Simeon Gholam’s Championship score predictions have been revealed ahead of the next round of matches for the 2024/25 season.
Watch plenty of games live across Sky Sports with highlights of the other EFL matches on Sky Sports News, ITV and YouTube.
It’s set up to be another exciting season, with many soccer scores to keep an eye on across the world.
Simeon Gholam is without David Prutton, on holiday, this week, so is instead joined by Gary Weaver gave a preview heading into the next game of the regular season, predicting the results of every fixture; listen to the podcast below or via any of your regular podcast providers.
BURNLEY v SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Simeon: Burnley have now kept 11 clean sheets in a row. They’ve conceded nine goals in 33 games this season. It’s not normal. There’s I mean, we did a podcast few weeks ago where we talked about the fact they’ve conceded nine goals. That was at the January, and they haven’t conceded since. It’s incredible. Sheffield Wednesday will be the latest side to try and break them down. They’ve conceded 41 more goals than than me this season, which just feels incredible. They start the weekend at three points off the playoffs. It should be a football match, this. Burnley games, not always the most entertaining. I mean, we wanna big it up because it’s live on Sky, but they don’t always produce. And unless you’re a thrilling fan of a clean sheet, this can Gary, can you tell us why this game’s worth watching?
Gary: Listen. We’re watching history here because, obviously, what they’re doing, it’s not been done before, in English league football, conceding nine goals after this many games, 33 games in the league. I spoke to I did the game against Preston last weekend. I spoke to Paul Heckingbottom before the game, and I said, what is it about Burnley? I mean, look, they should have conceded about 25, 20 six goals according to XG. So to concede nine when you probably should have scored conceded about 25 or 26 is incredible anyway. But Paul just said to me, look, they don’t cheat. You look at the players, you look at the wingers, they get back, the striker will talk in. They make it so hard, the opposition to get through them. But they’re not like a defensive team. I mean, Scott Parker wants them to play with more creativity. You look at the plays you brought in January. You look at the options they had on the bench against Preston. You know, he is working on that final third. He’s putting the hours in there. But, you know, defensively, I mean, you look back at Kaine Kesler-Hayden last week, he’s gone running through on the right hand side. Look at Lyle Foster’s face as he tries to get back, and he lunges in on Kaine Kesler-Hayden. Behind Foster is trapped, and behind him is a stable. I think got the final touch to make sure it didn’t go in. But it’s that kind of desire and hunger to keep a clean sheet. And now, assuming, as this is going on and on and on, the players will be thinking more and more about it, about this incredible record, that they’ve got. But, yeah, Paul Heckingbottom said to me, but the simple answer is they don’t cheat. So, you know, sometimes wingers will be allowed to stay up the pitch, when the opposition have the ball barely. They’ve gotta get back. They’ve gotta get into this shape. And, and what they’re doing is unbelievable. So watching history unfold, in front of our eyes. Sheffield Wednesday, though, they’ve scored on the last 10 visits to Turf Moor. They have scored on their last 10 visits to Turf Moor. Obviously, it’s a different Burnley now, so history might count for nothing when it comes to that. And as you mentioned before, they’re within sight of the top six Wednesday, and they were unlucky against Coventry. So Frank Lampard admitted that, unlucky to lose against Coventry with the chances they had. So we’ll see. But, I mean, this family record is, you know, we won’t ever forget this, and we might not see anything like this again.
Simeon: I definitely won’t forget some of the games I’ve had to watch this season. I’m being harsh. He sold it to me very well, Gary. I’m it’s history now. I’ve I have interviewed James Trafford and Josh Windass this this week, and I asked them both, are they thinking about the record? James Trafford said no, and I knew he was lying. And Josh Windass said no. And I think he was probably telling the truth because he’s such a casual, laid back guy. I don’t think he really thinks about much in any of those kinds of things. And it the opportunity for him to score from 60 yards, which is it might be something like that. Burnley are unbeaten across their last seven league games against Sheffield Wednesday. They’ve scored at least one goal in each of those matches. They’ve won four and drawn three.
Simeon’s score prediction: 1-0 Burnley
BRISTOL CITY v MIDDLESBROUGH
Simeon: Bristol City, two points off the playoffs heading into Friday night. Not too bad considering they’ve got just one win in the last four, and that frustrating late draw a card if last time out in the seven side Derby. Middlesbrough are two points further back, really, really underperforming in especially recently, four defeats on the bounce, just three wins in the last 14. They had to come out back, Michael Carrick. If we were talking about this game a couple months ago or even a few weeks ago, I don’t think many of us would have expected Bristol City to be going into it ahead of Middlesbrough at the table, would we?
Gary: No. No. And you look at Bristol City, they’ve had a couple of chances in the last couple of weeks to get into that top six, which they haven’t taken. Obviously, the home loss against Swansea, but they’ve been they’ve been good at home. Not so much away from home. Then, of course, the draw last week against Cardiff. And Cardiff deserved that draw to be fair. But, I mean, in terms of what’s happening at Middlesbrough, clearly, what’s going on defensively is what is costing them. And, you know, that’s been over quite some time. That goes back to last season, actually. You know, they’ve had to back Michael Carrick, and come out publicly and do it is, is quite staggering really when you think about where they’ve been and what they’ve got. And they are desperate for this to work with Michael Carrick, absolutely desperate. I know there was a lot of change in January, wasn’t there? You you know, you don’t see teams making a lot of changes in January. But Middlesbrough did the last in last situation. They weren’t expecting a team to come in and, and and, you know, match their valuation. I’m not sure they thought it would be a team from the MLS, but it was. They did have Adam Armstrong lined up to come in. That didn’t happen for whatever reason in the end. But there’d been a lot of changes there in January. Obviously, when Giles came back, Michael Carrick was desperate to be reunited with him. They wanted them in the summer. Morgan Whittaker, they obviously obviously brought in. But for Middlesbrough to drop down the table and, you know, to be behind, like you say, Bristol City, which we don’t disrespect to Bristol City, but Middlesbrough were expected to kind of be in the top six. And their performance data will tell you they should be in the top six. Well, Simeon, they’re not out of the picture. There’s still another in and around. Do you remember this time last year, they had a similar slump? They got themselves out of it. So they’re in the they are still in a position to strike. But, yeah, it’s incredible when you think that they’ve they’ve dropped off results wise.
Simeon: They got out of the slump, but then they still didn’t make the playoffs. It is strange. We were talking about a few weeks ago, we had talked about Middlesbrough as the kind of the the fifth team. We kind of almost put them in the playoffs, didn’t we? And then we were talking about them as if they should be up there with the top four in terms of their data and that kind of thing. I was suggesting that Michael Carrick and Scott Parker should just merge, join forces. And in terms of what they bring in in the tactical sense and the defensive sense, they they a fusion, they’ve absolutely blitzed this league. I’ll recommend it to both of them if I forget the chance to speak to the two when they say. Middlesbrough failed to win any of the last three away league games against Bristol City, and they’ve conceded two plus goals in each of those games. What do I think the score’s gonna be?
Simeon’s score prediction: 1-1
DERBY v MILLWALL
Simeon: Derby heading to the weekend in the bottom three. The first game under John Eustace ended in a 4-0 pummelling at QPR. I mean, he hadn’t been in charge very long, so it’s hard to kind of pin that too much on him. He’s had a week now to work on things. So things should be a little bit different here. Millwall drew 1-1 against Preston on Tuesday night. Two very, very good goals in there. Brilliant long range effort. But, yeah, Millwall in that kind of outsidey sort of play offy pushy type thing. Derby really need to get motoring to get themselves out of the spot through, don’t they,
Gary: I mean, you mentioned the results against Queen’s Park Rangers last week. You know, maybe that kind of benefit of John Eustace. You just put a saw up close and put there personally, the problems that he’s got at Derby County and that, you know, the kind of slump that they’re in right now and that mentality that’s around the place that he’s gotta try and correct. First home game for him. So, you know, that’ll be a big occasion for John Eustace. I know he’s looking at the free markets at the moment to see who’s available to, to see who else he can bring in. But, yeah, it’s a a huge game for him. I know he’s spoken about, obviously, what he seems going forward there in terms of when he spoke to the owner David Clowes. And he’s spoken more about why he’s gone to Derby as opposed to why he left Blackburn, hasn’t he, John? He’s been quite careful, with that. But this is, yeah, this is a huge game for him, and he’s seen exactly what he’s having to deal with with that game against Queens Park Rangers. As for Millwall, mate, it’s funny about Millwall because every time that you start talking about the playoffs in Millwall, something happens and you see what happened to Plymouth, a couple of weeks ago. And Alex Neil, got a point, as you say, in Preston. He’s kind of had a game in between in the midweek as well, so he’s yet to really have a full week, preparing for league games. But, I know he’s been pretty pleased with how his players have taken on board his instruction as so far in there. Apart from that Plymouth battering, defensively, Millwall have been have been strong. So,, yeah, big game for Derby, big game for Millwall as they they try and stay in touch potentially with what’s up above them in terms of the top six.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-1 Derby
PLYMOUTH v CARDIFF
Simeon: Some hope under the new man, Muslic. Obviously, a very, very inspirational figure there by incredible win at the Liverpool and FA Cup, of course. Results have turned a little here and there in the Championship. They were completely written off by many, and now they’ve been slightly less written off. Cardiff, no wins in their last three, but they did pick up that late point against Bristol City last time out. And to see here, it would drag them right back into that.
Gary: Plymouth, so, obviously, at home, they’ve got to go in there. They won against Liverpool, as you mentioned. The win against Millwall. I was there for the win against West Bromwich Albion, and, that day, it just felt like Home Park was Home Park again because it is such a powerful place for them. You know, you can’t dismiss that. I’ve spoken to quite a few Plymouth managers in the past about what it’s like playing there and how they use it and the fact that the the fans don’t get on the backs of the players. They will stay with them, all the way through. Burnley aside, probably at the back Burnley game, but, you know, same you know, there was a bit of bit of humour around the place here in the second half because that’s all they they could really turn to in the end. But since then, three out of three. As you mentioned, Muslic, he’s this charismatic manager that’s come in obviously from Brugge. Talovierov, you see the way he celebrates tackles. That was there for his debut with, Katic as well. Perhaps as well who came in earlier in the transfer window when he’s, when he’s offering the left wing back, he’s a threat, concerned with the crosses. So, yeah, difficult place. It really is right after the time for opponents to go to. Cardiff City, as you mentioned. And as I said earlier on, in my humble opinion, they deserved. They got a point against Bristol City late on, last weekend. Aaron Ramsey coming back, huge for them. You know, he made a huge impact. Obviously, played a big part in that goal. And, yeah, I mean, look. They lost that big game against Portsmouth away from home, a couple of weeks ago. So that was a kind of black ball. That was a huge game for them. So can they hold the nerve in this one? I just think Argyle at this moment in time, not gonna predict, obviously, Simeon, that’s your job. I’m gonna step on your toes, but Argyle’s such a at this moment in time, a difficult place to go. And when they’re in that kind of home form, they can be difficult to move.
Simeon: Plymouth have lost just three of the last 24 home league games against Cardiff City, so they have a very good record against them at Home Park.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-1 Plymouth
SUNDERLAND v HULL
Simeon: Sunderland, you wonder how much that late defeat at Leeds will impact them. It looks a little bit like the playoffs now for them, I think. Maybe. We’re not completely writing it off, but it is certainly heading and shaping that way. They’re eight points adrift of Sheffield United in second heading into the weekend. Hull looked like they might have been starting to move away from the bottom three at one point, but especially after that 3-0 win in Sheffield United. But since then, they picked up just a point in three games, which just shows how wildly, hopelessly unpredictable this league can be, which is how I’m now defending my wild, hopeless predictions. Bit of heartbreak for Sunderland on Monday night, wasn’t it, Gary? But I mean, we kind of they were sinking further and further back into their own third, and it did look like it might be coming.
Gary: Yeah. Look. It’s difficult going to Leeds, isn’t it? Difficult playing at Elland Road. But you think as you mentioned there about how much everything changed in those last few minutes with those two goals from Pascal Struijk. One thing I say about Sunderland, when they’ve lost this season, they’ve responded with a win. So they’ve not lost back to back games. But, yeah, you saw the body language. I think it was when Leeds scored the winner. Leeds are pushing them back. But as I said there, when they’ve lost this season, they’ve responded with a win, which, you know, considering it’s a young team, that is some way to respond, by the way. And, yeah, look. They they they they gotta get that out of their system. As for Hull, I did that game at Sheffield United and they’re they’re really good, the shape, that they have that nice. Obviously, one three nil at Bramall Lane. And I know they are scratching their heads as to why their away form is so different to their home form. So they are being better on the road this season, so they can cause teams problems. Obviously, didn’t happen for them at Burnley. Burnley were really good, on Paul’s last away game at, at Turf Moor. Only capable of picking up something on the road no matter where they go. And as I say, that shape that they they play and the and the the the compactness of the team on the roads in particular. I mean, like I say, Hull say they don’t play any different home or away, but that shape that they have on the roads, it can cause teams problems. So Hull I don’t know. They they make a quick start. They might fancy trying to play on what happened to Sunderland at at Elland Road, but as I said, Sunderland are so good at bouncing back.
Simeon: Lots of exciting young attacking players on show in this one as well. Obviously, Louie Barry and Joe Gerhardt have moved to hold January. Not Louie hasn’t quite got going yet. Joe had that one brilliant goal. But, again, it just feels like it hasn’t fully gelled there maybe since since all that movement. Sunderland have lost just one of their last 12 league games against Hull City, though that defeat did come in this exact fixture last season.
Simeon’s score prediction: 3-1 Sunderland
WATFORD v LUTON
Simeon: Watford had a big win in Middlesbrough last time out. For Tom Cleverley, it was a very, very big win after five without one. Luton, we obviously know about their struggles this season. Big game this for Matt Bloomfield and his side. Not one they like lose at any time, but not one they can really afford to lose the way things are at the moment.
Gary: These are great games. Obviously, huge rivalry between the two. Luton won, I kinda went further than they threw in there earlier this season, which really hurt Watford. I know there was a quite a bit of fallout from that in terms of, the fans and questioning whether the some of the players knew exactly what was on the line here. So you get the feeling Watford have been waiting for this waiting for Luton to come back around the corner to try and, show that they, you know, do know exactly what this means, in in in that part of the world. For Luton, obviously, they they can’t have a double dip. They cannot have a double dip, and, you know, it’s been a a season of struggle. I know that Rob Edwards, when he was he was there, he spoke to a few managers who did suggest maybe there should have been a bit more change in the summer. I mean, you look at the changes Sheffield United made after their relegation, Burnley as well. You know? I know some were forced on them as well. But if you look, it it kinda removed that scar tissue if you like from what’s going on the previous season. And maybe Luton didn’t change enough. Who knows? But I wonder whether Rob Edwards thinks that right now, after talking to a couple of other managers. But, yeah, I mean, look, whoever wins this, if there is to be a winner, they’ve got the perfect launch pad to as we head towards the running. And, because that is such a big, big game to win. Equally, it’s a big game to lose as well. So, yeah, I’d be interested to see what happens there. One thing we know, it’ll be vibrant, vibrant. It’ll be rowdy, raucous Vicarage Road on Sunday.
Simeon: After losing three in the the reverse fixture, as my voice goes, speech, Watford will be looking to avoid being on the receiving end of a league double from losing for the first time since 1977/78.
Simeon’s score prediction: 3-0 Watford
SHEFFIELD UNITED v LEEDS
Simeon: Is this our promoted duo this season? They both look very, very strong. Certainly, consistently, the two stronger sides we’ve probably seen this season. This should be a fun one, shouldn’t it, Gary? And, obviously, a lot depends on what happens with the teams below them over the weekend. But, yeah, it’s, two teams are not the fondest of each other as well. Plenty of history between them, and it should be an absolute ding dong battle. Both will be really, really driving for the win.
Gary: It’ll be spicy. It’ll be spiky. You know, I’ll use the phrase again. If you wanna see the fire burning in Chris Wilder’s eyes, just say Leeds United too. There is that spikiness, that rivalry. It’s Yorkshire, South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, 2 great clubs, history, you know, and everything. So you can forget about the top two. Just those two. But, I know Chris is obviously and the players feeling hard done by in terms of the two points that were taken off them because, you know, they they admit that the two points, know, by rally were taken off them because they’re the rules. But the fact that United, the previous regime, didn’t pay the the the bills on time, you wonder how costly those two points could be in terms of the title. So I know Chris puts them on when he chose the 10 into, the table internally to the players and staff. The two points go back on. So, obviously, they’ll be level on points with, with Leeds United. So there’s that element to it as well. Daniel Farke won’t be in the dugout. He’s got a touch line bound after his yellow card for, we assume it was gonna be celebrating on the pitch at Elland Road. But, yeah, it’s a colossal game. Colossal game on Monday night even before it’s the fact, the fact that it’s the top two. It’s Sheffield United, Leeds United. It’s gonna be, again, rowdy. Everything you’d expect from two teams from Yorkshire, those two teams going head to head.
Simeon: Fair play to Daniel Farke. He’s had a lot of criticism for his, his his kind of his tactics from Leeds fans and his changes or lack of changes this season. And he absolutely nailed it on Monday night with those two changes, which a lot of people looked at him and, you’re expecting it to bring on, you know, all the attacking talent on the bench brings them off well and striking them. They combine for both goals for so, yeah, all credits Daniel Farke. I’m sure will be making similar similar movements from, the wherever he sat on Monday night. Leeds have won each of their last three league games against Sheffield United, last winning more in succession against the Blades between 1990 and ’92 when they won six games in a row against them.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-2
COVENTRY v PRESTON
Simeon: Coventry have failed to win any of their last 22 league games against Preston, and they’ve kept two clean sheets at that time. So they have a really, really poor record against them, but they are climbing up there, aren’t they.
Gary: Coventry City, Preston. Yeah. Again, you look at the data that we, we we all tend to see. And, before Mark Robins has left, actually, Coventry were kind of up there in terms of performance data. Obviously, Lampard’s come in and made sure that performance data is equated to to results. Preston. Honestly, when they face the big teams when they face the big teams, they can cause the problems. We saw that. Norwich last week, we see that against Middlesbrough. So, yeah, not foregone by any stretch.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-0 Coventry
NORWICH v STOKE
Simeon: Norwich are unbeaten across the last eight league games against Stoke, scoring 3+ goals in 4 of those matches. So they often hammer a few past them. I’m going for Norwich to win this one.
Simeon’s score prediction: 4-1 Norwich
PORTSMOUTH v QPR
Simeon: QPR are unbeaten across their last three visits to Fratton Park to face Portsmouth in the league. They haven’t lost there since August 1998. So the main thing you can take from that is that they haven’t actually played that many games there in a very long time. Portsmouth really climbed the table here. QPR potentially knocking on the door of the top six for this one. So, yeah, so it’s a important game between two in form sizes. Portsmouth are so good at home, and it’s it’s just so hard to count against them.
Simeon’s score prediction: 3-2 Portsmouth
SWANSEA v BLACKBURN
Simeon: Blackburn have won just one of the last seven away league games against Swansea City, scoring more than one goal in just one of those matches. Obviously, Swansea have parts of company with Luke Williams this weekend, and Blackburn still don’t have a permanent manager. Two dugoutless dugoutless managerless dugouts. I think they’ve dugout there. There’ll be dugouts there. If you don’t know, they might take it away.
Gary: What I’d say is for Luke, really sad to see him go, from a personal point of view because he’s always great with us in terms of his given us his time and his insight. And it do you know what? It just didn’t seem like he recovered from getting linked with that West Brom job, which I know he thought when he was asked about it, someone was out on a lap with him about it. But then he he subsequently found out he was disgusted by the West Brom hierarchy. Obviously, they lost Matt Grimes as well. Huge figure to lose. Huge figure to lose for Swansea. And, yeah, Luke unfortunately just couldn’t turn it around. So desperately sad to see Luke Williams go. I know they’ve been late with Des Buckingham him now. For Blackburn, they’ve just carried on, haven’t they? They’ve they’ve just carried on since John Eustace walked out the door. So, you know, they’re not in any particular hurry, I don’t think, to appoint, a new boss, Gary O’Neil, is the latest, I think, to be late with them. But yeah. So it’d be an interesting game and and whether Swansea can just get the result they need to get going again. But, Blackburn has shown that they’re staying in this race. They’re staying in the playoff race.
Simeon: Blackburn, however, have won just one of the last seven away league games against Swansea, scoring more than one goal in just one of those matches.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-1 Blackburn
WEST BROM v OXFORD
Simeon: West Brom won just one of the last eight league games against Oxford, though that did come in a lost home match against the U’s, although that was in March 1999. So not much to really derive from that. They haven’t played in 25 years. But, yeah, West Brom in that kind of that, that playoff chasing clump teams.
Simeon’s score prediction: 2-1 West Brom
The post Simeon Gholam’s Championship score predictions appeared first on Fan Banter.
