Before the Round – Trends on EFL Championship (25/10)

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The Championship will present matchday No. 13 in midweek. Leicester City lead the league, but Ipswich Town are right on their tails.

There is a gap forming between the top two teams and the rest of the playoff hopefuls. Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday are bottom of the Championship.

Birmingham City – Hull City

Wayne Rooney lost his first match in charge of Birmingham City at the weekend versus Middlesbrough. The loss ended a two-match winning streak for the Blues, leaving many fans to continue to question why John Eustace was sacked.

The Blues won just one of their last six matches versus Hull City in all competitions. They took seven points from the last six matches, scoring eight goals and conceding seven times.

Hull City went winless in their last four league matches. The Tigers picked up six points from the last six matches, scoring seven times and conceding nine goals. Neither team is in particularly good form.

• Birmingham City have not been beaten in their last 6 straight home clashes in Championship.
• Hull City have won just 3 of their last 16 away matches in Championship.
• In their last 7 home games in all competitions, Birmingham City have been undefeated on 6 occasions.
• There are no losses for Hull City in 9 of their most recent 11 games (Championship).
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals

Plymouth Argyle - Sheffield Wednesday

Last-placed Sheffield Wednesday picked up a mere three points in their opening 12 matches. The Owls have not won this season in the Championship and have plenty of boardroom problems. Plymouth Argyle edged Wednesday in their last six matches, winning three, drawing one, and losing twice.

Plymouth Argyle were promoted from League One ahead of the current season along with Wednesday. Plymouth are also struggling in the Championship and go into the game in 21st place. This is a six-point affair, to say the least. The Pilgrims are winless in four straight Championship matches.

Sheffield Wednesday lost four of their last six games, drawing two in that time. The Owls bagged a mere one goal in the last six fixtures.

• Plymouth Argyle have managed just 1 wins in their last 7 league games.
• Sheffield Wednesday have failed to score a goal in each of their last 5 Championship games.
• A goalless streak consisting of 5 matches has marked the all competitions campaign of Sheffield Wednesday.
• In their 3 most recent matches in Championship, Sheffield Wednesday have seen under 2.5 goals scored.
• Prediction: Plymouth Argyle

Preston North End– Southampton

Preston North End and Southampton will meet for the first time in a league or cup game since 2011. The Saints are fifth in the Championship and battling for a place in the top two. Preston are fourth in the league, making this a six-point promotion affair.

Southampton took 10 points from their last six matches in the league. They scored eight goals and conceded six times. The Saints are unbeaten in four straight Championship matches.

Preston North End have hit a bad patch of form. The Lilywhites are winless in five straight league matches, and only took five points from the last six fixtures. Preston were outscored 14-6 in their last six games.

• In their last 15 home games in all competitions, Preston North End have been undefeated on 13 occasions.
• Southampton are on a run of 3 consecutive wins against Preston North End in all competitions.
• In their 6 most recent matches of Championship, Preston North End have achieved just 1 wins.
• Southampton's last 3 away clashes with Preston North End in Championship have seen over 2.5 goals scored.
• Prediction: Both Teams to Score

Stoke City – Leeds United

The last six matches between Stoke City and Leeds United finished with over 2.5 goals. History tells us that Stoke City and Leeds United should combine for a shed-load of goals.

Leeds go into round No. 13 in third place and six points off second-place Ipswich. The Whites are on a three-game winning streak in the Championship. Their last two games saw over 2.5 goals.

Stoke City are 20th in the league and fighting against relegation in the early stages of the campaign. Stoke defeated Sunderland 2-1 at home in round No. 12 to end a two-match losing streak.

• Stoke City have allowed 1+ goals in their last 11 matches in all competitions.
• Leeds United have won 3 consecutive games in all competitions.
• On average, Stoke City have scored 2.00 goals in their last home matches in all competitions.
• Leeds United haven't lost in 10 of their last 11 matches in all competitions.
• Prediction: Leeds United