How QPR and Millwall fare in new predicted Championship table with big top half calls made

The Championship springs back into life this weekend following the international break with an action-packed weekend of fixtures that sees both QPR and Millwall hit the road for away fixtures.

The R’s travel to relegation-threatened Stoke City while the Lions take on promotion challengers Sunderland. For Marti Cifuentes’ side, it’s a chance to build on a point against Leeds United last time out while Alex Neil’s men are buoyed by a dramatic late victory over Stoke City.

Dramatic endings to matches have been frequent for Millwall this season, who secured a point against the Black Cats at The Den in November thanks to a 93rd minute Femi Azeez equaliser. The Lions also picked up wins against Watford and Derby County in recent weeks thanks to late goals.

Alex Neil and Marti Cifuentes preview Championship fixtures

Neil said: “It’s a great challenge for us. They’ve had a great season. The Stadium of Light is a really difficult place to go, only Hull have won there this season. That just shows the task that we’ve got on our hands. But our away form has been very good.

“We certainly have no fear going into any of the games, and there’ll be more of an expectation, certainly from the home fans, for them to bounce back from Coventry. I think it’s a great game for us.”

Meanwhile, previewing the trip to Stoke City, QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes said: “We know that when you are playing to avoid relegation or when you are that close, there is a lot of pressure and tension. It’s a very important game for us and we need to play with the same urgency as them.

“The gap is not that big for us to be relaxed and think we can handle it in an easy way. We can compete with everyone in this league, as we showed against Leeds United, but we need to be at the top of our game or we have no chance. We need to play with intensity and urgency because the reality is that in the last six games, Stoke has got four clean sheets at home and only one loss. They are showing they are a reliable team with quality and an experienced manager that is not easy to beat at home.”

QPR and Millwall both looked like long shot play-off contenders at one point this season but that opportunity appears too far out of grasp for the London outfits. LondonWorld looks at how the stats experts at Opta predict the second tier table to finish as it stands, ahead of the Championship return.

Championship predicted table

1. Leeds United, 97 points
2. Sheffield United, 94 points
3. Burnley, 93 points
4. Sunderland, 82 points
5. Coventry City, 71 points
6. West Brom, 70 points
7. Bristol City, 68 points
8. Middlesbrough, 65 points
9. Sheffield Wednesday, 63 points
10. Watford, 62 points
11. Blackburn Rovers, 62 points
12. Millwall, 61 points
13. Norwich City, 60 points
14. Preston North End, 59 points
15. QPR, 55 points
16. Swansea City, 54 points
17. Hull City, 52 points
18. Portsmouth, 52 points
19. Oxford United, 50 points
20. Stoke City, 48 points
21. Cardiff City, 48 points
22. Derby County, 47 points
23. Luton Town, 44 points
24. Plymouth Argyle, 40 points

In other news, QPR could welcome back an ‘MVP’ in midfield against Stoke City this weekend.