Mick Payne
England C assistant manager on BBC Radio Lancashire

A good start is massive for Burnley

Mohamed Toure up front for Norwich is really quick so Kyle Walker has to lead by example.

Eight games getting under way in the Championship. Eight teams in action still looking for their first win of the league season.

Strap in...

Simon Davies
BBC Radio Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

Cardiff boss Brian Barry-Murphy and Sheffield United counterpart Chris Wilder have spoken of their close bond as the two sides prepare to meet in the Championship.

“I consider him, I won't say a mentor because he's more than that, he's a friend of mine,” said Barry-Murphy.

“It’s the highest possible challenge for us but it's one that we want and we'll give it everything.”

For Wilder, the feeling is mutual: “I really like him l. I call him my friend as well, I speak to him quite often.”

“A technical player in his day, he maybe should’ve played a bit higher than what he did, but really enjoyed working with him.”

Image source, Shutterstock

The Championship is never easy and West Ham are finding that out very quickly in their first season in this division since 2011-12.

Nuno Espirito Santo's side are still seeking their first league win following relegation from the Premier League and suffered a disappointing home defeat to Charlton last weekend.

The Hammers did improve the mood around the place on Tuesday with a youthful side coming from behind to seal a convincing 4-1 victory at Southampton in the EFL Cup, but Nuno will know he needs to get points on the board sharpish.

You never quite know what you're going to get with Watford, but the Hornets are unbeaten in their opening two league games after an opening day win over the Saints and a respectable draw at Wrexham.

Alessio Dionisi put out a relatively inexperienced team for their 5-1 humbling at home to Peterborough in the cup in midweek, but you'd expect Watford to be a much tougher nut to crack this afternoon.

Image source, Shutterstock

Millwall are one one of just two teams who can keep their 100% winning start going in the Championship but they will have to do something no visiting team has done at St Mary's since January and that is win a league game.

The Saints started the season on -4 points after the Spygate scandal and have moved to -1 after a 3-1 win at home to Stoke last weekend following their opening day defeat at Watford.

Tonda Eckert's side were thrashed 4-1 at home by West Ham in the EFL Cup but are unbeaten in their past 11 league games (W8 D3) on their own patch since a 2-1 loss to Hull City last season and will be hoping to get above the zero points mark today.

The Lions appear to have picked up where they left off from an excellent 2025-26 in which they missed out on automatic promotion by just one point before losing in the play-off semi-final.

Alex Neil's men won 1-0 at Cambridge in the cup in midweek and are yet to lose a game in all competitions so far this season.

Image source, Shutterstock

Before the season began, Norwich and Burnley both would have been expected to be competing around the top end. Two games in, questions are rising.

Life under Philippe Clement looked bright for the Canaries last season but they have lost both of their opening Championship matches to be one of just four sides still looking for their first point.

As for newly relegated Burnley, they salvaged one against West Ham before losing 3-1 to last season's relegation battlers West Bromwich Albion. Since then, they've gotten on the wrong end of an upset in the EFL Cup tie against League One's Bradford City.

Good news - maybe - is striker Zian Flemming starts today, although whether he will still be at the club next week remains to be seen.

"The season has already started and not in the best way for us but we're really confident we can change things around," Clarets boss Nicky Hayen said.

"If you see through the history of the club, always when we came back from the Premier League in the Championship we were struggling the first few weeks, then suddenly after one or two months we started and this is something that will happen again."

Owain Llyr
BBC Radio Cymru commentator at Cardiff City Stadium

Image source, Getty Images

Noah Anyadike became the youngest player in EFL Cup history when he played for Cardiff in their 2-1 second-round defeat against Norwich City on Tuesday night.

The 15-year-old has been able to train full- time with the first team over the summer, but will be going back to school next week as he prepares for his GCSE exams.

When asked whether Anyadike's focus should be on football or school, head coach Brian Barry-Murphy said "always school".

Image source, Getty Images

Two games, two draws for both of these sides so far in the Championship, but you get the feeling the mood in the respective camps is rather different.

Cardiff City's return to the second tier has been a respectable one in these early stages with a draw in the Welsh derby against Wrexham to start the campaign before an entertaining 2-2 at Derby.

The Bluebirds lost 2-1 to Norwich in the EFL Cup on Tuesday but their priorities lie elsewhere with maintaining their Championship status top of the list.

As for Sheffield United, they would have been aiming for play-offs at a minimum this season but goals have been hard to come by with two 0-0 draws against Birmingham and Swansea.

There is also a much darker cloud looming over Bramall Lane at the moment with the club's previous owners claiming the current owners still owe them £35m - a case that has ended up in the High Court and threatens to be a major distraction.

Three points always helps put smiles on faces though.

Image source, Shutterstock

Bristol City take on Portsmouth just months after they tried to tempt their manager to the West Country, before they handed the job to Michael Skubala.

The Robins were seconds away from clinching their first win of the season last week, against Birmingham, thanks to a stunning backheel goal by Dom Ballard, only for it to be snatched away by a late penalty.

Portsmouth’s commanding victory away to Lincoln last week was slightly marred by an injury to winger Josh Murphy, but the addition of defensive midfielder Iyad Mohamed on a three-year deal will dampen the blow.

It’s hard to call this one, but Bristol City have the edge when it comes to the head-to-head record. A win for Pompey would be their first at Ashton Gate since 2009 (D1 L4).

Image source, Opta

It’s the battle of the Championship newcomers as Bolton welcome Lincoln hoping to heap more misery upon head coaches Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw.

Steven Schumacher’s side built on their opening day win against Preston with a resolute defensive show against QPR, and are still expecting more signings before the end of the summer transfer window next week.

Lincoln have lost both of their league matches so far, but a solid win against Blackpool in the EFL Cup might have injected some much-needed optimism into the squad.

It’s been 42 years since Lincoln last won a league game at Bolton, and so they will be hoping it isn’t the Imps limping home from Greater Manchester.

Today's match at the Valley features a team basking in glory and another clawing for a sign of hope.

Hosts Charlton Athletic are one of just three sides with a flawless start to the league, having won both of their opening games including a huge victory over West Ham United.

Preston North End, meanwhile, have yet to register any points at all.

Misery will be lingering around the ground come full time but whether it's due to a burst bubble or a deepening hole remains to be seen.

Image source, Shutterstock

Blackburn Rovers have endured a tough opening to their Championship campaign but not only have they pulled through unscathed, they've looked solid.

The team that just about escaped relegation last season seem to have toughened up under veteran boss Tony Mowbray and as a reward they've gotten a draw and a win under their belts, against promotion hopefuls Wolves and Middlesbrough no less.

Rovers have only recorded one back-to-back Championship victory since the start of December last year and to do so in just their third game of the season would definitely help keep the supporters' optimism high.

Visitors QPR though have also come out of their opening two matches with a draw and a win and, after being wasteful in their goalless encounter with Bolton last time out, will want to make sure they are clinical here.

Gareth Vincent
BBC Sport Wales at the Cardiff City Stadium

Sheffield United are back in Wales just seven days after battling their way to a forgettable goalless draw against Swansea City.

United are yet to score or concede in the league this season, though they have managed five goals in two EFL Cup victories.

So what chance a goalfest in Cardiff? The Bluebirds have scored and conceded in all four of their games so far in 2026-267, so something has to give.

We've got eight more games coming your way in the Championship...

Image source, Opta

Image source, Opta

Neil Maddison
Former Middlesbrough midfielder on BBC Radio Tees

It's all about perseverance. That first-half had to be better and Kim Hellberg made the changes, I just think it worked so well.

He had the courage to change things because it wasn't working and that's what gets you results against stubborn teams because West Brom are a good side.

Louis Moult
Former Stoke City striker on BBC Radio Stoke

You can say about fitness and how quickly when these boys get fit but its a squad game. The transfer window is still open, but you've got to get up to speed.

Stoke ran out of steam.

Image source, Getty Images

All change again in the Championship table after lunchtime victories for Wolves, Swansea and Middlesbrough.

Wolves move top and Swansea are up to second, while Boro climb to fourth.

That could of course change once more in a few hours after our 15:00 BST games.

Swansea are up to second in Championship and the only downside from this game was they could've scored five.

Joseph Opoku dominated the early stages with a goal after two minutes, but his injury seemed to blunt the away side. The brilliant Eom Ji-sung doubled the advantage just before half time.

John Eustace's side came out swinging in the second half and did their best to claw their way back into the match, but when Swansea made their own substitutions they showed the depth of quality in their side.

One of those men, Ronald, scored late on to rub salt into the wounds.

Phenomenal from Swansea.

Worrying for Derby.

Wolves bounce back from a goal down to please their home fans with a 4-1 victory.

A classic Raul Jimenez penalty and Jordan James' first Wolves goal backed up Rodrigo Gomes' double from the first half to put the game to bed for the hosts.

Molineux didn't only get treated to their first home win this season, they've also got a glimpse of how strong their team could be going forward.

Stoke, meanwhile, still under pressure after their big spending this summer. All eyes on Mark Robins' future. And maybe star player Sorba Thomas' too.

Sorba Thomas gets a yellow card for diving, though there is a tiny bit of contact.

Just putting salt in the wound for the Stoke winger, who missed two big chances in the first half.