EFL Championship Matchday 9 Preview
The EFL Championship returned for the 2026-27 season on Friday, 14 August. After a summer of managerial changes, recruitment and squad rebuilding, all 24 clubs began the campaign with the same objective: making the strongest possible start.
With promotion ambitions, survival battles and new-look squads having took shape, you can keep up to date with the latest fixtures and results in the Championship here.
What Are The EFL Championship Matchday 9 Fixtures?
The 2026-27 Championship season began on Friday, 14 August and runs through until May 1st. The EFL confirmed that the league campaign would begin on the weekend of 14-16 August, with the opening round subsequently scheduled across four days.
Below are the latest confirmed fixtures and kick-off times. All times are BST.
Friday, 9 October
West Ham vs QPR – 8pm
Saturday, 10 October
Swansea vs Norwich – 12:30pm
West Brom vs Birmingham – 12:30pm
Charlton vs Bristol City – 12:30pm
Derby vs Wrexham – 3pm
Middlesbrough vs Wolves – 3pm
Preston vs Millwall – 3pm
Sheffield United vs Lincoln – 3pm
Blackburn vs Cardiff – 3pm
Watford vs Burnley – 3pm
Bolton vs Stoke – 3pm
Sunday, 11 October
Southampton vs Portsmouth – 12pm
The schedule reflects the new make-up of the division. Wolves, Burnley and West Ham have dropped down from the Premier League, while Lincoln and Cardiff have moved up from League One. Wrexham, meanwhile, will begin their first Championship campaign after finishing seventh in the previous season and winning the play-offs.
EFL Championship Matchday 9: Game of the Week Preview
Southampton vs Portsmouth is the standout fixture of the Championship weekend, with one of English football’s most fiercely contested rivalries taking centre stage at St Mary’s. The two south coast rivals head into Sunday’s meeting with contrasting recent records, as Southampton look to respond to a defeat last time out while Portsmouth arrive having extended their unbeaten run to three matches.
Southampton had built considerable momentum before their latest setback. The Saints followed successive 1-1 draws away to Birmingham and Lincoln with impressive home victories over Swansea and Bristol City, winning 3-1 and 4-1 respectively. However, their winning run came to an end on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 away at Wrexham.
That defeat was Southampton’s first league loss since their opening-day defeat at Watford, leaving them with four wins, two draws and two defeats from their first eight Championship matches. Their attacking form has been particularly notable, with the Saints scoring 19 league goals during that spell, including five against Millwall and four against Bristol City.
Portsmouth, meanwhile, have steadied themselves after a difficult start to the campaign. A 2-0 defeat to Derby was followed by a 2-0 home win over Cardiff, before consecutive goalless draws against Charlton and a 2-2 draw with Blackburn last weekend. Portsmouth have therefore avoided defeat in their last three Championship matches, although they have taken just two wins from their opening seven league games.
The recent meetings with Cardiff, Charlton and Blackburn have also highlighted Portsmouth’s defensive improvement, with John Mousinho’s side conceding just two goals across those three matches. They will now face a Southampton attack that had scored seven goals in its two previous home league games before the Saints’ defeat at Wrexham.
With the rivalry adding another layer to an already important Championship fixture, St Mary’s should provide the setting for a compelling south coast derby. Southampton will be looking to return to winning ways on home soil, while Portsmouth will aim to extend their unbeaten run and produce a result that could give their season further momentum.
What Were The EFL Championship Matchday 8 Results?
The 2026-27 Championship campaign began on Friday, 14 August. The latest results can be found below:
Friday, 18 September
Bristol City 1-0 Watford – 8:00pm
Saturday, 19 September
Cardiff 3-1 Charlton – 12:30pm
Stoke 2-1 Sheffield United – 12:30pm
Millwall 2-2 West Ham – 12:30pm
Lincoln 1-2 Swansea – 3:00pm
Portsmouth 2-2 Blackburn – 3:00pm
Wrexham 2-1 Southampton – 3:00pm
Birmingham 2-2 Middlesbrough – 3:00pm
QPR 2-2 Preston – 3:00pm
Burnley 1-1 Derby – 3:00pm
Sunday, 20 September
Wolves 1-0 West Brom – 12:00pm
Norwich 3-4 Bolton – 1:30pm
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