Championship

Championship 2026/27: Swansea lead, relegated West Ham in the play-off places

The Championship is the second tier of English football, played under this name since 2004. Twenty-four teams meet home and away over 46 rounds. The top two are promoted to the Premier League automatically and the clubs below them contest the play-offs for the third promotion place, while the bottom three drop to League One. Coventry City won the title last season with 95 points and went up with Ipswich Town and Hull City, while Swansea's Žan Vipotnik was the top scorer with 23 goals.

After ten rounds Swansea lead with 23 points, two ahead of Middlesbrough, with Birmingham and West Brom third and fourth. Of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League, West Ham are fifth with a game in hand and the division's best attack, 23 goals, Wolves are ninth and Burnley 21st with one win from ten. Southampton have won all five home games but none away.

Preston are bottom with four points after eight defeats, and Derby and Watford are also in the relegation places.

Middlesbrough's William Lankshear leads the scoring charts with eight goals, ahead of Southampton's Cyle Larin with seven. Bristol City's Rio Cardines has the most assists, six.