Date: Friday 30th January – Sunday 1st February 2026
Featured Games: Middlesbrough vs Norwich, Blackburn vs Hull City
Championship - Matchday 30 Preview
Season 2025-26 | Powered by 6 seasons of historical data
Bristol City10th
Derby8thxGF: 4.3 | xGA: 9.0 (-4.7)
xGF: 7.8 | xGA: 5.3 (+2.5)
30 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Leicester20th
Charlton18thxGF: 8.4 | xGA: 4.1 (+4.3)
xGF: 7.3 | xGA: 7.8 (-0.5)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Sheffield Wednesday24th
Wrexham7thxGF: 4.3 | xGA: 12.6 (-8.4)
xGF: 4.7 | xGA: 10.5 (-5.8)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Stoke City16th
Southampton5thxGF: 7.2 | xGA: 9.1 (-1.9)
xGF: 8.9 | xGA: 6.6 (+2.3)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Watford12th
Swansea14thxGF: 4.7 | xGA: 8.9 (-4.2)
xGF: 7.4 | xGA: 8.7 (-1.3)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Ipswich2nd
Preston13thxGF: 9.0 | xGA: 6.6 (+2.3)
xGF: 6.9 | xGA: 6.1 (+0.7)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Millwall3rd
Sheffield Utd17thxGF: 5.8 | xGA: 10.1 (-4.4)
xGF: 7.9 | xGA: 6.5 (+1.4)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Blackburn19th
Hull City6thxGF: 5.3 | xGA: 6.2 (-1.0)
xGF: 6.0 | xGA: 8.0 (-1.9)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Middlesbrough4th
Norwich9thxGF: 11.5 | xGA: 3.7 (+7.8)
xGF: 5.9 | xGA: 5.4 (+0.5)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
QPR11th
Coventry1stxGF: 7.4 | xGA: 3.8 (+3.6)
xGF: 9.3 | xGA: 7.2 (+2.1)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Oxford United23rd
Birmingham15thxGF: 9.1 | xGA: 5.8 (+3.3)
xGF: 4.2 | xGA: 6.2 (-2.1)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Portsmouth22nd
West Brom21stxGF: 4.8 | xGA: 5.7 (-0.9)
xGF: 8.2 | xGA: 4.1 (+4.1)
31 Jan 2026 - 2025-26
Matchday 30 - Historical Insights
Playoff Race: Teams in 6th place at matchday 30 have averaged 48 points historically.
Relegation Battle: Teams in 22nd at matchday 30 have averaged 29 points historically.
Hull City at Matchday 30:
- 2024-25: 21st with 29 pts → Finished 21st
- 2023-24: 6th with 48 pts → Finished 7th
- 2022-23: 12th with 40 pts → Finished 15th
- 2021-22: 20th with 33 pts → Finished 20th
- 2019-20: 14th with 39 pts → Finished 24th
Week 30 delivers a fascinating blend of promotion chasers, playoff contenders, and relegation battlers all fighting for crucial points. At the Riverside, second-placed Middlesbrough host a resurgent Norwich side flying up the table with four wins in five. Meanwhile, Hull City travel to Ewood Park looking to maintain their top-four position despite continuing to massively overperform their underlying numbers.
Match of the Week: Middlesbrough vs Norwich City
Head-to-Head Record
Middlesbrough vs Norwich
Last 5 league meetings
| Date | Home | Score | Away | xG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 Jan 2026 2025-26 | Middlesbrough | 1 - 0 | Norwich | 0.4 - 0.6 |
| 23 Aug 2025 2025-26 | Norwich | 1 - 2 | Middlesbrough | 1.2 - 1.5 |
| 26 Apr 2025 2024-25 | Middlesbrough | 0 - 0 | Norwich | 0.7 - 0.6 |
| 27 Oct 2024 2024-25 | Norwich | 3 - 3 | Middlesbrough | 1.1 - 3.9 |
| 06 Mar 2024 2023-24 | Middlesbrough | 3 - 1 | Norwich | 1.7 - 1.0 |
Recent Form Comparison
Form Comparison - Last 6 Games
| # | Team | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Norwich | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 5 | +1 | 10 | WLWDWL |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 6 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 7 | -3 | 3 | LDDLDL |
Middlesbrough - Recent Results
Norwich - Recent Results
This is a genuine clash of form teams. Middlesbrough sit second with four wins in their last five games (WWWWL), chasing down the automatic promotion spots. But Norwich arrive at the Riverside as the division’s most improved side – four wins in five (WWWLW) has lifted them from 18th and away from relegation danger completely.
Boro will fancy this at home, but Norwich under their new management have shown they can hurt anyone. The Canaries’ away form has been particularly impressive during their revival, and they won’t come to Teesside to defend. This has all the hallmarks of an open, entertaining game between two sides brimming with confidence.
Middlesbrough will edge possession and territory, but Norwich have the counter-attacking pace to hurt them. A draw keeps both on track – Boro maintain their automatic push, Norwich continue their climb to safety.
Hull City’s Away Day: Can the Tigers Tame Blackburn?
Hull City Recent Form
Hull City – Recent League Form
Hull Away Record This Season
Hull City - Home vs Away 2025/2026
Home
34 pts from 21 games
Away
34 pts from 21 games
Hull City travel to Ewood Park sitting fourth on 50 points, still riding the wave of the Championship’s most remarkable xG overperformance. With actual points at 50 but expected points at just 31, the Tigers are somehow punching 19 points above their statistical weight.
Their away form has been solid if unspectacular – seven wins, three draws, and four losses from 14 road trips. Blackburn at home will be no pushover, but Hull have shown they can grind out results when the numbers suggest they shouldn’t.
Oli McBurnie is hitting form at exactly the right time, and if Hull can maintain their clinical finishing, they’ll take all three points. The underlying metrics scream that regression is coming, but not today. This Hull side has found a way to win games all season, and there’s no reason to think Ewood Park will be any different.
A tight 1-2 away win keeps Hull firmly in the automatic promotion conversation, even if the xG gods are sharpening their knives.
Player to Watch: Oliver McBurnie (Hull City)
McBurnie Season Stats
Oliver McBurnie
Hull City • F
Includes: Seasons: 2025; Teams: Hull City; Competitions: CH;
Recent Form
Oliver McBurnie - Form Chart
Average Rating: 6.83
The big Scottish striker is the embodiment of Hull’s season – converting chances at a rate that defies statistical probability. McBurnie has been in red-hot form recently, and his physical presence will be crucial against Blackburn’s defence at Ewood Park.
What makes McBurnie so valuable to this Hull side is his ability to hold up play and bring others into the game, while also being clinical when chances fall his way. He’s the focal point of Hull’s attack and the reason they’re converting at 142.9% efficiency compared to their xG.
Against Blackburn, McBurnie will need to be at his bullying best. Expect him to win aerial duels, create space for teammates, and potentially grab the winner. If Hull are going to maintain their remarkable overperformance, it’s players like McBurnie who make it possible.
Weekend Storylines
Current Championship Top 8
Championship - Top 8
- Automatic Race: Middlesbrough can keep up the pressure them with a Norwich win.
Coventry travel to struggling QPR needing to respond after recent wobbles. - Playoff Battle: Hull’s trip to Blackburn is pivotal for
their top-six push. Millwall host Sheffield United in a six-pointer that could
define both teams’ seasons. The playoff spots are wide open. - Relegation Scrap: Portsmouth’s home clash with West Brom
is massive at the bottom, while Oxford host Birmingham in another basement battle.
Every point is precious. - Giant Killers: Wrexham travel to Sheffield Wednesday looking
to continue their impressive Championship campaign.
Our Predictions
Championship Week 30 Predictions
BTP Gameweek Predictions
| Leicester City vs Charlton Athletic | 2-0 |
| Middlesbrough vs Norwich City | 2-2 |
| Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City | 1-2 |
| Millwall vs Sheffield United | 1-1 |
| QPR vs Coventry City | 1-2 |
| Sheffield Wednesday vs Wrexham | 2-1 |
| Portsmouth vs West Brom | 0-1 |
| Oxford United vs Birmingham City | 1-1 |
| Stoke City vs Southampton | 1-0 |
| Ipswich Town vs Preston North End | 2-1 |
| Bristol City vs Derby County | 2-1 |
| Watford vs Swansea City | 1-1 |
The Verdict
Week 30 serves up a fascinating mix of contests across the Championship. The Middlesbrough-Norwich clash at the Riverside should be the weekend’s most entertaining affair – two form sides going toe-to-toe with contrasting ambitions but similar momentum.
Hull’s trip to Blackburn is pivotal for their automatic promotion push. The underlying numbers suggest they’re living on borrowed time with that +19 xG overperformance, but this side has consistently defied logic all season. With McBurnie in form and their clinical finishing showing no signs of slowing, expect the Tigers to extend their remarkable run with a hard-fought away win.
Elsewhere, the playoff and relegation battles intensify. Every point matters now, and the teams that can handle the pressure will be the ones celebrating in May.
