Kevin Phillips’ Expert Analysis: Championship Matchday 7 Predictions & Preview

Positives for Brian Barry-Murphy to Take from the Start of the Season

Yeah, definitely. Them coming up, everyone knows it was difficult. I’ve said it on here. They would take fourth from the bottom now, just to survive in the Championship, and that’s where they’re sitting. Ironically, Bolton are twenty-first, and Cardiff are twentieth. They’ve both played six games, drawn four and lost two each. So they’re both sitting neck and neck.

So there are lots of positives to come from that. They’ve had some good performances in spells during this season. So I would certainly say there are lots of positives that Brian Barry-Murphy can work on, and an opportunity this weekend against a team that’s right beside them to get a good positive result and get some more points on the board.

Can Derby Still Make the Playoffs This Season

I think it’s going to be tough, especially after watching it last night. They were down to 10 men, West Brom. Derby have only had three shots on target throughout the whole game. You’d expect more from that with the quality they’ve got. It’s not been the best of starts for Jonny, but there’s a long way to go. We’ve seen teams come from near the bottom of the league to go to the top, i.e. Southampton have done it over the last couple of seasons.

So you have to stay positive, but it’s not ideal at the moment. They’ve only won one game, they’ve drawn one, they’ve lost four. So on paper, it doesn’t look good, but you have to take the positives. But at the minute, I’m assuming the fans haven’t seen too much of that. As I say, there are eight places. They can definitely make a run, but they need a result quickly.

The Perfect Recipe for a Promotion Push

That experience in the squad and with Chris Wilder definitely helps. I think it helps having a manager that has that experience, done it. He’s been there, done it. He’s got players in that dressing room that can help the younger players. So, from my experience of getting promoted, if you want to get promoted or challenge for promotion, you need to get the balance right in terms of experience and younger players. And he’s got that, Chris. And then you’ve got his coaching staff too.

With all those ingredients, they’ll certainly be there or thereabouts come the end of the season. They’re sitting in tenth at the moment, nine points. So they’re right in the mix. And would you say they’ve really got going yet? There’s still more to come from Sheffield United. And I feel there will be.

How Worried Should Burnley Fans Be About Back-to-Back Relegations

I think they have every right to be concerned. I know it’s early in the season, but things are not looking any brighter, are they? They’ve lost their top goal scorer, Flemming, and they’re sitting 23rd in the league with no wins, lost three and drawn three. So it doesn’t look good on paper. It’s worrying times because no club is bigger than those teams you just reeled off there; no club’s big enough to not go down again.

And we’ve seen it happen. So they need a result very, very quickly. They need a run of form. And that’s where you need those experienced players within that squad to step up, take control, take responsibility and try and get their club out of where they are in the league.

Can Swansea Keep It Up and Compete for Promotion

Yeah, I do. They’ve lost their last game, but every team’s going to lose. We’ve already seen that this season. And it’s how you bounce back. And luckily, they’re at home now against a team that’s really struggling. So it’s an opportunity for them to get back on the horse, as you can say.

And they’ve got every opportunity because they’ve already shown this season what a good quality side they are. They’ve got players that can hurt you, and they’ve got a striker that, as we know, can score goals.

Galbraith and Devenny Starting the Season Well

There’s always, I suppose, as a national manager, seeing two of your players performing well. Stoke have started okay. They’ve had some decent results and then not so decent results. But I think Mark Robins will be delighted with these two players. Galbraith has got three goals. Devenny’s got two. So they can score goals as well. They work well together. They know each other, which is a massive bonus for the manager. These are two players that, if Stoke are to push for the playoffs, they’re gonna be right in the mix of it and right in the thick of it.

So, two young players as well, hungry. And I think he’s got two really good players, and it’s great for the national team as well, for sure.

What I Like About Will Lankshear as a Striker

Will’s like one of those; I wouldn’t say an old-fashioned centre forward, but he likes to back in, he likes to be on the last man. And the thing I like about him is when you look at some of the goals he’s scored this season, he’s in between the goal sticks, which I too often see strikers going outside the box, going out to the wing. He stays in the middle of the goal.

He wants to score goals, and that’s great. And you’ve seen the goals he’s scored. He’s got five goals this season. He’s the top goal scorer. He’s six foot two. He’s a handful. So I think he’s that missing piece of the jigsaw that Middlesbrough have probably just been lacking. And I know they’re excited about him up here. So, yeah, I definitely feel that with the players around him, he could end up top goalscorer at the end of the season.

West Brom vs QPR

Yeah, good win for the Baggies last night with 10 men. QPR, I think they lost their last game, so I’m gonna say West Brom two, QPR one.

West Ham vs Wrexham

This should be an exciting game. West Ham are on a roll now, I think three wins on the bounce. I see them just edging it. I’m West Ham two, Wrexham one.

Blackburn vs Millwall

Yeah, Millwall had a tough game in the Cup this week. So I think it’d be a tough journey for them. I think it’d be a draw. So I’m Blackburn 1, Millwall 1.

Charlton vs Portsmouth

Yeah, Charlton are decent at home, tough to break down. Pompey had a good win last time out, but I think Charlton will win this. I’m Charlton two, Portsmouth one.

Preston vs Lincoln

Yeah, I think this will be a non-entertaining, I would say, draw, if I’m being honest. I’m Preston one, Lincoln one.

Southampton vs Bristol City

Yeah, again, Saints were on a roll, won their last game. Bristol had a good result as well. I think it’d be a good game, but I think Saints, with the goals they score at home — Southampton three, Bristol City one.

Was Russell Martin a Mistake Given His Southampton and Rangers Spells

No, I don’t think it’s a mistake because he’s got pedigree. He took Southampton to the Premier League, and he beat Leeds at Wembley when they weren’t expected to. So he’s got a history in that league, the type of football he likes to play. He likes to keep possession, he likes to press, and most supporters and boards want to see that. And it just doesn’t quite work. Listen, we all know the issues that Leicester have had. It’s not an easy job.

Managers have gone in there and tried, and it hasn’t quite worked, so you probably have to look a bit further than the manager and the players. But he’s trying his best, and he’s got history, so I don’t think it’s a mistake. He’s going through a tough period in his managerial career, which happens to everyone, and the sign of a good manager is if he can turn it round and get that team firing, because it’s a great club. I know it very well, and at the minute you have to get behind him because, as I said, many managers have tried and haven’t succeeded.

So hopefully he can get a win this weekend, and they can kickstart their season.