Derby Day and a Title Party? Everything’s at Stake in Championship Gameweek 42
Competition: Sky Bet Championship
Dates: Friday 10 – Sunday 12 April 2026
Number of Fixtures: 12
Hull City: AWAY vs Sheffield Utd (Sat, 2:00pm)
With five gameweeks to go, the Championship is reaching boiling point. Coventry need just four points from their remaining five games to end 25 years out of the top flight, and they open with Sheffield Wednesday at home — it could be party time at the Coventry Building Society Arena by Saturday evening. For Hull City, the pressure is just as intense: fifth on 68 points and four behind Middlesbrough and Millwall in the automatic hunt, Liam Rosenior’s side travel to Sheffield Utd knowing a win would ratchet the tension up further at the top. And if that weren’t enough, Norwich host Ipswich in an East Anglian derby with a Champions League place — well, a play-off slot at least — on the line.
Gameweek 42 – Stats & Historical Data
All Fixtures — Head to Head, Form & Historical Positions
Championship - Matchday 42 Preview
Season 2025-26 | Powered by 6 seasons of historical data
West Brom22nd
Millwall3rdxGF: 8.2 | xGA: 4.1 (+4.1)
xGF: 5.8 | xGA: 10.1 (-4.4)
10 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Norwich9th
Ipswich2ndxGF: 5.9 | xGA: 5.4 (+0.5)
xGF: 8.3 | xGA: 4.9 (+3.4)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
QPR11th
Bristol City10thxGF: 7.4 | xGA: 3.8 (+3.6)
xGF: 4.3 | xGA: 9.0 (-4.7)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Coventry1st
Sheffield Wednesday24thxGF: 9.3 | xGA: 7.2 (+2.1)
xGF: 4.3 | xGA: 12.6 (-8.4)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Southampton4th
Derby8thxGF: 9.5 | xGA: 4.5 (+5.0)
xGF: 7.8 | xGA: 5.3 (+2.5)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Leicester21st
Swansea14thxGF: 8.4 | xGA: 4.1 (+4.3)
xGF: 7.4 | xGA: 8.7 (-1.3)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Sheffield Utd17th
Hull City6thxGF: 7.9 | xGA: 6.5 (+1.4)
xGF: 6.0 | xGA: 8.0 (-1.9)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Middlesbrough5th
Portsmouth19thxGF: 11.5 | xGA: 3.7 (+7.8)
xGF: 4.8 | xGA: 5.5 (-0.7)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Stoke City16th
Blackburn20thxGF: 7.2 | xGA: 9.1 (-1.9)
xGF: 3.3 | xGA: 7.4 (-4.1)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Charlton18th
Preston13thxGF: 7.3 | xGA: 7.8 (-0.5)
xGF: 6.9 | xGA: 6.1 (+0.7)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Oxford United23rd
Watford12thxGF: 9.1 | xGA: 5.8 (+3.3)
xGF: 4.7 | xGA: 8.9 (-4.2)
11 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Birmingham15th
Wrexham7thxGF: 4.2 | xGA: 6.2 (-2.1)
xGF: 4.7 | xGA: 10.5 (-5.8)
12 Apr 2026 - 2025-26
Matchday 42 - Historical Insights
Playoff Race: Teams in 6th place at matchday 42 have averaged 66 points historically.
Relegation Battle: Teams in 22nd at matchday 42 have averaged 43 points historically.
Hull City at Matchday 42:
- 2024-25: 20th with 45 pts → Finished 21st
- 2023-24: 7th with 65 pts → Finished 7th
- 2022-23: 15th with 53 pts → Finished 15th
- 2021-22: 20th with 47 pts → Finished 20th
- 2019-20: 22nd with 45 pts → Finished 24th
Current Championship Table
Championship Table
Championship Table
Hull City at Matchday 42 — Through The Years
Hull City Historical Comparison
Historical Position Comparison
Hull City at Matchday 42
| Season | Pos | Pts | GD | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (now) | 6th | 68 | +4 | - |
| 2024-25 | 20th | 45 | -9 | 21st |
| 2023-24 | 7th | 65 | +6 | 7th |
| 2022-23 | 15th | 53 | -9 | 15th |
| 2021-22 | 20th | 47 | -10 | 20th |
| 2019-20 | 22nd | 45 | -17 | 24th |
Data from 6 Championship seasons (2019–2025)
Key Storylines This Week
What to Watch For
- Coventry on the brink of history: Frank Lampard’s side need just four points from five games to reach the Premier League for the first time since 2001. They host Sheffield Wednesday — on just 13 points and already doomed — which makes this as close to a banker as the Championship gets. The only question is whether Coventry can keep their nerve when a full house is willing them over the line.
- East Anglian derby — Ipswich’s title shot: Ipswich sit second on 72 points and travel to a Norwich side 14 points behind them in ninth. A Tractor Boys win would put serious daylight between themselves and Millwall and Middlesbrough in the automatic promotion race; a slip-up hands the rivals an enormous gift. The ML model sees it as a genuine coin-flip, which tells you all you need to know about how ferociously unpredictable this fixture always is.
- Playoff picture — four clubs separated by four points: Middlesbrough (72 pts, 3rd), Millwall (72 pts, 4th), Hull City (68 pts, 5th) and Southampton (66 pts, 6th) are in a frantic battle for the remaining automatic and play-off slots. Millwall kick things off on Friday night at West Brom — a potential banana-skin — while Hull head to Bramall Lane where the ML model backs them to take all three points at 42.9%.
Championship Top Scorers
Top Scorers Heading into Gameweek 42
Top Assists
Top Assist Providers
Championship Top Assists
Head to Head
Norwich vs Ipswich
Last 4 league meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away | xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 2026 2025-26 | Norwich | 0 - 2 | Ipswich | 0.8 - 2.0 |
| 05 Oct 2025 2025-26 | Ipswich | 3 - 1 | Norwich | 1.8 - 0.5 |
| 06 Apr 2024 2023-24 | Norwich | 1 - 0 | Ipswich | 0.5 - 0.8 |
| 16 Dec 2023 2023-24 | Ipswich | 2 - 2 | Norwich | 2.1 - 0.8 |
Recent Form Comparison
Form Comparison - Last 6 Games
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ipswich | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 7 | +3 | 11 | DWDWWL |
| 2 | Norwich | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 10 | WLWDWL |
Norwich - Recent Results
Ipswich - Recent Results
xG Trends
Norwich - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Ipswich - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Goals by Period
Norwich - Goals by Time Period 2025/2026
Ipswich - Goals by Time Period 2025/2026
Historical Position at Matchday 42
Historical Position Comparison
Norwich - Saturday 11th April 2026
| Season | Pos | Pts | GD | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (now) | 9th | 58 | +5 | - |
| 2024-25 | 13th | 53 | +5 | 13th |
| 2023-24 | 6th | 68 | +15 | 6th |
| 2022-23 | 10th | 61 | +8 | 13th |
| 2020-21 | 1st | 90 | +35 | 1st |
Historical Position Comparison
Ipswich - Saturday 11th April 2026
| Season | Pos | Pts | GD | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (now) | 2nd | 75 | +29 | - |
| 2023-24 | 2nd | 88 | +32 | 2nd |
Player to Watch
Head to Head
Hull City vs Sheffield Utd
Last 5 league meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away | xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 Apr 2026 2025-26 | Sheffield Utd | 2 - 1 | Hull City | - |
| 04 Oct 2025 2025-26 | Hull City | 1 - 0 | Sheffield Utd | 0.5 - 2.5 |
| 24 Jan 2025 2024-25 | Sheffield Utd | 0 - 3 | Hull City | 1.2 - 0.5 |
| 13 Sep 2024 2024-25 | Hull City | 0 - 2 | Sheffield Utd | 1.0 - 0.6 |
| 20 Jan 2023 2022-23 | Sheffield Utd | 1 - 0 | Hull City | - |
Recent Form Comparison
Form Comparison - Last 6 Games
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hull City | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 8 | -1 | 8 | WLWDDL |
| 2 | Sheffield Utd | 6 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 10 | -2 | 5 | LDLDLW |
Hull City - Recent Results
Sheffield Utd - Recent Results
xG Trends
Hull City - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Sheffield Utd - 10-Match Rolling xG 2025/2026
Rolling 10-match average | Green above red = Creating more than conceding
Goals by Period
Hull City - Goals by Time Period 2025/2026
Sheffield Utd - Goals by Time Period 2025/2026
Historical Position at Matchday 42
Historical Position Comparison
Hull City - Saturday 11th April 2026
| Season | Pos | Pts | GD | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (now) | 6th | 68 | +4 | - |
| 2024-25 | 20th | 45 | -9 | 21st |
| 2023-24 | 7th | 65 | +6 | 7th |
| 2022-23 | 15th | 53 | -9 | 15th |
| 2021-22 | 20th | 47 | -10 | 20th |
| 2019-20 | 22nd | 45 | -17 | 24th |
Historical Position Comparison
Sheffield Utd - Saturday 11th April 2026
| Season | Pos | Pts | GD | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 (now) | 17th | 54 | +0 | - |
| 2024-25 | 3rd | 85 | +24 | 3rd |
| 2022-23 | 2nd | 82 | +30 | 2nd |
| 2021-22 | 7th | 65 | +11 | 5th |
Hull City Recent Form
Hull City - Recent League Form
Player to Watch
BTP Predictions — Gameweek 42
Our Predictions
Season record: 67/321 (21%)
Final Thoughts
Gameweek 42 could be one of the most decisive weekends of the Championship season. Coventry are the standout story — a home win against relegated Sheffield Wednesday and the party may well start in the West Midlands — but the real intrigue is in the playoff zone, where four clubs separated by just six points could find the picture looking very different by Sunday evening. If Hull City win at Bramall Lane and Millwall slip up at West Brom, the Tigers could close to within two points of the top three with four games remaining.
Best case for Hull City: A 1-2 win at Sheffield Utd, Millwall lose or draw at West Brom, and Hull close to within four points of the top three — suddenly the final run-in looks very different.
Worst case: Hull lose at Bramall Lane while Millwall, Boro and Southampton all win, leaving the Tigers six or more points adrift of automatic promotion with just four games left.
Hull City Upcoming Fixtures
Next Fixtures
Hull City - Upcoming League Fixtures
| Date | Home | Away |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Apr 2026 | Hull City | Birmingham |
| 21 Apr 2026 | Leicester | Hull City |
| 25 Apr 2026 | Charlton | Hull City |
| 02 May 2026 | Hull City | Norwich |
🤖 BTP Machine Learning Model — Championship GW42
Probability estimates for all Championship GW42 fixtures. The model outputs a home win / draw / away win probability for each match based on rolling form, goals data, and league position over the current season.
Full methodology: ML Model Explainer.
West Brom vs Millwall
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (38.0% / 27.4% / 34.6%)
Match Prediction
Millwall (4th, 72pts) head to a West Brom side who are 21st and in need of points themselves. The model calls it a home win but only just — all three outcomes are plausible. Millwall’s away form has been solid and the model’s slight lean toward West Brom likely reflects home advantage rather than quality.
Norwich vs Ipswich
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (38.5% / 23.2% / 38.4%)
Match Prediction
The model essentially calls this a coin flip — 38.5% home, 38.4% away, with a predicted away win by the narrowest of margins. That reflects reality: two well-matched sides with Ipswich’s superior league position offset by the hostile Carrow Road atmosphere. The East Anglian derby defies easy prediction.
QPR vs Bristol City
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (39.1% / 25.0% / 35.9%)
Match Prediction
QPR (12th, 57pts) vs Bristol City (11th, 57pts) — level on points and level in the model. A slight home lean gives QPR the predicted win but with 35.9% away probability this is genuinely open. Roy Hodgson’s Bristol City are in decent form after their Charlton win.
Coventry vs Sheffield Wednesday
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (71.1% / 13.5% / 15.4%)
Match Prediction
The model’s most one-sided prediction of the weekend by some distance — 71.1% Coventry, just 15.4% Wednesday. Coventry are 1st on 84pts, Wednesday are 24th on 13pts. The 11-place gap and contrasting form makes this the model’s strongest call of GW42. Frank Lampard’s side should ease to three points.
Sheffield Utd vs Hull City
📊 ML Probability — Model: Away win (34.8% / 22.3% / 42.9%)
Match Prediction
The model backs Hull City as away favourites here — 42.9% away win vs 34.8% home. Hull (5th, 68pts) are 8 places and 17 points above Sheffield Utd (17th, 51pts) and their recent rolling form has been notably stronger. This is one of the weekend’s clearest away tips from the model.
Leicester vs Swansea
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (45.0% / 23.6% / 31.4%)
Match Prediction
Leicester (19th, 47pts, now with a 6-point PSR deduction confirmed) host Swansea (15th, 54pts). The model gives Leicester a home edge — 45% — but the 31.4% away probability is significant. After losing their deduction appeal, Leicester desperately need points and the model suggests home advantage alone will carry them.
Southampton vs Derby
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (57.2% / 18.4% / 24.4%)
Match Prediction
Southampton (6th, 66pts) are clear favourites at home against Derby (8th, 63pts) — 57.2% home win. Southampton’s home record and playoff-chasing form drive this. Derby have been decent on their travels but the gap in league position is reflected in the model’s clear lean.
Stoke City vs Blackburn
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (44.1% / 19.4% / 36.5%)
Match Prediction
Stoke (13th, 54pts) vs Blackburn (20th, 47pts) — the model gives Stoke a home advantage edge with 44.1%. Blackburn’s 36.5% away probability keeps this competitive. Mark Robins’s Stoke have struggled for consistency but face a Blackburn side well off the pace this season.
Charlton vs Preston
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (38.8% / 26.4% / 34.8%)
Match Prediction
Charlton (18th, 49pts) vs Preston (14th, 54pts) — a narrow home prediction. The 26.4% draw probability is the third-highest of the weekend, suggesting the model sees this as a tight, low-event match. Preston’s 34.8% away win probability means they’re very much in this.
Oxford United vs Watford
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (38.7% / 24.3% / 37.0%)
Match Prediction
Oxford (23rd, 41pts) vs Watford (10th, 57pts) — almost a dead heat in the model. Oxford’s home advantage barely outweighs Watford’s superior position. Will Lankshear’s form for Oxford (5 goals in 7) is reflected in their rolling goal metrics nudging their home win probability up to 38.7%.
Middlesbrough vs Portsmouth
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (63.7% / 17.3% / 18.9%)
Match Prediction
Middlesbrough (3rd, 72pts) vs Portsmouth (22nd, 42pts) — the model’s second most one-sided call. Boro at home with top-6 form metrics against a Portsmouth side in the bottom three gives a 63.7% home win. Kim Hellberg’s side need three points to keep pace with Ipswich and Millwall above them.
Birmingham vs Wrexham
📊 ML Probability — Model: Home win (37.9% / 28.7% / 33.5%)
Match Prediction
Birmingham (16th, 53pts) vs Wrexham (7th, 66pts) — the highest draw probability of the weekend at 28.7%. The model leans slightly home but Wrexham are 13 points better off and have the form. A tight Sunday fixture where neither side is a strong favourite.
🤖 Model Notes — Championship GW42
All 42 predictions were generated fresh after the GW41 import completed, using rolling form windows up to the point of each fixture’s kickoff. Position bands update each matchday so the model always reflects the current table.
Model: Logistic Regression, trained on 3,808 Championship matches (2019/20–2024/25). Log loss 1.064 vs baseline 1.073. Full methodology here.
Check back after the weekend for our full Gameweek 42 Championship review with match reports and updated standings!
