Championship Tips: QPR to spoil Millwall's automatic promotion hopes

---

Blackburn vs Coventry - Sky Blues to be given tough test at Ewood Park

Click for Blackburn vs Coventry odds
Friday, 20:00, Live on Sky Sports Football 

Blackburn were second best against Southampton on Tuesday night. Although they weren't expected to win that game, conceding three times has negatively impacted their goal difference, which is now worse than Leicester, Oxford and West Brom. Rovers have been tougher to beat under Michael O'Neill, but they rested players in midweek with Ryan Hedges, Eiran Cashin, Yuki Ohashi and Ryoya Morishita all starting on the bench. With Pompey also picking up maximum points, O'Neill will surely revert to his strongest XI for this Friday night fixture in Lancashire. 

Rovers may be winless in three, yet they are a tough nut to crack at home. They've drawn each of their last three here and have conceded just once during that sequence. They've conceded just four times here since 24th January, and Coventry may find them difficult to penetrate, should they opt for their strongest possible line-up. 

Coventry have failed to score a goal in their last two matches, yet they remain in pole position and will be promoted if they can take at least a point from this away game. They can mathematically secure their return to the Premier League this weekend, and they should play with plenty of energy. 

They had 20 shots against Sheffield Wednesday, but only three of those were on target. Sakamoto's absence was keenly felt, and Haji Wright may not be fit enough to start a second consecutive game. Elis Simms may be given the nod for this one. 

The visitors have taken 13 points from a possible 15 on the road recently and they have conceded just once during that run. They may have to be patient in Lancashire, but they should eventually make the breakthrough. 

---

Listen to Football...Only Bettor Saturday preview

---

Derby vs Oxford - Points shared at Pride Park 

Click for Derby vs Oxford odds
Saturday 12:30, Live on Sky Sports+ App

There is still a faint chance that Derby will gatecrash the play-offs, with both Hull and Wrexham having a late-season wobble. Realistically, John Eustace's side are likely to miss out on the top six, and the dream will be pretty much over if they drop points here. 

The Rams have been inconsistent at home all season, yet they've finally found their groove at Pride Park, taking maximum points from each of their last five here. Patrick Agyemang's injury is unfortunate, but they have plenty of serviceable replacements. They were beaten by in-form Southampton last weekend, although they made the Saints work for that victory. They've lost four of their last nine, with all of those defeats coming on their travels against sides above them in the table. 

Oxford have lost just one of their last eight and have found form at the perfect time. Matt Bloomfield's side have gained confidence, and given themselves a realistic chance of remaining in the division. Despite this upturn, they have won just one of their last seven away from the Kassam, and this will be far from straightforward. 

Oxford need points and they will not go down without a fight. It wouldn't be a surprise to see them take a point from this tough away trip. 

---

Millwall vs QPR - R's to maintain their unbeaten run

Click for Millwall vs QPR odds
Saturday 12:30, Live on Sky Sports+ App

Millwall's last two performances have been a little underwhelming. Admittedly, last weekend they came up against a stubborn West Brom outfit, who happily settled for a goalless draw, but they were poor against Norwich in their previous outing at The Den. 

The Lions are two points behind Ipswich, but with just a single win from their last five, the play-offs seem the more likely option. They've failed to score a first-half goal in any of their last five matches, and need to make a faster start on Saturday lunchtime. On a positive note, they have an excellent recent record against QPR and Casper de Norre has signed a contract extension with the club this week. 

Millwall should win this, but they have been unreliable in Bermondsey and this is the wrong time to meet a team who are enjoying some late-season form. 

QPR are playing with very little pressure, and are unbeaten in their last five. They've been better on the road, helped by a handful of players finally returning from injury. They weren't at their best against Bristol City last weekend, but they look far more organised at the back, and probably should have beaten Preston on Easter Monday. They will make it tough for the hosts. 

---

Portsmouth vs Leicester - BTTS in the relegation battle 

Click for Portsmouth vs Leicester odds
Saturday 12:30, Live on Sky Sports Football

Portsmouth produced one of their best performances of the season on Tuesday night as they nullified Ipswich, beating the promotion chasers 2-0 at Fratton Park. Pompey have opened up a four-point gap on the bottom three, and are now unbeaten in four. John Mousinho made changes for the midweek match, with loanee Conor Chaplin ineligible to face his parent club and the injury-prone Keshi Anderson given 20 minutes from the bench. 

They created a decent number of chances during that game, with the recently goal-shy Colby Bishop back on the scoresheet. Having struggled to convert their opportunities, the hosts have now scored twice in each of their last two matches here, and will be expected to find a way past Leicester's untrustworthy backline. 

The Foxes continue to carve out chances, yet they are routinely failing to pick up points. With just one win in their last 16 games, it's easy to see how Gary Rowett's side have become embroiled in a relegation battle. They have managed to draw each of their last five on the road, although a point wouldn't be particularly useful for either side on Saturday lunchtime. 

Both teams must push for three points, and with the visitors' inability to defend, there should be a few goals in this televised tie. 

---

Bristol City vs Norwich - Canaries to edge past the much-improved hosts

Click for Bristol C vs Norwich odds
Saturday 15:00

Bristol City are unbeaten since Roy Hodgson arrived at Ashton Gate. The Robins have been much harder to beat, and, although the fixtures have been relatively kind, they are far sturdier and the players appear to be enjoying working under the former England boss. 

Norwich's season isn't over just yet, but last weekend's defeat to rivals Ipswich makes it increasingly difficult to reach the top six. Philippe Clement should be credited with overseeing a remarkable turnaround, and it's hard to believe that this talented squad could make such a tardy start to the campaign. 

Their away form has been excellent, winning seven of their last nine games on the road. They struggled to create many clear-cut chances last weekend, but this is a different assignment completely. They will want to extend their season as long as possible, and they could be a little more motivated for this. A draw is a realistic outcome here, yet the visitors could easily edge this. 

---

Hull vs Birmingham - Low-scoring encounter at the MKM 

Click for Hull vs Birmingham odds
Saturday 15:00

Hull's form has dipped lately, and they are viewed as the side most likely to drop out of the top six. The men from Humberside have some winnable-looking games on the horizon, yet they are not in particularly solid form currently and the goals appear to have dried up. 'Consistently inconsistent' is an accusation which has been thrown at Sergej Jakirovic's side throughout the season, yet they deserve to be in the mix, although their early season form is doing plenty of heavy lifting. 

Nevertheless, they were the better side against Coventry on Easter Monday, keeping a clean sheet and almost snatching all three points against the long-time league leaders. 

Birmingham produced their best performance of 2026 as they eased past Wrexham at St. Andrews last weekend. Chris Davies' future has been up for debate over the last few weeks, but he clearly has the players on board. They looked solid and restricted the Welsh side throughout the 90 minutes. They aren't as effective on their travels, but they will have taken plenty of confidence from that performance and may make it difficult for the hosts, who will begin to feel the pressure, should they fall behind. 

---

Preston vs West Brom - Yet another tight, low-margin contest for the visitors

Click for Preston vs West Brom odds
Saturday 15:00

PNE have found form in the final weeks of the season. Their fixtures have been relatively kind with visits to out-of-form Charlton and struggling Leicester, and home ties against fellow midtable dwellers Stoke and QPR. They will host a side who are scrapping for their lives at the bottom of the table, and may find it hard to break down a West Brom outfit who have recently kept Millwall off the scoresheet. 

A potential points deduction has been mooted for the visitors, and with that hanging over them at this late stage of the season, WBA must amass as many points as they possibly can. James Morrison's men are unbeaten in their last seven, and although they've climbed out of the drop zone, they are still far from secure. 

They have been able to restrict the opposition, but potentially lack the X-factor to kill off games. Wrexham are the only side to have found a way past the Baggies' rearguard since 11th March, and they've managed to keep clean sheets in three of their last five on the road. 

There is far more at stake for the men from the Black Country and they simply must maintain their unbeaten run on Saturday afternoon. 

---

Sheffield Wednesday vs Charlton - Another slow-burner at Hillsborough 

Click for Sheffield Wednesday vs Charlton odds
Saturday 15:00

Sheffield Wednesday withstood a barrage of Coventry shots last weekend to record an unexpected 0-0 draw at the CBS. Irrespective of all the off-field upheaval this season, the passion and determination of the playing squad has never been questioned and Henrik Pederson should be proud of their efforts. They have found a formula for keeping things tight, particularly here at Hillsborough, and they will take a similar approach to this contest. 

In-form Southampton are the only away side to have netted in the first half here since Boxing Day, with Ipswich, Wrexham and Millwall amongst the teams that have been restricted for the first 45. Visiting this ground isn't straightforward and Charlton will have their work cut out if they wish to make the breakthrough before the half-time whistle sounds. 

Charlton's season is petering out. They are winless in five and have lost three of those games. With six goals in the last eight, they aren't particularly prolific and they haven't netted a first-half goal on the road since visiting the King Power on 31st January. 

---

Swansea vs Southampton - Another entertaining afternoon in South Wales 

Click for Swansea vs Southampton odds
Saturday 15:00

Swansea have been much improved since Vitor Matos took over in South Wales, but they will be forced to settle for a mid-table finish. If they can improve their away form, then there's no reason why the Swans cannot compete for a top-six berth next year. At home, they've caused problems for many top-half sides, holding Middlesbrough, Millwall and Hull to draws at this venue, and although they were eventually defeated 3-0 by Coventry, they rattled the woodwork twice and couldn't take their opportunities. 

This is a tough task for Matos' men, yet they will still approach the game in a positive frame of mind and they won't be afraid to attack the Saints. They have several threats in their XI, including the free-scoring Zan Vipotnik and the improving wideman Ji-Sung Eom, and could easily get on the scoresheet. 

The Saints are in flying form and eased to victory in midweek against Blackburn. They are just a point behind Millwall, and although they are likely to run out of steam at some stage, they should play their part in an entertaining contest here. They've netted 17 times across their last six away games, and that is enough to strike fear into any defence. 

---

Watford vs Sheffield United - An end-of-season feel to the game at Vicarage Road 

Click for Watford vs Sheffield United odds
Saturday 15:00

Just three points separate Watford and Sheffield United in the Championship table, with neither side able to make a late dash for the top six. The Hornets were still in contention a few weeks ago, yet their form has taken a worrying dip and once again, questions have been asked about the suitability of Ed Still for the head coach role. 

Since beating Wrexham, they have netted just twice in their subsequent four matches, and have dropped points here against both Leicester and Charlton - games they were expected to win. 

Sheffield United finally ended their barren run last weekend as they came back from a goal down to beat Hull at Bramall Lane. They have failed to win any of their last three on the road, yet they have netted in two of those. That victory should give them some confidence, and there should be plenty of players who are looking to earn a new contract or put themselves in the shop window this summer. 

Neither side will care too much about this fixture, and that could result in a fairly forgettable 90 minutes. 

---

Wrexham vs Stoke - Game to spring to life after the break

Click for Wrexham vs Stoke odds
Saturday 15:00

It's been a bad week for Wrexham, who have shipped seven goals in their last two outings. Phil Parkinson's side were unable to get out of first gear against Birmingham on Sunday lunchtime, and will need to put that languid performance behind them. 

They need to get back to winning ways quickly as their grip on the play-off spots is slowly loosening. Their games at home tend to be very entertaining, with an average of 3.43 goals per game in North Wales, compared to 2.43 on their travels. They will fancy their chances of beating a Stoke side who have very little to play for, having dropped into midtable, despite getting off to a positive start. 

Stoke are strong in Staffordshire, yet their form on the road has been wretched lately. The Potters have an issue with late goals, and eight of the last 10 goals conceded on the road have come after the break. Furthermore, they've conceded after the 81st minute in four of their last five away from home. 

With Wrexham's ability to change the game using their bench, they may have to be patient once again here. They should eventually grind the visitors down before finding the right time to strike. 

---

Ipswich vs Middlesbrough - Ipswich to take advantage of Boro's jitters

Click for Ipswich vs Middlesbrough odds
Sunday 12:00

A few weeks ago, this would have been a head-to-head battle for the top two, yet Middlesbrough's recent poor form has seen them slip to fifth in the table. If Boro were to take maximum points here, they would go back level with Ipswich, albeit having played an extra game.

The Tractor Boys have an excellent home record, losing just once here all season. They've perhaps dropped too many points at Portman Road in 2026 and their performance on Tuesday night was a little concerning. 

Kieran McKenna has the tendency to rotate his squad, and some players have been played out of position. He still hasn't found the best position for Anis Mehmeti, and their setup in midweek simply didn't work. 

Middlesbrough are winless in six, and failed to score once again at the weekend. Since putting four past QPR, they've netted just four times in their subsequent six outings and they seem to have a psychological issue when it comes to shooting on sight. 

The hosts have beaten Coventry and Hull here, and they will be expected to take advantage of Boro's slump. Nevertheless, they aren't quite firing on all cylinders and the points may have to be shared in this one. 

---

Now read Lewis Jones on who to back to win PFA Player of the Year

---