Championship talking points: Confidence could be the issue for Frank Lampard's Coventry as Ipswich crank up the pressure
The Sky Sports Football writers analyse the weekend's Championship action. Watch Sheffield United vs Middlesbrough live on Sky Sports Football from 7pm on Monday night; kick-off 8.01pm.
Sunday 8 February 2026 16:23, UK
Champagne on ice for Coventry - but Lampard knows a thing or two about pressure
The last time I went to watch Coventry, the question the fans were asking was: "Will we get promoted in February, March or April?", such was their dominance, alongside their strength in depth and gap at the top of the Championship.
It feels like a very different question right now.
Yes, it's still 10 wins in their last 12 home games but the bigger picture is slightly different. They've won four of their last 13 in the league and, on Monday, could slip from top spot for the first time since October 18.
But let's be honest, they still have a top coach, great players and strength in depth. The problem? Nerves? Confidence? Belief? Whatever it is, they need to find that spark they had a few weeks ago and bring it back, sharpish.
The atmosphere was very different from my last visit to the Coventry Building Society Arena at the end of November. Even walking around the stadium, the buzz had gone, the belief that this was finally their year wasn't there. There were more fingers crossed than smiles, there was an anxiety in the air.
The performance was good, they did everything right - they put Oxford under pressure, had 74 per cent possession and 24 shots, but they just couldn't score. Surely that's just a confidence issue?
That said, Oxford defended brilliantly and epitomised what good defending is; bodies on the line, a desire to not concede and a passion to make that block. Leaving with a point against a side top of the league will be seen as a big positive for them.
Promotion for Coventry? Put the champagne on ice, it might be a bumpy few months ahead.
The good thing is they have a head coach in Frank Lampard who knows all about pressure. He played with it for his whole career. From the moment Harry Redknapp declared: "He's going right to the very top", there was a spotlight on him.
He ended up with 11 major trophies, so I guess he knows a thing or two about dealing with pressure...
Mark McAdam
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Putting pressure on the top two is nothing new for Ipswich
Moments after the final whistle was blown at Pride Park, George Hirst grabbed his team-mate Leif Davis and planted a kiss on his forehead.
It was with that forehead Davis scored the 77th-minute winner for Ipswich at Derby. It was a simply brilliant header; calm and considered, but with enough power to ensure Rams goalkeeper Josh Vickers stood no chance of keeping it from crossing the line.
It was a significant goal, too. One that meant Kieran McKenna's side would stay within touching distance of the automatic promotion places - and still with what could prove to be a priceless game in hand to play.
They had created chances after taking the lead through Lewis Travis' own goal, but failed to take them. Rhian Brewster's penalty was the punishment for that. Yet they found a way to a much-needed victory - their first in three since January 20.
But putting pressure on the top two is nothing new for Ipswich. They did it admirably in 2023/24 and ended up pipping Leeds and Southampton to second place. Coventry and Middlesbrough should be looking over their shoulders.
Dan Long
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Hull City proving too leaky to mount serious autos push
For all the attacking prowess Hull City have at their disposal, they simply look too leaky at the back to mount a serious push towards the top two.
From a promising position against Bristol City, leading 1-0 thanks to a goal from the brilliant Oli McBurnie, they conceded chance after chance and then found themselves 3-1 down.
This was a Robins side, of course, that fell to a 5-0 defeat at home to Derby last time out. They weren't exactly confident or in form.
Hull City have already scored 50 goals this season, the third most in the league, but have shipped 43 at the other end. No club outside of the bottom five have conceded more.
Blackburn and Oxford, currently sat in 22nd and 23rd, have conceded fewer. Promotion challenges are built on defences, and that's where Hull have fallen short.
Simeon Gholam
Millwall punish Wrexham's attacking struggles
Millwall fans travelled in their numbers and, wow, the atmosphere was electric.
Wrexham dominated from the off and Phil Parkinson said post-match they were the better of the two sides - and I would have to agree. They created plenty of chances; Issa Kabore had plenty of luck going down that right wing.
Kieffer Moore was enjoying himself up to and he and Jake Cooper had a great battle, which resulted in Moore receiving multiple blows to the face, one of which ended with quite a bloody nose. But, being the warrior he is, he got back up and kept trying and trying and trying.
Wrexham just couldn't convert any of their chances for the first 45 minutes and that meant, in the second half, they wanted to do more of the same. They flew out of the traps, but once again they couldn't convert.
When you don't convert your chances, the other team can punish you - and that's exactly what happened for Alex Neil's Millwall. They created a couple of chances and managed to put them away.
It did wonders for their play-off chances, but they are climbing closer to the top two, as well.
Kyle Walker
Southampton looking upwards again after battling past Watford
Three wins in four now for Southampton, the other a draw, and there is certainly an upturn happening at St Mary's.
Just four points separate themselves and the play-offs, following a battling 1-0 win over Watford.
"Over the last couple of weeks, we have taken a huge step forward," Southampton boss Tonda Eckert said. "We have conceded a set-piece in an away game, otherwise we have four clean sheets.
"It is very important going forward that we are very solid as a team, especially with the quality higher up the pitch, we feel like we will always be able to put one in the back of the net."
Eckert also reserved praise for Cyle Larin, the striker who scored the winner with a powerful header on his debut for the club.
"We knew with Cyle we would have the physical presence we need," Eckert added. "He scored the goal but it was also the way he defended at the other end.
"I think it couldn't go any better than it did for him. Strikers live off those moments."
Simeon Gholam
Vipotnik pivotal to any play-off hopes Swansea may harbour
Swansea 4-0 Sheffield Wednesday
Zan Vipotnik had a solid start to the season, with six goals in his first nine games in all competitions. That was one behind his total in all competitions throughout the entirety of 2024/25.
Then came a barren spell. He went four without a goal in the Championship, scored two in a 2-1 win over Norwich, then went another four without a goal. Across those nine, Swansea picked up only seven points.
But since November 24, when Vitor Matos was appointed Alan Sheehan's successor as head coach, he is back scoring - and scoring regularly.
With his double in the 4-0 thumping of Sheffield Wednesday, Vipotnik added another two goals, taking his tally under Matos to 11 in 15 games. It will come as no surprise they have taken 25 points from those games.
It means Swansea - despite still being down in 15th at the moment - are now only five points outside the play-offs. A matter of months ago, such an eventuality seemed a world away.
If they do harbour hopes of finishing in the top six, keeping Vipotnik fit and firing will be huge.
Dan Long
All Championship weekend results
Friday
Saturday
- Derby 1-2 Ipswich
- Norwich 2-0 Blackburn
- Southampton 1-0 Watford
- Birmingham 2-1 Leicester
- Coventry 0-0 Oxford
- Hull 2-3 Bristol City
- Preston 1-0 Portsmouth
- West Brom 0-0 Stoke
- Wrexham 2-3 Millwall
Sunday
