# Championship preview: Contenders, pretenders and strugglers

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/championship-preview-contenders-pretenders-and-strugglers/
- Published: 2026-11-06T09:22:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-06T10:37:19+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c38xzkkgg7rpo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sheffield, Sport

## Key points

- Birmingham could go top with a win over Swansea.
- Scott Parker starts his West Ham job after a 3-3 draw.
- Sheffield United are ninth and five points off the top two.

## Summary

The Championship has a clear weekend while lower-league clubs play in the FA Cup, giving attention to a division already marked by drama and managerial changes. Birmingham City and Swansea meet in a test of their promotion credentials, while Scott Parker begins his West Ham tenure and Sheffield United continue to edge towards the play-off places.

Birmingham have won five of their past six league matches and could move top by beating Swansea, who have followed heavy wins and losses in recent games. Parker, appointed after Nuno Espirito Santo was sacked, has won promotion from the Championship with three previous clubs; West Ham drew 3-3 with Cardiff after trailing 3-0 in his first half in charge. Sheffield United are ninth after four wins in six, five points off the top two. The article also flags struggling sides including Derby County and Charlton.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.