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English Championship Predictions - 25 April 2026, Matchday 45

Simon Lewis

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Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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QPR and Derby to tough out a draw.
Oxford to keep their hopes alive by crushing Sheffield Wednesday.
Goals to be low as Stoke host Portsmouth.
Goals to flow between Norwich and Swansea.

Swansea vs West Brom (Getty Images).

English Championship Predictions - Matchday 45

English Championship Predictions - Matchday 45
QPR vs Derby
Oxford vs Sheffield Wednesday
Stoke vs Portsmouth
Norwich vs Swansea

QPR vs Derby

Derby are four points off a playoff spot and will be desperate for every win. They come into the match on the back of four wins in seven matches, keeping a clean sheet in each of those wins.

Derby lost their other three matches in that seven match streak, but scored in all three defeats. QPR lost their last two games, haven’t won in four matches and have scored just twice in those four matches.

Derby are poor on the road, losing six of their last seven matches. QPR have lost four of their last seven matches at home, so overall this looks like a draw loading.

Oxford vs Sheffield Wednesday

Two teams in the relegation zone, with Wednesday relegated and still in negative points after their Federation penalty. Oxford need two wins to draw level with 21st-placed Charlton, so they need at least three wins in their last four matches.

Wednesday have lost six and drawn four of their last 10 matches. Oxford have four wins and three draws in their last 10 matches, so there is more backing them to win, and that’s the way I’m going. Mind you, with Wednesday failing to score in seven of their last 10 matches, a win to nil will pay out better than a pure win.

Stoke vs Portsmouth

Portsmouth should be safe from relegation with just one more win, while Stoke have nothing to play for in their last four matches. Portsmouth have lost just once in their last six matches, a defeat to log-leaders Coventry. Their three wins were all with clean sheets.

Portsmouth have lost three and drawn one of their last four matches, so form is not on their side. The two sides are averaging just over a goal per match each, so I’m backing less than three match goals in this clash.

Norwich vs Swansea

Norwich are still dreaming of a playoff spot, but they need two wins just to draw level with Wrexham in current 6th place. They’ll throw everything at Swansea, whose season is effectively over.

Swansea aren’t in title-winning form, winning just twice in their last seven matches. Norwich have won six and drawn one of their last nine matches, including three wins in their last four matches, losing only to 2nd-placed Ipswich.

Both sides are averaging just over a goal per game, but with Norwich sure to throw everything at it, I’m backing a goalfest.

Verdict

English Championship

A draw in the QPR-Derby clash, Oxford to keep adding misery onto Wednesday’s rotten season, Stoke and Portsmouth to struggle to score, while goals to flow as Norwich throw everything at Swansea.

Stoke Goals

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Oxford Win

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Norwich Goals

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QPR Draw

Result

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