head-to-head matches, including their previous two meetings at The Den, and we think that they could cancel one another out to play out a familiar result in Saturday's league clash.

> Championship Preview: Millwall vs Hull City


Plymouth vs. QPR (Saturday, 12.30pm)

Cercle Brugge head coach Miron Muslic celebrates after winning the match on August 1, 2024© Imago

Plymouth Argyle host Queens Park Rangers this weekend hoping to get their first win under new head coach Miron Muslic.

Muslic took charge of Argyle for the first time on Tuesday evening, as his new side earned a point in a 1-1 draw against Oxford United.

We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Queens Park Rangers


Plymouth have shown their fighting spirit in recent weeks and remain unbeaten since Rooney's departure from the club.

However, we believe that QPR will snatch the three points this weekend, as they aim to close the nine-point gap between themselves and the playoff zone.

> Championship Preview: Plymouth vs QPR


Coventry vs. Bristol City (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Coventry City head coach Frank Lampard on December 7, 2024© Imago

Following contrasting results in the FA Cup third round, Coventry City and Bristol City resume their Championship duties at the Coventry Building Society Arena on Saturday afternoon.

Frank Lampard's men prevailed on penalties over Sheffield Wednesday last time out in the cup, whereas the Robins were no match for Premier League strugglers Wolverhampton Wanderers.

We say: Coventry City 1-1 Bristol City


There was nothing to separate Coventry or Bristol City in August's Championship contest at Ashton Gate, and Saturday's reunion looks primed for another closely-contested affair.

The Sky Blues have developed a resilient streak on home soil of late, while Bristol City have not travelled well over the past few weeks, and a low-scoring stalemate seems inevitable.

> Championship Preview: Coventry vs Bristol City


Derby vs. Watford (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Derby County manager Paul Warne on December 29, 2024© Imago

Derby County and Watford will both be desperate to claim all three points when they face off at Pride Park in Saturday's Championship encounter.

The Rams have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions, while the visitors have gone five competitive matches without a win.

We say: Derby County 2-2 Watford


On paper, Watford should be the stronger side, having picked up 11 more points than the Rams, but they have struggled to produce their best form on the road this season, and with that in mind, we think they will be held to a draw in Saturday's meeting at Pride Park.

> Championship Preview: Derby vs Watford


Luton vs. Preston (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Wycombe Wanderers manager Matt Bloomfield during match against Leyton Orient, on October 26, 2024© Imago

Luton Town begin life under new manager Matt Bloomfield this weekend, as they welcome Preston North End to Kenilworth Road.

The new boss joined the Hatters from League One outfit Wycombe Wanderers earlier this week and will be in the dugout for this weekend's clash with the Lilywhites.

We say: Luton Town 2-1 Preston North End


We think that Luton will begin life under their new boss with a win this weekend, as they come up against a Preston team that have not performed on their travels so far this season.

A win here would provide a big boost for the Hatters, as they look to steer themselves away from the drop zone in the Championship, and we think they will continue to lean on their good home form with another win here.

> Championship Preview: Luton vs Preston


Oxford Utd vs. Blackburn (Saturday, 3.00pm)

John Eustace manager of Blackburn Rovers on August 2, 2024© Imago

Blackburn Rovers travel to Oxford United this weekend as the two sides square off in a Championship encounter at the Kassam Stadium.

Heading into this clash, the visitors sit in fifth position in the standings, having moved into the playoff zone with a win against Portsmouth on Wednesday evening.

We say: Oxford United 0-1 Blackburn Rovers


Rovers are getting back into form after their blip around the Christmas period, so we expect them to pick up three points here against Oxford.

It should be a tight encounter between the two clubs, but the visitors have a strong defence and we think they can grab a goal to seal another important win for Eustace's men.

> Championship Preview: Oxford Utd vs Blackburn


Portsmouth vs. Middlesbrough (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Portsmouth manager John Mousinho on January 15, 2025© Imago

Relegation-threatened Portsmouth will look to end a run of three consecutive defeats when they welcome Middlesbrough to Fratton Park on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Middlesbrough will be hoping to extend their unbeaten league run, having avoided defeat in each of their last six Championship outings.

We say: Portsmouth 1-2 Middlesbrough


While Portsmouth may have fared well in recent home outings, they will be aware of the tough test that awaits them on Saturday, and we think Middlesbrough will have the extra quality required to condemn Pompey to their first home defeat since October.

> Championship Preview: Portsmouth vs Middlesbrough


Sheff Utd vs. Norwich (Saturday, 3.00pm)

Sheffield United head coach Chris Wilder on November 2, 2024© Imago

Sheffield United take on Norwich City this weekend, aiming to strengthen their push for promotion back to the Premier League next season.

Both sides head into the clash eager to respond after suffering disappointing exits in the FA Cup third round last time out.

We say: Sheffield United 2-0 Norwich City


Norwich are missing some key players in their attack this weekend, so we think that the hosts will win relatively comfortably against the Canaries.

The Blades need to continue their push for promotion and we fancy them to do that against a Norwich side that have only kept four clean sheets in the league all season.

> Championship Preview: Sheff Utd vs Norwich


West Brom vs. Stoke (Saturday, 3.00pm)

West Bromwich Albion celebrating a goal in December 2024.© Imago

Aiming to make a return to the top six in the Championship table, West Bromwich Albion will welcome Stoke City to the Hawthorns on Saturday.

On both sides' return from FA Cup action last weekend, the hosts trail the playoff spots by a single point, while their visitors will hope to climb from 19th spot with a first league win under the management of Mark Robins.

We say: West Bromwich Albion 1-1 Stoke City


Stoke City have shown encouraging signs in their first outings under Mark Robins, and we back them to pick up a creditable result against a West Bromwich Albion side who are yet to return to the form they showed under Carlos Corberan.

> Championship Preview: West Brom vs Stoke

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Sunderland manager Regis Le Bris prior to kick-off against Millwall, on November 23, 2024
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3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd26166436171952
4Sunderland27149439221751
5Blackburn RoversBlackburn2612683123842
6Middlesbrough26118743321141
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom26913432211140
8Watford26115103637-138
9Bristol City2691073330337
10Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds2610793840-237
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12Swansea CitySwansea2697103030034
13Queens Park RangersQPR2671182934-532
14Millwall257992423130
15Preston North EndPreston2661282834-630
16Coventry CityCoventry2678113437-329
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd2678112941-1229
18Derby CountyDerby2676133135-427
19Stoke CityStoke2669112432-827
20Luton TownLuton2674152744-1725
21Cardiff CityCardiff2659122641-1524
22Hull City2658132536-1123
23Portsmouth2558123044-1423
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth2649132554-2921


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