Gameweek 35 Overview: Competition:Sky Bet Championship Dates: Friday 27th Feb to Monday 2nd March 2026 Number of Fixtures: 12 Hull City: AWAY Fratton Park vs Portsmouth (Saturday 28th 12:30pm)
Gameweek 35 brings some of the most consequential fixtures of the Championship season, with the relegation battle and playoff race both reaching boiling point. The standout match sees crisis-club West Brom travel to Oxford United in a genuine relegation six-pointer, while Southampton look to press their playoff credentials against a beleaguered Sheffield Wednesday. For Hull City, a trip to Fratton Park represents a real opportunity — the Tigers go into the game in excellent away form and looking for back-to-back wins after their midweek victory over Derby.
Gameweek 35 – Stats & Historical Data
All Fixtures – Head to Head, xG Form & Historical Positions
Championship - Matchday 35 Preview
Season 2025-26 | Powered by 6 seasons of historical data
West Brom in Freefall: The Baggies sacked Eric Ramsay after just nine games in charge — a 0% win rate, four goals scored, and the heaviest home defeat in their Championship history against Norwich sealed his fate. James Morrison steps in as caretaker for a third time, with Opta giving West Brom a 50/50 chance of avoiding relegation to the third tier. Saturday’s trip to Oxford is being described by former players as one of the biggest games the club has faced in 20 years.
Hull City’s Away-Day Excellence: The Tigers have won their last four away league games — their best run on the road since 1966 — and are eyeing their first league double over Portsmouth in nearly 60 years. Joe Gelhardt has been the driving force, scoring more away goals than any other Hull player in the Championship this season with five.
Southampton’s Playoff Surge: Southampton arrive at Hillsborough on the back of a stunning 5-0 thrashing of QPR and are firmly in the mix for a top-six spot. A battered and injury-hit Sheffield Wednesday side stand in their way, making this one of the most one-sided fixtures on paper this weekend.
Match of the Week: Oxford United vs West Brom
This is as high-stakes as the Championship gets outside the top six. Oxford United, who have just had their new 16,000-capacity stadium plans formally approved and are desperate to survive and build, host a West Brom side in total disarray — four managers in 11 months, one point above the relegation zone, and no permanent boss in the dugout. James Morrison leads the Baggies caretaker for the third time, while Des Bloomfield’s Oxford will know that three points here could be the platform for survival. Both clubs could feasibly be in League One next season, making this a true pressure-cooker encounter.
Oxford United vs West Brom
Last 4 league meetings
Oxford United1Wins
1Draws
West Brom2Wins
Total Goals: 4 - 6
Date
Home
Score
Away
xG
28 Feb 2026 2025-26
Oxford United
2 - 1
West Brom
0.8 - 1.0
08 Nov 2025 2025-26
West Brom
2 - 1
Oxford United
1.6 - 1.0
22 Feb 2025 2024-25
West Brom
2 - 0
Oxford United
2.7 - 0.3
19 Oct 2024 2024-25
Oxford United
1 - 1
West Brom
0.9 - 0.7
Team not found: Oxford United
Oxford United - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
West Brom - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Oxford United - Goals by Time Period 2026/2027
Best Scoring Period
0-15 mins
Most Vulnerable Period
0-15 mins
West Brom - Goals by Time Period 2026/2027
Best Scoring Period
61-75 mins
Most Vulnerable Period
0-15 mins
No fixture found for Oxford United on Saturday 28th February 2026.
No fixture found for West Brom on Saturday 28th February 2026.
Player to Watch: Daryl Dike
👀 Player to Watch: Daryl Dike (West Brom)
Daryl Dike had become something of a forgotten man under both Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, but caretaker James Morrison has handed him starts in two of his three games in charge — and the Baggies remain unbeaten in all three. The American striker’s physical presence and hold-up play gives West Brom a focal point they have sorely missed, and if Morrison keeps Oxford at bay, Dike will be central to any threat on the break. A goal here would be an enormous psychological shot in the arm for a side desperately searching for confidence.
No season statistics found for Daryl Dike in 2026-2027.
BTP Verdict
Oxford have the home advantage, the crowd behind them, and the organisational cohesion that West Brom currently lack under their fourth managerial regime in under a year. Morrison’s Baggies may be harder to beat than under Ramsay — they are unbeaten in his three games — but Oxford’s need is equally desperate and Bloomfield’s side have ground out results on the road at Coventry and Middlesbrough already this season. We fancy Oxford to edge it in front of their own fans in what promises to be a tense, attritional affair.
Prediction
Oxford United 1-0 West Brom
One to Watch
Daryl Dike
Key Battle
Oxford’s defensive block vs Dike’s physicality
Hull City Focus: Portsmouth vs Hull City
The Opposition: Portsmouth go into this game five points clear of the relegation zone and buoyed by a two-game winning streak on the road — though that was ended by defeat at Wrexham on Tuesday night. Pompey are a side capable of grinding results and their passionate Fratton Park crowd gives them a real home advantage, but they have been winless in their last four league games against Hull (D2 L2) and have form to arrest against the Tigers specifically.
Key Battle: Joe Gelhardt against Portsmouth’s defensive backline will be the key contest — the Hull forward has netted four goals in his last six away starts and is the Tigers’ biggest threat on the road. How Pompey cope with his movement and direct running could define the outcome.
What We Think: Hull’s away record is remarkable — four wins from four on the road — and Portsmouth’s issues against the Tigers are well-documented. The stats are firmly in Hull’s favour, and following their 3-2 win at Fratton Park earlier in the season, a first league double over Pompey since 1966-67 is very much on. However, Portsmouth at home are dangerous and have only twice lost consecutive home games since the start of last season, so this will not be straightforward. We lean towards Hull finding a way.
Hull City vs Portsmouth
Last 4 league meetings
Hull City2Wins
2Draws
Portsmouth0Wins
Total Goals: 6 - 4
Date
Home
Score
Away
xG
28 Feb 2026 2025-26
Portsmouth
0 - 1
Hull City
1.0 - 0.3
08 Nov 2025 2025-26
Hull City
3 - 2
Portsmouth
2.4 - 1.3
03 May 2025 2024-25
Portsmouth
1 - 1
Hull City
0.8 - 2.3
02 Nov 2024 2024-25
Hull City
1 - 1
Portsmouth
1.4 - 1.0
Team not found: Hull City
Hull City - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Portsmouth - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Hull City - Goals by Time Period 2026/2027
Best Scoring Period
0-15 mins
Most Vulnerable Period
0-15 mins
Portsmouth - Goals by Time Period 2026/2027
Best Scoring Period
76-90+ mins
Most Vulnerable Period
31-45 mins
No fixture found for Hull City on Saturday 28th February 2026.
No fixture found for Portsmouth on Saturday 28th February 2026.
Joe Gelhardt is quite simply Hull City’s most dangerous player when they travel away from home, leading the team’s away goal charts with five Championship goals on the road this season. He has scored in four of his last six away starts — a remarkable strike rate — and Portsmouth’s defence will need to be alert to his movement from the first whistle. With Hull looking to complete a historic first league double over Pompey in almost 60 years, Gelhardt is the man most likely to make the difference at Fratton Park.
No season statistics found for Joe Gelhardt in 2026-2027.
BTP Verdict
Hull’s four-game away winning run, combined with Portsmouth’s woeful recent record against the Tigers, points firmly in the Tigers’ direction. Portsmouth’s defeat at Wrexham in midweek may have knocked some of the wind out of their sails, and Hull — fresh off beating Derby — arrive with confidence and momentum. We think this is tight, but Hull’s away form is too good to ignore, and Gelhardt in particular looks likely to cause problems. A narrow Hull win or a hard-fought draw are the two most likely outcomes.
Prediction
Portsmouth 1-1 Hull City
One to Watch
Joe Gelhardt
Key Battle
Gelhardt’s movement vs Pompey’s defensive shape
BTP Predictions Summary
Bristol City vs Watford
2-0
Derby County vs Blackburn Rovers
2-1
Leicester City vs Norwich City
2-1
Portsmouth vs Hull City
1-1
Charlton Athletic vs Wrexham
1-2
Coventry City vs Stoke City
2-0
Ipswich Town vs Swansea City
2-0
Oxford United vs West Bromwich Albion
1-0
Preston North End vs Millwall
1-1
Queens Park Rangers vs Sheffield United
1-1
Sheffield Wednesday vs Southampton
0-3
Birmingham City vs Middlesbrough
2-1
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 35 is packed with storylines — West Brom’s trip to Oxford stands out as the match with the most riding on it, with both clubs in genuine danger of dropping into League One. Southampton’s firepower and Wrexham’s relentless form are also worth keeping a close eye on, while the playoff picture could shift significantly depending on how the likes of Ipswich, Derby and Leicester get on. It’s shaping up to be a brilliant weekend of Championship football.
Best case for Hull City: Gelhardt fires Hull to a famous win at Fratton Park, completing the first league double over Portsmouth in nearly 60 years and keeping Hull firmly in contention for the top six. Back-to-back wins would be a real statement of intent with the run-in approaching.
Worst case: Hull’s away run finally comes to an end at Fratton Park as Portsmouth’s home form and crowd get behind them — a defeat would pile pressure on Hull’s playoff ambitions and hand momentum back to the chasing pack.
Check back after the weekend for our full Gameweek 35 review with xG analysis!
Bristol City12th
Watford16th
Leicester23rd
Norwich9th
Derby8th
Blackburn20th
Portsmouth18th
Hull City6th
Ipswich2nd
Swansea11th
Preston14th
Millwall3rd
QPR15th
Sheffield Utd13th
Sheffield Wednesday24th
Southampton4th
Charlton19th
Wrexham7th
Oxford United22nd
West Brom21st
Coventry1st
Stoke City17th
Birmingham10th
Middlesbrough5th
