Championship Matchweek 13 runs from Friday 30 October to Saturday 31 October 2026, featuring 12 fixtures across a packed 24 hours of action. Middlesbrough lead the division after taking 25 points from their opening 12 games, but with only four points separating second-placed Swansea from eighth-placed QPR, the race for promotion positions remains tight. Detailed projections for every game are generated systematically, with any future updates appearing on individual match pages the day before kickoff.
The match of the round: West Ham vs West Brom
Third hosts fifth on Saturday afternoon when West Ham welcome West Bromwich Albion in the weekend's most significant fixture. The home side have been productive in attack, scoring 32 goals in 12 league matches, including 17 in six home fixtures where they have found the net in every outing. They enter the weekend seeking to put a 3-2 home loss to Southampton behind them, having previously recorded a 1-0 win at Swansea and a 6-0 away victory at Lincoln.
West Brom sit just one point behind the hosts on 21 points, though their offensive record away from home has been more modest, with seven goals scored on their travels. The visitors are also stretched by personnel issues, with Toby Collyer, Nolan Galves, and Michael Johnston all absent through injury.
Our forecasting model leans towards a West Ham win with medium confidence, also projecting more than 2.5 goals and both teams to score. In the exact scoreline projection, a 2-1 victory for West Ham is rated the single most likely result, though exact-score calls carry low confidence.
Friday
Sheffield Utd vs Wrexham Friday's lone fixture opens the round as 12th-placed Sheffield United host 17th-placed Wrexham. The home side have posted mixed results on their own ground but have edged the chance creation in recent matches, drawing 1-1 with Derby and winning 1-0 at Bristol City. However, top scorer Patrick Bamford is doubtful with an injury, joining Jamie Shackleton on the sidelines. Wrexham are missing Josh Windass, Liberato Cacace, and Max Cleworth, having lost 2-0 at Blackburn last weekend. Our model gives a low-confidence call for a Sheffield Utd win, anticipating fewer than 2.5 goals.
Saturday
Lincoln vs Birmingham Saturday begins with three early kickoffs. Lincoln have won just once in six home games this season and have conceded 20 goals overall, though they did defeat Burnley 4-1 in their last home match. Birmingham sit seventh with 20 points and have scored nearly two goals per game, despite top scorer Liam Millar leading an attack that could be missing doubtful forward August Priske. With Lincoln missing Sonny Bradley and Tendayi Darikwa, our model makes a low-confidence call for an away win for Birmingham.
Norwich vs Watford Norwich have yet to keep a clean sheet in the Championship this season, shipping 22 goals, but forward Mohamed Touré has helped keep them competitive. Watford travel with the division's worst away record, having failed to win on the road while scoring just twice in six away trips. Our model provides a high-confidence forecast for a Norwich win, alongside a medium-confidence projection for more than 2.5 goals.
Stoke City vs Preston Stoke have taken 20 points from 12 games to sit ninth and enter Saturday unbeaten in two matches. Bottom club Preston are winless away from home and have conceded 25 goals in 12 outings, though their chance creation numbers suggest their performance level has been better than five points indicates. Preston remain without Alistair McCann, Harry Clarke, and Liam Gibbs. The model projects a Stoke City win with medium confidence.
Bolton vs Bristol City Bolton have suffered four defeats in six home fixtures, conceding 12 goals at home, and will be without injured defender Chris Forino-Joseph. Bristol City arrive with one of the division's sturdiest back lines over recent weeks, having conceded only 15 goals in 12 matches. Our model gives a low-confidence edge to a Bristol City win, with both teams projected to score.
Burnley vs Portsmouth Burnley are still searching for their first home win of the league campaign after four draws in six attempts, sitting 22nd with eight points. Portsmouth enter the weekend 11th and unbeaten in four matches, having beaten Millwall 2-1 and Norwich 1-0. Burnley are without Aaron Ramsey, Anel Ahmedhodžić, and Ashley Barnes, while Portsmouth are missing Colby Bishop and Connor Ogilvie. Our model cautiously favours Burnley to secure a narrow victory in a low-scoring match.
Middlesbrough vs Charlton League leaders Middlesbrough are unbeaten in ten Championship games, spearheaded by Will Lankshear, whose 11 goals lead the competition. They host a Charlton side that sits 19th, winless in four, and conceding more than two goals per game away from home. The model issues a firm high-confidence call for a Middlesbrough win, projecting more than 2.5 goals.
Millwall vs Derby Millwall's underlying numbers on home turf have remained steady, creating more than 1.5 expected goals per game over their last five outings despite recent mixed results. Derby sit 23rd with just one win all season and have conceded 21 goals. With Derby missing Charlie Taylor, Craig Forsyth, and Derry Murkin, the model projects a Millwall win with medium confidence.
Southampton vs QPR Sixth meets eighth as Southampton host Queens Park Rangers, with both sides tied on 20 points. Southampton have won five of six home matches, averaging nearly three goals per fixture, though leading scorer Cyle Larin is doubtful. QPR travel without Nicolas Madsen, Ilias Chair, and Amadou Salif Mbengue. The forecasting model projects a Southampton win with medium confidence and expects over 2.5 goals.
Swansea vs Blackburn Second-placed Swansea look to respond following a heavy 5-0 defeat at QPR, but their home record remains dependable with only three goals conceded in six games. Blackburn sit tenth, propelled by Andri Guðjohnsen's eight goals, but are without the injured Ryoya Morishita and Adam Forshaw. Our model projects a Swansea win with medium confidence, expecting a low-scoring contest.
Wolves vs Cardiff Fourth-placed Wolves host 16th-placed Cardiff. Wolves are missing Bertrand Traoré, Boubacar Traoré, and Raul Jiménez, but face a Cardiff side that remains winless on the road this season without an away clean sheet. The model leans towards a Wolves win with medium confidence, projecting both teams to find the net.
With just four points separating the play-off places and Middlesbrough defending a slender lead at the summit, Matchweek 13 offers multiple clubs the chance to alter the balance in the upper half of the Championship table.
