EFL Championship Week 1 Recap: Ipswich and Birmingham share the spoils to open the season, while Wrexham gets a rude awakening.

The Championship returned for its 2025-26 season, and oh boy, there was drama. From Wrexham’s collapse to a demolition at Bramall Lane, Matchday 1 had it all.

(Image Credit to Action Images)

Birmingham vs Ipswich Town:

Hello Birmingham!

And what a start to the season. A fan tried getting involved by grabbing players when they were by the side of the pitch. 

But don’t worry about that. The game finished 1-1 with Jay Stansfield from Birmingham scoring in the 55th minute and George Hirst from Ipswich scored a penalty in extra time, 90+5. 

With the penalty, an Ipswich corner to the far post was headed onto the arm of unfortunate Lyndon Dykes, who did not appear to be handling the ball deliberately. But Dykes’ arm was raised and the ref awarded a penalty and that's when George Hirst scored on the spot. 

But the goal caused some trouble from the fans and they were throwing objects onto the pitch from the Birmingham fans. 

Southampton vs Wrexham:

Welcome to Wrexham? 

More like Welcome to the Championship.

In a league like the Championship, if you’re up 1-0 with stoppage time to go, you kind of have to get the result. 

After Josh Windass got the opener on a 22nd-minute penalty, that is exactly what Wrexham didn’t do. 

A Ryan Manning goal in the 90th minute brought Southampton level, while Jack Stephens won it six minutes into stoppage time. 

Yes, I understand that it’s the first weekend. And I also understand that there are still forty-five more matchweeks to go. 

But if Wrexham is to fight for a fourth successive promotion, this was not the way to start it off. 

Following this game, Wrexham will play an EFL Cup first-round tie at home against Hull City, before hosting West Brom for their second Championship match. 

Meanwhile, Southampton will look to build off the victory in a EFL Cup first-round matchup with League One side Northampton Town and then a Matchweek 2 encounter with a fellow ex-Premier League side in the form of Ipswich Town.   

Coventry vs Hull City:

Well, the Coventry and Hull match ended 0-0 with a clash and erupted into a huge brawl. But it wasn't the result both teams wanted.

The frustrating goalkeeper got Oli McBurnie's hand wrapped around his neck and in response, Rushworth grabbed his shirt. The ref saw and dished out three yellow cards to McBurnie, Rushworth and Crooks. 

Charlton vs Watford:

Charlton struck a goal in stoppage time to beat Watford 1-0, with Harvey Knibbs taking the goal in 4 minutes added time. 

Harvey Knibbs was their summer signing and made them get the win and made them 3rd in the championship after the game. 

Knibbs was brought on the pitch in the 80th minute and he didn’t take long to start paying back his chunk of his transfer fee. 

Watford had produced some dangerous crosses but struggled to force home goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski into serious action.

Charlton are unbeaten since 3 December and have won 14 of their matches and drawn three of their last 17 matches.

We had a delay in the match in the 75th minute because James Abankwa had an injury, but then we were back into the game.

West Brom vs Blackburn Rovers:

Despite the late red card for Daniel Furlong, West Brom were able to escape their opening weekend fixture with Blackburn Rovers with the 1-0 victory.

Isaac Price scored the winner in the fifteenth minute, while the Baggies dominated the match in terms of shots and shots on goal. 

On the positive side for Rovers, Blackburn was able to win the possession battle 57%-43%, completing over 400 passes and earning seven corners in the meantime. 

They will look to bounce back from the tough loss when they host League One side Bradford City in the first round of the EFL Cup and then Birmingham City on Matchday 2 of the new Championship season. 

Meanwhile, West Brom will look to build off the win when they host fellow Championship side Derby County in the EFL Cup, before travelling to play Wrexham in the second round of the Championship. 

Norwich City vs Millwall:

This match ended 2-1 to Millwall

The ball possession was 58% to Norwich but somehow they still lost the match. 

Alex Neil was against his former team adding a layer of narrative to the result. 

51’ - Camiel Neghli opened the scoring for Millwall

55’- Josh Sargent scored the level goal for them to be 1-1

83’- Macaulay Langstaff scored the decisive goal for Millwall for a composed finish.

Oxford United vs Portsmouth:

The final score ended 1-0 to Portsmouth. 

Adrian Segecic netted the only goal in the 38th minute. 

Oxford nearly responded but Portsmouth held firm to secure the win.

Portsmouth’s manager John Mousinho gave debuts to Segecic, John Swift and Florian Bianchini.

Stoke City vs Derby County:

Well what a start to the Stoke season! Winning their game 3-1

They came back from Derby's first goal in the 60th minute, then 10 minutes after that Stoke scored their goal in the 70th minute. 

From all the fouls we had in the second half, 8 minutes added time when Stoke made it 2-1 from Divin Mubama, who crossed in by Tatsuki Seko.

5 minutes remaining.. Then Stoke scored another goal! Sorba Thomas's right-footed shot from the centre of the box then goes to the bottom left corner. 

So Stoke had a very good match for the start of the season!

Middlesbrough vs Swansea:

Middlesbrough are winning their first match of the season! Making them 5th in the championship after the match.

Dael Fry scored their winning goal in the 51st minute.  It was his first goal in three years.

Swansea has changed in the last 12 months. New manager, new ownership group, two celebrity investors and the clutch of new signings.

Edwards wanted to see his team performing well, and hard-pressing but Boro’s players sometimes seemed to forget Carrick had been sacked and reverted to their old habits.   

Queens Park Rangers vs Preston North End:

Despite drawing 1-1 to relegation contenders Preston North End, Queens Park Rangers all but dominated the fixture. All key metrics, including possession and shots, were either won outright by QPR or were level at the end of the ninety minutes. 

However, a 48th-minute goal from Milutin Osmajic ensured that Preston North End would not lose their opening match. 

Preston North End will look to build on their result when they travel to play League Two side Barrow AFC in the opening round of the EFL Cup, a match that precedes their second Championship encounter against Leicester City. 

Sheffield United vs Bristol City:

Talk about falling short of promotion. 

A lot of work is going to need to be done for the Blades before they can even talk about promotion. 

In what was a rematch of last season’s promotion playoff semi-final, Bristol City were able to exact their revenge on Sheffield United at Bramall Lane, winning 4-1. 

While it was 1-1 early in the match and 2-1 at halftime, Bristol City effectively ended this game before the fans were able to return from their halftime concession stand run, putting two goals past Blades goalkeeper Michael Oliver in the span of five minutes. 

The Blades did dominate in shots, shots on goal, possession, passes completed, and corners; however, Bristol City made the most of their five shots on target by scoring on four of them. 

Bristol City will look to build off of their big win when they host MK Dons in the opening round of the EFL Cup and then Charlton in the second Championship weekend. Meanwhile, Sheffield United’s first chance at redemption will come this Wednesday against Birmingham in the EFL Cup, which comes before a Championship encounter with Swansea.

Leicester City vs Sheffield Wednesday:

Having been relegated to the Championship for the second time in three seasons, Leicester City should be looking to get back to the Premier League and ensure survival once more. 

They started their quest to return to the Premier League on a strong note with their 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday, who kicked off their third-consecutive season back in the second tier of English football. 

While Sheffield Wednesday had the 1-0 advantage heading into the second half, it would be the centre backs Jannik Vestergaard and Wout Faes who would get Leicester City out in front before stoppage time hit. 

Both goals would come off of set pieces. 

Next up for Leicester City is a first-round EFL Cup matchup away to Huddersfield Town and a Matchday 2 trip to Preston North End. 

Meanwhile, Sheffield Wednesday will look to bounce back when they travel to League One side Bolton Wanderers for their entry into the EFL Cup, before heading home to play Stoke City in the Championship. 

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Article written by Noah Guttman and Poppie Kimberley