Championship score predictions for gameweek 3 as Wrexham finally win and Birmingham City run riot

Add as preferred source on Google

What a thrilling and unpredictable start to the new season it has been in the second tier! And yet, we are still going to try our best to look into the future with our Championship score predictions for gameweek three.

Last weekend, Championship fans witnessed a goal glut at Pride Park as Derby County fell to a 5-3 defeat to Coventry City, while Middlesbrough and Stoke City ran riot at Millwall and Sheffield Wednesday respectively.

Elsewhere, there was another taste of defeat for Sheffield United and Wrexham, while Preston North End shocked Leicester City and Hull City left it late to clinch three points against Oxford United.

There are more juicy fixtures coming up this weekend, so Jakob Barnes, Adam Elliott, and Callum Boyle are back once more to try their hand at Championship score predictions for the next round of games.

• READ MORE: John Eustace has extra incentive vs Bristol City on Friday as Derby County seek first Championship win

Championship score predictions: Gameweek 3

Derby County vs Bristol City

After a promising summer window so far, it’s not been the start Derby County wanted whatsoever. John Eustace’s side are without a point and face a Bristol City side with four already. The home crowd may begin to feel the jitters without a positive result and performance here.

Can they keep Scott Twine and co. quiet after conceding five in their home game and Bristol City scoring four in their away game? Tough one; back to basics for Eustace, perhaps.

Adam’s score prediction: Derby County 1-1 Bristol City

Hull City vs Blackburn Rovers

Hull have been the surprise package of the Championship so far after being tipped as relegation favourites. The fans are buying into Sergej Jakirovic’s project and the players are enjoying their football.

Blackburn, meanwhile, are still waiting for their first points on the board and look disjointed after several key stars left. The momentum is with Hull right now and they will get another three points on the board.

Callum’s score prediction: Hull City 2-0 Blackburn Rovers

Swansea City vs Watford

Both sides picked up very important home wins last weekend, with Swansea dominating a poor Sheffield United side and Watford squeezing past QPR despite probably being second-best for much of the game. With one win and one defeat to their names so far, it’s hard to know which way either team will go, and that’s quite representative of the seasons they can expect, too.

With home advantage, I’d back Swansea to control this one, but it’ll be scrappy and very, very tight. Watford have just enough in attack to get something here, and we’ll see the points shared in a score draw.

Jakob’s score prediction: Swansea City 1-1 Watford

Charlton Athletic vs Leicester City

Nathan Jones will be delighted with two low-margin games and two clean sheets from the opening two matches, but Leicester City’s wealth of attacking talent poses their greatest threat thus far. Charlton Athletic will know The Valley must be a fortress but face a Foxes side who simply have to bounce back from disappointment against Preston North End last time out.

Adam’s score prediction: Charlton Athletic 0-2 Leicester City

Preston North End vs Ipswich Town

Preston were good value for their win against an incredibly frail Leicester City but I’m not sure they will be like that every week as they were there for the taking. Ipswich Town have had two difficult games to start the season and have earned draws in both of them. This is the first game they will be clear favourites in and I think they will win.

Callum’s score prediction: Preston North End 1-2 Ipswich Town

• READ MORE: Leicester City fans will hate Conor Coady’s latest comments about ‘exciting’ £2m Wrexham move

Wrexham vs Sheffield Wednesday

This is probably the most exciting fixture of the whole weekend as two teams still searching for their first win come up against one another. Sadly, we won’t be seeing Josh Windass face his former club due to injury, but all eyes will be on Wrexham vs Sheffield Wednesday regardless.

One team has spent more than anyone in the Championship this summer, and that Hollywood money shows no signs of running out yet. The other has been unable to spend a penny and with an injury to Pierce Charles, we may see the Owls fielding a desperately low-standard XI this weekend. If Wrexham can’t win this one, they deserve to go down with Wednesday.

Jakob’s score prediction: Wrexham 2-0 Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton vs Stoke City

Southampton have already matched their home league wins from 2024/25 with their win over Wrexham, and Stoke City presents an opportunity to double their tally already — and we’re still in August. They welcome a Stoke City side with two from two so far.

However, are Mark Robins’ men the real deal? Or are Derby and Sheffield Wednesday weaker challenges? We shall soon see, but the Saints will be eyeing maximum points here after a decent draw with Ipswich Town.

Adam’s score prediction: Southampton 3-1 Stoke City

Norwich City vs Middlesbrough

I predicted these two sides to lose in our Championship score predictions last week. That went well…

Both looked much better than they did in their first game, particularly Middlesbrough, who swept aside Millwall. I’m really excited to see Sverre Nypan in action. As a Football Manager addict, seeing a wonderkid playing in the EFL warms my heart. These two will be difficult to separate and because of that, I’m going for a score draw.

Callum’s score prediction: Norwich City 1-1 Middlesbrough

West Brom vs Portsmouth

I’m sorry but I just can’t see this one being a fun watch at all (cue a six-goal thriller). West Brom are starting to find their feet under Ryan Mason and secured a vital three points away at Wrexham last weekend, but we all know Portsmouth are not an easy team to break down.

You’d like to think home advantage would work in West Brom’s favour here, but I can see them being frustrated by John Mousinho’s side and it’ll be honours even.

Jakob’s score prediction: West Brom 1-1 Portsmouth

Sheffield United vs Millwall

Two sides with expectations to challenge at the top of the division this season and with serious designs on promotion. Between them, they have just three points. Something’s got to give. Or does it?

Sheffield United need a win to kickstart their season and Millwall have had a difficult start to the season in terms of their fixtures. Perhaps a share of the spoils wouldn’t be the worst outcome, but we fancy there being a winner here.

Adam’s score prediction: Sheffield United 2-1 Millwall

Coventry City vs QPR

Coventry were involved in the game of the weekend last week and proved they do have goals in their ranks. Jack Rudoni is still there too, which is always a boost.

QPR are yet to win this season but new signing Richard Kone has had time to train with his new teammates and I’d expect him to be heavily involved. I’m going for a narrow win for the home side as I think QPR could be stubborn opponents to break down.

Callum’s score prediction: Coventry City 1-0 QPR

Birmingham City vs Oxford United

Birmingham City haven’t had things all their own way this season so far, but they dug deep in the dying moments at Ewood Park last weekend to grab all three points and show that they’re more than capable of competing at this level.

Sadly, Oxford United are simply not cut out for this division and I think they will really get shown up here by the Blues. Birmingham have far too much in attack for Oxford to handle, and they’ll run away as easy winners here to continue their promotion march, and push the U’s further into the mire.

Jakob’s score prediction: Birmingham City 3-0 Oxford United

• READ MORE: Championship transfer round-up: Sheffield United fixing issues, Leicester to lose Bilal El Khannouss

It’s too early for Championship teams to panic (or celebrate)

We are just two games into the new season, and even if our Championship score predictions for this weekend come true and the likes of Southampton, Birmingham, and Hull win again, they will still not be getting too carried away.

Likewise, teams such as Sheffield United and Wrexham will not exactly be panicking if we’re wrong about them this week.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	Stoke CityStoke City	2	2	0	0	6	1	5	6
2	MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough	2	2	0	0	4	0	4	6
3	West BromWest Brom	2	2	0	0	4	2	2	6
4	Bristol CityBristol City	2	1	1	0	4	1	3	4
5	CoventryCoventry	2	1	1	0	5	3	2	4
6	BirminghamBirmingham	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
7	Hull CityHull City	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
8	PrestonPreston	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
9	SouthamptonSouthampton	2	1	1	0	3	2	1	4
10	CharltonCharlton	2	1	1	0	1	0	1	4

The Championship season is long and arduous, and is very much a marathon not a sprint. The players, managers, and indeed the fans know that very well and it’s so hard to know where a team will land after just three games.

Still, it’s exciting seeing these surprise packages like Charlton and Stoke making headway early on, and who’s to say they can’t keep it up? Only time will tell, and we’ll be trying to predict it every step of the way.