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EFL Championship Gameweek 25 Review

As 2026 began, the Championship was once again at its flowing best. Goals, drama. and changes at the top and bottom of the division. Here is another round-up of some of the fixtures that took place.

Blackburn Rovers 0-2 Wrexham

The early kick-off at Ewood Park showed sides who needed points at either end of the table in a gameweek full of the top quarter of the table facing the bottom.

Blackburn’s slide towards danger became a bigger worry as Wrexham comfortably saw off Rovers to move within three points of a play-off place.

First-half goals from Sam Smith and Ollie Rathbone gave the Welsh side a comfortable lead going into the break.

Blackburn tried to conjure opportunities to no avail and no threat. Another victory for Phil Parkinson’s men, Blackburn in a spot of bother.

Bristol City 5-0 Portsmouth

John Mousinho and Portsmouth were dealt a blow in their survival bid, being struck for five by Bristol City.

Pompey’s ‘keeper Nicolas Schmid was busy in the first half, saving two but couldn’t deny Adam Randell and Anis Mehmedi’s effort as the Robins raced into a two goal lead at the break.

Scott Twine added the third before a double for Sinclair Armstrong put the icing on the afternoon. Bristol City climbing to within a point of sixth-placed Preston North End, with Portsmouth lingering dangerously close to the drop zone with Norwich below them earning a big victory.

Charlton Athletic 1-1 Coventry City

Charlton picked up a valuable point in the relegation battle, holding leaders Coventry at the Valley.

After defeat at home to Ipswich, the Sky Blues were quick out the blocks to relinquish the game from their memory.

Ellis Simms netted early after a Milan van Ewijk cross in a drab first half, until the second half where both sides went full throttle.

Charlton levelled through Joe Rankin-Costello and held onto what could be a vital point in terms of how the table could shape, Coventry have hit their first real rough patch, something they’ll need to snap out of soon as teams are beginning to pick up around them.

Ipswich Town 2-1 Oxford United

For the first time this campaign, Ipswich moved into the top two in the Championship, taking control of their own destiny as they vow for an immediate return to the Premier League.

Town’s top scorer Jaden Philogene opened the scoring before the visitors, mired in deep relegation trouble, caused momentary at Portman Road as Will Lankshear equalised.

Chuba Akpon struck the winner five minutes before half time to round off the scoring. A big win for the Tractor Boys, who leapfrogged Middlesbrough into second and moved eight points behind Coventry.

Watford 3-0 Birmingham City

High-flying Watford dispatched promotion hopefuls Birmingham at Vicarage Road to move into fourth in the Championship.

Second tier veteran Tom Ince chalked up the match ball in a clinical display, as the Hornets controlled proceedings straight from the off.

Not fancied by many to go far this campaign, Watford extended their cushion in the Championship top six, only losing once since the start of October – in this reverse fixture – whereas Birmingham’s promotion hopes were dealt a significant blow.