Kevin Phillips’ Expert Analysis: Championship GW31 Predictions & Analysis

Hull’s Promotion Chances

I think you have to say yes; they could be on for automatic promotion. The way they’ve climbed up the league since the new manager’s come in, and under such restrictions as well, I think they’ve done a fantastic job. They’re four points off the top spot. Would you say they slipped up last night against Watford? Potentially, yes, but you never know what you’re going to get with Watford.

But they’re in an excellent position, and considering the restrictions, they’ve worked the market really well during January. They’ve brought in six players, they’ve let six go out to go and play football, and it can only help.

So, they’re in a really good position, and that’s the exact place you want to be at this stage of the season if you want a challenge for promotion in the top two, four points behind. The pressure isn’t on them; it’s on the top two. So, I think they’re definitely in it.

Koumas and Collyer Signings

That’s what you want. From their loan to United and Liverpool, they want players to go and play and shine. And the clubs that are bringing them in, that’s what you want. You want young freshness, youthfulness for them to come in. And it paid off already. There’s been another couple of signings, I think Paddy McNair, with his experience, has come in, and Kieran Dowell. So I think there’s a mixture there.

But Koumas and Collyer have got good experience training with top, top-class players, and that can only help. Koumas obviously scored on his debut, so he’s made an impact straight away, and that’s what you want as a manager. I think bringing in those players will really strengthen their squad.

Prediction

Bristol were disappointing against Derby. I didn’t see that result coming last week, the derby, the thrashing, but I think Hull being at home, drawing last night, they’ll win finally, I think 2-1.

Hull 2 – 1 Bristol City

Sam Field to Norwich

I think especially now Norwich have lost Mattsson, he’s got himself injured, and you want that bit of experience. You don’t want to put a kid in there at this stage of the season. So to bring Sam Field in with that cover straight away is a sensible signing from my point of view; he’s got the experience. He’s come from a squad that’s doing really well.

He’ll fit straight in there, no problem whatsoever. I think, again, a sensible signing from Norwich’s point of view, considering they want to push for the playoffs. So it’ll be interesting to see how he fits in and how many games he plays. But I think overall, it’s a safe signing for Norwich.

Blackburn Managerial Change

Well, it’s always a tough one at this stage of the season. What do you want to do? Of course, avoiding relegation is key. Now, what do you do? Do you bring someone in who’s a young, up-and-coming manager that hasn’t got experience in the Championship? I think that would be very, very risky. Or do you go back to the old experienced managers that we’ve seen happen time and time again? And I think you probably have to go down that route. Someone who knows how to keep teams in the championship. So, who they go for, I don’t know. They got a good result last night.

I mentioned Tony Mowbray on here last week. He has been at the football club; they like him there, he’s sitting out of work, maybe someone like him, someone along that line, someone with that experience, but knows how to keep teams in the league, that’s for sure.

Prediction

I know Blackburn are full of confidence that they’ve won. Norwich lost, but Norwich at home, I see them bouncing back. So I’m going to go Norwich 2, Blackburn 1.

Norwich 2 – 1 Blackburn

Ipswich Not Signing a Striker

You’re not going to argue with Kieran McKenna. I would imagine there are fans there wondering why they didn’t go out and get that striker to maybe really fuel promotion and really push on. But he clearly feels he’s got enough within the building. Those three between them have only got 10 goals. So, none of them are setting the season alight.

It’s two other players, Jack Clarke, who I’ve mentioned before, and Philogene, who’s got 10. Between them, they’ve got 22 in all comps. So they’re the two scoring goals. I think he’s seen it as this could be a season where they push for promotion, spreading the goals out amongst everyone. And that can happen. So it’s risky. But I think you’d have to say Hirst will be the starter, sitting on 6 goals. But I think McKenna’s probably looking at it more as a general squad in terms of everyone chipping in for the goals.

Prediction

I said I like the look of Derby. Ipswich drew the last game. Going away to Derby, I’m going to go for a 2-2 score draw.

Derby 2 – 2 Ipswich

Adam Armstrong Leaving Southampton

It’s an interesting one, of course. I think from the fans’ point of view, you’re letting your top goal scorer go. I think he’s on 11 goals. It’s always a strange, strange one, especially if they want to have a real good go at the playoffs. I know they’ve replaced him with the lad, Larin, but he hasn’t pulled up many trees last season. He’s 30 years of age, so it’s a gamble.

Ross Stewart, can you keep him fit? If you can, you’ve got a good striker there. And there’s Cameron Archer as well, who’s only got two goals. So, it is a strange, strange decision that only they know why they’d let him go. But it’s pressure on the new lad coming in, it’s pressure on the manager. Is it a lack of ambition? I’m not sure it’s a lack of ambition, but for me, it’s a really, really strange decision, if I’m being honest.

Prediction

I think Southampton might have just, I know they’ve let their top goalscorer go, but I think they got a good win at the weekend. I think they may have just turned the corner, had a good draw at Portsmouth. Watford, you never know with Watford what you’re going to get. So I’m going to go Southampton 2, Watford 1.

Southampton 2 – 1 Watford

Coventry and Frank Lampard

They’re having a tough spell in the season, and it’s come at a time when other teams are picking up points, but they’re still right up there. I think Frank Lampard’s done an excellent job coming off the back of the disappointment at the playoff final last year. He’s regrouped, he’s picked them up, and they’ve been excellent this season.

They’re having a tough run, I think Frank’s got enough experience within his coaching staff and within that squad to ride it out and get through it. He definitely deserves it. For me, he deserves to take Coventry to the Premier League; it’d be great to see Coventry back in the Premier League, and it’d be great to see Frank back there. So, fingers crossed they get a win at the weekend.

Prediction

I think they’ll cruise this one. I think it’ll be Coventry 2, Oxford 0.

Coventry 2 – 0 Oxford

Birmingham’s Promotion Chances

I think it’s going to happen at some point. I think the buzz around the place, I live in the area, I’ve got lots of friends who are Blues fans, and from the minute the owners took over and what they’ve done at the football club with the infrastructure around the ground, they’re going to be building a new stadium, they’re on a real high at the moment.

Of course, the jump from League One to the Championship is always difficult; it’s taken them a while to settle, but now with the new signings, you can see the performances are coming. So, an excellent result at the weekend. I think everyone’s really excited. Will it happen this season? Hey, who knows? I think they’ve got a great opportunity of getting in the playoffs, of course. If they went on one hell of a run, then automatic promotion could be at the end of it. But I think playoffs, they’d accept that and try to go up through the playoffs.

Prediction

I think they’re going to continue in their good form. Good win at the weekend and coming up against a Leicester team that are really, really struggling. So I’m going to go Blues. Birmingham 2, Leicester 1.

Birmingham 2 – 1 Leicester

Kalvin Phillips and Joe Rothwell Signings

I think, again, this one’s all about experience. When Sheffield United are where they are, Chris Wilder knows that you need to bring experience in the building to try and help the young players. It’s a strange one with Kalvin Phillips, isn’t it? Considering where he was to now, hopefully, he can go there and rediscover the form. He was an England international at one point, first name on the sheet. So it’s a chance for him to rediscover his form.

Joe Rothwell, we know, has great experience. And they’re two really good, safe signings. If you get the best out of them, they can turn out to be two excellent signings. So I think that’s really, really, really good business from Chris Wilder.

Prediction

They had a good win in their last game, Sheffield United. But Middlesbrough, I think, are a really good team. They’re in a really good position. I think they’ve got more than enough to go to Sheffield United and win. So I’m going to predict Sheffield United 1, Middlesbrough 2.

Sheffield United 1 – 2 Middlesbrough

Wrexham vs Millwall

Some great results for Wrexham. They’re just fitting in that mix, aren’t they? Just waiting to pounce towards the end of the season and Millwall as well. They’re having a great season. So I can’t see much between these two. I think Millwall will go there and dig in, and I predict Wrexham 1, Millwall 1.

Wrexham 1 – 1 Millwall

West Brom vs Stoke

My old team, West Brom, you think they get a nice draw, then again get battered down at Portsmouth, and confidence is low there. Stoke, as well are slipping a little bit. So I can’t see much between these two. I think it’s going to be a draw, but a score draw of 1-1.

West Brom 1 – 1 Stoke

Preston vs Portsmouth

Preston drew the last game. Portsmouth had a great win, 3-0, against the Baggies. It’s always a tough place to go, Deepdale. So again, not sitting on the fence, but I don’t see much between the two teams. So I’m going to go Preston 1, Portsmouth 1.

Preston 1 – 1 Portsmouth

Swansea vs Sheffield Wednesday

I think this is, unfortunately, probably a no-brainer for me. I think Swansea at home. Sheffield Wednesday with the problems that they’re having. They’ve lost again. Swansea at home is always a tough place. So, I’m going to go Swansea 2, Sheffield Wednesday 0.

Swansea 2 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday

Charlton vs QPR

Great result for Charlton, at the weekend, it just never ceases to amaze you, this league. Teams go places and get results when they’re not meant to. So, I think down at the Valley, QPR going there, London Derby, QPR are more than capable. Great result at the weekend. I think it’s going to be a tight, tight game and I’m going to go a score draw, but I’m going to go Charlton 2, QPR 2.

Charlton 2 – 2 QPR

Habib Diarra

He’s a club record signing, 30 million it was, so a lot of money was spent on him. He hasn’t had a lot of game time, and what he needs now is a good run in the team. With Xhaka injured, he’s been brought in and has shown his quality. He’s gradually getting better and better, and his performance the other night was very, very good. I have to say against a very poor Burnley team, but getting his goal, potentially could have had two, would do his confidence the world of good.

It’s great to see him out there with a smile on his face because he’s got quality, he’s got talent. You heard the other players say that. So, it would definitely feel like a new signing if I’m the manager there and the owners. Really, really good to see him on the pitch performing.

Simon Adingra Replacement

I think that just sums up the recruitment at Sunderland. It’s been very strategic. They’ve always got a plan in place. They’ve always got a backup. So they certainly wouldn’t have let Adingra go unless they had a replacement. So it happened very, very quickly, which is pleasing for everyone. It’ll be pleasing for the manager.

Adingra, I think he’s kind of flattered to deceive at times this season. I don’t think there are a lot of supporters who are disappointed he’s gone away, gone on loan to try and rediscover some form. But this Nilson is coming in. He’s an unknown quantity, but from reading reports on how he looks, a really exciting talent. So, really good business from Sunderland and sensible as well.