Image source, Shutterstock

Stoke City fans will really be hoping this is finally the year they mount a meaningful challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.

Since relegation from the top flight in the 2017-18 campaign, the Potters have not seriously competed at the top end of the Championship, failing to finish higher than 14th in eight straight seasons, let alone grab a play-off spot.

But Mark Robins is doing a fine job at the bet365 Stadium, with his side sitting sixth having won six of their past eight games (D1 L1) - the only defeat in that run a late hammer blow by Middlesbrough two weeks ago.

By stark contrast, Bristol City have not got going under Michael Skubala in his first season in charge yet.

The 15th-placed Robins have won just one of their past six games (D1 L4) and have only scored three goals in that time, so it is time for City to up the ante.

Naz Premji
BBC Final Score commentator at Deepdale

If Graham Alexander didn't know the task he has taken on at Preston North End he certainly does now!

Still searching for first points and a first win having overseen three straight defeats. The positive for any Lillywhites fans is that once he can get his own squad in place and make the necessary changes he needs the team will no doubt fly - just ask Bradford City fans for proof of that.

The short term goal is to get some positivity and climb off the foot of the Championship table - It won't be easy against high flying West Brom.

The Baggies look a real contender for promotion and James Morrison continues to shine in the hotseat at the Hawthorns. They will be looking to take three points down the M6 back to the West Midlands and pile on the misery for the home side.

All things point to an away win - Albion are unbeaten in their past seven league meetings against Preston and if current form is anything to go by then that run could well continue this afternoon.

But, as we always say, this is the Championship and no one will be shocked if the home side can manage to turn the form book upside down and provide a boost for their new manager.

Graham Alexander has pressed the importance of patience when it comes to getting his Preston North End side into shape enough to rise up the table. However, time is not an ally of a Championship manager.

Preston are already five points adrift from safety, nursing the worst goal difference in the league and it could get much worse.

Four of their next five opponents are currently inside the top eight, including today's visitors West Bromwich Albion.

Even if North End get their noses in front this afternoon, they will have to remain on their toes to hold out. No team is better at a comeback than the Baggies in the second tier, earning 10 points from a losing position so far this season.

Blackburn's strong start to the season looked like it was continuing when they raced into a 2-0 lead at West Brom last Saturday after just 12 minutes.

However, Rovers were left heading back up to Lancashire with no points after the hosts roared back to claim a 3-2 victory.

Still, Tony Mowbray's men have taken 15 points from their opening 11 games, one more than today's visitors.

Wrexham battered lowly Preston 4-1 last week but they've only managed one win and five goals from their five away games so far in the Championship this season.

This is the first meeting between these sides since then National League Lincoln City stunned Sean Dyche's Premier League Burnley in the FA Cup at Turf Moor in February 2017.

What a difference nine years makes.

Today the Imps welcome a Clarets side who are four points below them in the Championship standings after a wretched start to the campaign.

Lincoln, like Burnley, are without a home win so far this season but, after surrendering a 2-0 lead at Millwall last week, will hope that today is the day.

The injury-hit visitors know all about giving up leads. They've dropped a pretty staggering 15 points from winning positions in 2026-27.

Glenn Speller
BBC Sport England

Image source, Getty Images

Sunday, 26 October 2025, Lyle Foster has just scored a 95th-minute winner for Burnley in a 3-2 victory at Wolves to help move his side five points clear of the Premier League's relegation zone.

It was also the first time the Clarets had recorded back-to-back wins in the top flight for more than three years and there seemed to be plenty of reasons for optimism.

Roll forward 12 months and any sense of positivity has all but vanished with Burnley relegated, on the cusp of creating an unwanted home record and currently in the Championship's bottom three.

All of this has come amid growing unrest among supporters over the ownership of Alan Pace and ALK Capital, so just what has gone wrong?

Read more about Burnley's year long struggle here.

Three games down, eight more to come in the Championship this afternoon...

Let's take a look ahead.

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Darren Kenton
Former Norwich City defender on BBC Radio Norfolk

You'd be happy with any win. This was always going to be a difficult game and Norwich started very slowely, but they came back into it and got their goals.

They'll be delighted with this and they've got a few days now to look at it and hopefully start to look and climb up the table.

Image source, Getty Images

That is now three wins in a four-game unbeaten run for Portsmouth (D1) who have climbed from 19th to eighth in that time (before the rest of today's games of course).

As for Millwall, they have dropped to 13th. After two wins to start the season, they have now won just two of their 10 matches since then (D3 L5).

The Lions are also without a victory in their past three (D1 L2).

Malcolm Christie
Former Derby striker on BBC Radio Derby

The game changed after the sending off. I've never felt like that towards the end of the game. It almost felt inevatble Sheffield United would score.

Jacob Widell Zetterstrom was outstanding.

Sheffield United will be scratching their head with how they haven't come away with the win.

Image source, Getty Images

The Norwich City of last season re-emerges to hand Charlton their first defeat at The Valley this season.

The Canaries began to find their feet in the latter stages of the first half and after Paris Maghoma's 35th minute goal, the relegation battling side of late seemed well out of sight as they took control of the match.

All three of the Canaries goals were helped along with some poor defending though. Both Maghoma and Mathias Kvistgaarden were given far too much space, while Ivan Mesik's intervention on Anthony Musaba sent the strike into the net.

Charlton will feel sore that an own goal from Ruairi McConville was ruled out for offside that would have seen them equal at 2-2. They will feel even worse knowing that they continue to be without a win since August.

The 10-man visitors just hold on for a point.

Wow, what a game this ended up being!

Derby are now eight games without a win but that doesn't tell you a thing about this match or their performance in it.

The Rams deservedly led at the break thanks to Bobby Clark's goal and were fully on top until Dion Sanderson was sent off for a second yellow with just under 25 minutes to play.

That, combined with the introduction of Romelle Donovan for the Blades, TOTALLY changed this match and the home side poured forward.

Patrick Bamford bundled in from a Donovan cross and suffered a serious looking shoulder injury in the process.

Rams keeper Jacob Zetterstrom then made top saves to keep out Tyrese Campbell and Sydie Peck as Derby dug deep to leave with a point.

Into the final 30 seconds.

Can Derby hang on?

Darlin Yongwa's throughball finds its way to Anthony Musaba in the box, who would like a goal to his name having created the Canaries' third.

He gets a shot off but Charlton stopper Arthur Okonkwo thwarts it for a Norwich corner.

Pompey are up to eighth, at least for a couple of hours...

Carl Asaba
Former Sheffield United striker on BBC Radio Sheffield

That's such a great connection from Sydie Peck. Full credit to Zetterstrom. That's a fantastic save!

HOW HAVE SHEFFIELD UNITED NOT SCORED?!

Kalvin Phillips cuts back a clever free-kick for Sydie Peck to strike but Jacob Zetterstrom gets down brilliantly and then somehow, and I've no idea how, he stops the Blades scrambling the loose ball in.

Charlton fume as they watch Sam Field hold back Addicks substitute Micah Mbick in the box.

The referee waves their pleas away though. Mbick's efforts to stay on his feet were admirable but maybe he should have gone down earlier to make the most of it.

Five minutes to go.

Bobby Clark booked for a cynical foul on Femi Seriki as he tries to get to the byline for the home side.

Chance for the Blades.

Three minutes to go.

Andy Giddings
BBC Radio Sheffield commentator

Derby County, at this particular stage are just happy to be playing football in Sheffield United's half but you can't imagine that will be for long.