Simeon Gholam’s Championship score predictions have been revealed ahead of the next round of matches for the 2025/26 season.
The ex-Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Leeds, Swindon, Sheffield Wednesday, and England U21 footballer who currently works as a presenter, pundit, and commentator, has given his verdict.
Watch plenty of games live across Sky Sports with highlights of the other EFL matches on Sky Sports News, ITV and YouTube.
It’s set up to be another exciting season, with many soccer scores to keep an eye on across the world.
Sky Sports duo Simeon Gholam and Tommy Smith (late replacement for David Prutton) gave a preview heading into the next game of the regular season, predicting the results of every fixture; listen to the podcast below or via any of your regular podcast providers.
BRISTOL CITY v DERBY
Simeon: Bristol City head into the weekend 7th in the table, a point off Wrexham in 6th. Derby County a point and four places further back. It is so congested in that mix for the playoffs for that sixth spot at the moment, isn’t it, Tommy? And these are two sides that are right in it, giving it a good go of pushing on to it. And this should be a big game on Friday night where both teams want all three points, shouldn’t it?
Tommy: Yeah, it’s a great game to start the weekend off. And there’s no better incentive for both these teams, as you’ve just alluded to there, that there’s a chance that whichever team wins on Friday night can go into the top six. Both teams have been there or thereabouts for the majority of the last couple of months. Both doing very well. Both really, really good teams in their own right. And I’m fully deservative of the position that they’re in right now. Two different styles of play, you’d have to say. In terms of Bristol, I have seen them quite a bit this year. They’re very on the front foot in terms of how they like to defend and the transitions and the quick counter-attacks. And Derby are what they are. They’re very efficient. They’re very well organised. They don’t concede a lot of goals. They don’t give up a lot of chances. So it’ll be an intriguing contest, one I’m looking forward to. And one I’m actually going to the game on Friday. So, yeah, I’m going to be there Friday night spectating. It should be a good game, like I say, a good one to kick start the weekend. I am very interested to see what your prediction is for this one. Because I think it will be tight. As I say, it’s a good opportunity for me to go down there on the Friday and watch a good game of football, hopefully.
Simeon: Bristol City have won each of the last four home league games against Derby, Tommy. They’ve kept a clean sheet in the last three as well, all of them being 1-0 victories. So Bristol City usually win this game, Ashton Gate. They usually win it quite narrowly.
Simeon’s score prediction: Derby 2-1 win
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
STOKE v SOUTHAMPTON
Simeon: Stoke head into the weekend two points off the playoffs, held Birmingham last time out. Southampton pegged back by Portsmouth to draw last Sunday, seven points off the playoffs heading into the weekend. Stoke, Tommy, a team you know a lot about, ravaged by injuries in recent weeks and months and still kind of hanging in there.
Tommy: Yeah, they are. Do you know what? Fair play to them. I think at this moment in time, it seems like everyone’s having injury problems. I think, you know, Stoke are probably one of the worst affected at this current moment. It’s one thing about Stoke I always did think at the start of the season, though, Sim, is they had a very, very strong XI. And I wasn’t so sure that they had maybe, if they could have a crisis like this, that they had enough sort of depth. And it just shows at the minute, you know, that things can happen throughout the league and you’ve got to be able to somehow, you know, navigate your way through it. One thing with Stoke is they are very much still in with a chance of being in that top six. So they’ve hung in there. I’m sure once they get all their players back, fully firing and fully fit. I think Mark Robins has actually come out and said himself that they’ll really want to attack and they still feel like they can attack that top six. So it’ll be an interesting game on Saturday. I’m actually looking forward to seeing because I think Southampton have been on a dismal run. You know, I think it’s one win in nine now for Southampton, which doesn’t make good reading. But ultimately, they still have got individual quality. And I think on any given day, they can go up against pretty much any team in the league.
Simeon: Stoke have won their last two league games against Southampton and could win three in a row against the Saints for the first time ever.
Simeon’s score prediction: Stoke to win this 2-1.
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
LEICESTER v CHARLTON
Simeon: Leicester, Martin Cifuentes sacked after their defeat to Oxford last weekend. Felt fairly inevitable that was going to happen after that result. Andy King in caretaker charge for now. Leicester, six points off the playoffs heading into the weekend. Charlton have drifted down to 19th in the table. Start of the weekend, just three points clear for the bottom three. Beaten badly 4-0 at Millwall last Saturday, which would have hurt them a lot in that local rivalry. Let’s start with Leicester, Tommy. Obviously, Andy King in the dugout. It did feel inevitable that Cifuentes was going to go after that game. It felt like they’d been on borrowed time for a while, didn’t they?
Tommy: Yeah, it’s been a very unusual situation, to say the least. I think we’ve actually done a pod a couple of weeks back. Discussed the situation around Leicester and the points deduction. And this sort of cloud that’s hanging over the club. It’s a bit of an unusual time. I think the change probably had to be made sooner rather than later. They’ve obviously tried to give them as much time as possible. But ultimately, Sam, the results, the performance is more than anything. They’ve just not been there. Certainly for the quality of players, the quality of squad that Leicester have got, they should be doing a hell of a lot better than they currently are. So they’ve obviously changed the manager. I mean, it will be really, really interesting. I mean, I’ve said I didn’t want to do the predictions for this weekend’s games. But I mean, I would not be surprised one bit if they have this new manager bounce that we always talk about. I wouldn’t be surprised at all if they go there on Saturday and beat Charlton. It’ll be an interesting game because I think ultimately the players, I say the players pick themselves. What I mean by that is the quality that they’ve got, I do genuinely believe that the 11 that’s been put out in recent weeks, I know there’s the odd change here and there, but the 11 that predominantly gets picked is good enough to compete in this league. Make no mistake about that. So I can’t imagine that there’ll be a handful, loads of changes that Andy King is going to make to the team. But I do believe that there’ll be a slight change in something, whether that’s intensity, whether that’s the sort of aggression on the pitch. Something will change and I’m pretty, well, it has to change ultimately. Whether we see that on Saturday, who knows? But I am very interested to see how this one plays out.
Simeon: Obviously Charlton as well, it does feel like things are a bit gloomy there as well. I think they’re a bit of a victim of their own relative success from earlier in the season because they’ve had that really good run and there was suddenly a bit of talk of, you know, of playoffs. And I know it was very, very early days, but it just feels like things have gone a bit wrong since then. And obviously the result at Millwall last weekend will not have helped the mood there at all.
Tommy: No, the result last week was a bad one. I mean, albeit Millwall are in a good bit of form, they’re right up there in terms of that playoff mix and they’re playing very well at the minute. So it can happen. And over the course of a season, you do get these days where you can go and get a good hiding, which is what Charlton got last week. But I mean, in fairness to Nathan Jones, one thing he has done all season long, you know, I try and pay attention to a lot of the managers’ reactions after games and what have you. And he’s always said that, you know, Charlton have come from where they’ve come from. And I know he’s mentioned that about playoffs, but I think that’s more outside noise, isn’t it, Sim? I certainly don’t think that would have been on the mind of Nathan Jones. I think he’s a realist when it comes to Charlton and where they are as a team and where they are as a football club. Obviously got promoted last season. So I think this year, certainly for Nathan Jones and Charlton, will have been solidifying Championship status. Make no mistake about that. Yes, they started the season well. With that comes a little bit of noise. But from Nathan Jones’s point of view, he will know that the remit for this season will have been to solidify and gradually build, build, build. But a tough game on Saturday, certainly after that damaging defeat last weekend against Millwall. It’s a tough game to go into because Leicester will be, obviously, in a different place, probably in a better place after, obviously, the dismissal of Cifuentes. So you’d like to think, from a Leicester point of view, that there will, as I’ve just alluded to there, there will be a little bit of a manager bounce, maybe. So tough game for Charlton. I’m interested, again. All these games are quite interesting, Sim, aren’t they? Certainly these are 12-1s to hear your prediction for the game, because I have a feeling that it will be a home win.
Simeon: Charlton have only won one of the last 10 away league matches against Leicester. That sole victory came in February 2013. So they do not have a good record when travelling to the Foxes.
Simeon’s score prediction: 3-1 Leicester
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY v WREXHAM
Simeon: Obviously, Sheffield Wednesday we can’t really talk about in terms of league performance because they’re so far down the bottom on their points deduction. But we can talk about the fact they have lost Barry Bannan this week, which is about as heartbreaking as it can get for the Owls fans. Wrexham head into the weekend in sixth. Might not be there by kickoff on Saturday off, but they did have that remarkable late win at QPR last week and they are right in the mix. A bit of reflection on obviously, Tommy, on Barry Bannan leaving Wednesday, but obviously the main bulk here. We need to talk about Wrexham and their rise into the playoff places, don’t we?
Tommy: Yeah, I think firstly, it’s definitely worth a very special mention to Barry Bannan in terms of what he’s done and the service he’s provided for Sheffield Wednesday over the years. You know, many, many players, many people would have been quite easily, you know, quite happily to have left with the circumstances, all the stuff that was going on with the football club. But it’s a testament to him that he stood by the club. You know, he was there through all of the sort of noise, through all of the sort of mess. He was the one that stuck his chest out and he led by example. You’d have to say that. I certainly don’t blame him for this move that he’s made. He’s obviously at an age now where he wants to play at the highest level possible. Millwall are in the top six. They are going for a promotion to the Premier League. That’s a fact at this stage of the season. And Sheffield Wednesday are where they are. So, I don’t think anyone can point the finger at Barry Bannan for sort of jumping ship or anything like that. I certainly don’t think. I think it’s so far from correct if that’s the narrative that they want to spin on it. I think he’s been an unbelievable servant for the football club. And I would like to think that the football club wish him all the best in his future endeavours, whether that’s at Millwall or wherever else. But yeah, certainly a sore one for Sheffield Wednesday, given they are bottom of the league and they need players like Barry Bannan to help try and finish the season as strongly as possible. Listen, they’re obviously going to get relegated. We’ve known that for some time now. But I think there’s a manner in which you can get relegated. And certainly from Sheffield Wednesday’s point of view, they’ve not won enough games this season, of course, if not. But they’ve not gone down with a whimper. And I just worry for them a little bit now that Barry Bannan’s left. Is that going to be the case? I certainly hope not, because I would still like to see them being competitive. But I just can’t help but feel that with the loss of Barry Bannan, it’s going to become a whole lot tougher for Sheffield Wednesday.
Simeon: But as we said, as for Wrexham, really, really right in the thick of things, aren’t they, in terms of that promotion play-off race, really? They’re not in the promotion race, they’re in the play-off race. But yeah, I mean, that will come back against QPR last Saturday, I believe. For a 93rd-minute equaliser, 94th-minute winner. It’s a sign of a team that are really, really feeling confident about themselves at the moment.
Tommy: Yeah, you’re dead right, Sim. It’s a sign of a team that have got momentum and they’re sort of riding that wave at the minute. I mean, I’ll be honest with you, that game last time out against QPR, I thought was over. I think the majority of people probably did the same as well. So to actually go and equalise as late as they did, but then not only to equalise and potentially get a point, they actually smelt blood and they thought, oh no, we could win this. And they go and get the winner a couple of minutes later. So it was a remarkable sort of turnaround of the game and the events. But it just shows they’ve got that sort of never-say-die attitude. I think in this league, it can take you a long, long way. There’s a lot of teams that perhaps would have been 2-1 down at that stage of the game and thought the game’s done, would have been beat or whatever it is. But Wrexham seem to have that attitude of always hanging in there. Let’s get one thing clear, where they are in the league now, it’s not by flukes. You can’t fluke your way to sixth position in the league after 28 games, is it? It just doesn’t happen. So full credit goes to Wrexham, to Phil Parkinson, just to everything surrounding the club, the atmosphere that they’ve generated, the way they’ve sort of managed to get the points on the board that they have. They’ve been hard to beat in games. Yeah, fair play to them. It will be interesting to see if they can go the distance. That is one thing that I think is the question that’s on everyone’s lips. Will they be able to see it through? But with a week left in the window as well, they’ve not done a lot of business this month. It will be interesting to see if in this next week, they do add to that sort of squad that they’ve got. I know there’s been a lot of noise about a centre-forward, a young centre-forward potentially who might be coming through the door. I don’t know what stage that’s up to, but it’ll be interesting to see if they do any business between now and the end of the window, just to sort of push them on that little bit further than they already are.
Simeon: Sheffield Wednesday aren’t beaten in the last four league games against Wrexham, although the one they did fail to win in those four was the reverse fixture in August.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-0 Wrexham win
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
BLACKBURN v HULL
Tommy: Blackburn heading into the weekend, a point adrift of safety, and Hull are nicely in the playoff. Simeon, predictions for this one, please.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-1 Hull win.
IPSWICH v PRESTON
Tommy: Ipswich need a bounce back from a defeat at Sheffield United last time out. Preston have dipped slightly. Three defeats on the bounce. Eight goals conceded in that time and none scored. With that in mind, Sim, can we have a prediction for Ipswich versus Preston?
Simeon’s score prediction: Ipswich will bounce back and they will win this 2-0.
MIDDLESBROUGH v NORWICH
Tommy: They play at home to Norwich. Middlesbrough in very good form at the minute. Hot on the tails of Coventry City. Five clear of Ipswich who are back in third. Norwich beat Coventry last time out on Monday night. A really good performance. They’ve really turned it around with the Philippe Clement.
Simeon’s score prediction: It’s a really hard one. There’s Norwich in good form at the moment, but I’m going to have to be a brave man to predict anything other than a Middlesbrough win here with you, aren’t I? So, I’m going to go Middlesbrough 2-1 win.
MILLWALL v SHEFFIELD UNITED
Tommy: Millwall have sat nicely in fifth heading into the weekend. Sheffield United beat Ipswich last time out with a very, very good win, but they are still nine points off the playoffs.
Simeon’s score prediction: Can’t back against Millwall at the moment, but this is a tough one. I’m going to go Millwall to win this one 1-0. Grind it out.
OXFORD v BIRMINGHAM
Tommy: Matt Bloomfield’s got two draws and a win so far, still three points off safety heading into the weekend’s game. Birmingham are five points off the playoffs. An interesting one at the Kassam. Predictions, please.
Simeon’s score prediction: Birmingham not good away from home. Oxford generally okay at home and started solidly so far, so I’m going to go for a draw in this one. I’m going to say 1-1.
PORTSMOUTH v WEST BROM
Tommy: Portsmouth hit back to hold Southampton last Sunday. Start the weekend a point clear of the bottom three, and it’s a very, very big game for West Brom, who are two points above them, and they’ve played two games more, so they will be looking over their shoulders, no doubt about that.
Simeon’s score prediction: I really, really worry for West Brom. I really do worry for them, and I think this is going to be a Portsmouth win. I’m going to say Portsmouth to win this one 2-1.
QPR v COVENTRY
Tommy: As we just spoke about before, QPR was somehow beaten by Wrexham last time out in very dramatic fashion. They start the weekend four points off the playoffs. Coventry are three points clear at the top, but they were beaten last time out by Norwich, and the gap at the top has reduced quite significantly over the last few weeks.
Simeon’s score prediction: I’m going to go for a QPR win. I have a feeling they’re going to win this one, and I think they’re going to win it. I think they’re going to win it 2-1.
WATFORD v SWANSEA
Tommy: Watford heading to the weekend a point off the playoffs, and Swansea just seem to be sort of stuck a little bit mid-table.
Simeon’s score prediction: Swansea, one of those. There are a couple of teams who I can’t really see them challenging for the playoffs or going down this season. They’re just kind of there, aren’t they? You never know, but I think it’ll just be mid-table for them. Watford, Swansea, I think this one, let’s go for an entertaining draw. Let’s say 2-2 at Vicarage Road.
