Championship talking points: In-form Femi Azeez fires Millwall to third as Sheff Wed fans make feelings clear after Owls go into administration
The Sky Sports Football writers analyse the weekend's Championship action...
Monday 27 October 2025 09:35, UK
Femi's on fire and fuelling Millwall's promotion push
Millwall are up to the lofty heights of third place in the Championship table after four straight wins - and their run of results has been turbocharged by Femi Azeez.
The winger was sidelined through half of August and the entirety of September but has returned to action in flying form, scoring in each of those four Millwall wins, as well as providing an assist.
His run and finish against Leicester at the Den on Saturday demonstrated his confidence right now, while he would have helped Millwall to another goal had Mihailo Ivanovic converted the penalty Azeez won in the second half.
The 24-year-old was tumbled as he surged towards goal and he's proving too hot to handle for many defenders. Since his first start after injury on October 4, he has recorded more take-ons than any other player in the second tier, while also creating the third most chances. Only Coventry's Brandon Thomas-Asante has scored more in that time.
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Millwall fans have been treated to some exciting wing play in recent seasons, with Romain Esse starring last year before his transfer to Crystal Palace, and Thierno Ballo, Aidomo Emakhu and Raees Bangura-Williams all making an impact from the flanks this term.
But Azeez is the man of the moment for Millwall - and they'll be hoping he can keep fuelling their promotion push.
Peter Smith
Wednesday fans come out to celebrate the end of Chansiri's reign
On Friday, Sheffield Wednesday went into administration and incurred a 12-point penalty. On Saturday, their fans packed out Hillsborough in a stunning show of support. The same stadium had been virtually empty due to a midweek protest against controversial owner Dejphon Chansiri but this was a celebration of him relinquishing control - even if their team lost 2-1 to Oxford. The attendance was in excess of 27,000.
"Going into administration isn't something we want to see for any of our football clubs, particularly one so big and well supported - but hopefully this is rock bottom, short-term pain and an opportunity now Chansiri is out of the picture to move on and get a better future for the football club," said Sky Sports pundit Jobi McAnuff.
Sky Sports News' Rob Jones was at Hillsborough on Saturday...
Hope at Hillsborough at last. Defeat to fellow strugglers Oxford United felt almost irrelevant for Sheffield Wednesday, given the previous day's news that the club had been placed into administration and therefore effectively rid themselves of owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Wednesday's old home that has been allowed to decay into a depressing desolate shell of itself, finally pulsed with enthusiasm again as the fans returned.
Their frustration was never directed as the players or head coach Henrik Pedersen, just at Chansiri. Now as the administrators watched on with a number of expressions of interest in buying Wednesday to sift through there is a belief that at least the long-term future of the club is not quite as bleak.
Championship survival before a 12-point deduction with a paper-thin squad felt improbable, it is now borderline impossible even if new owners are in place in time to bolster their options in January.
If Wednesday have any ambitions on somehow conjuring enough points to survive beating poor travellers Oxford was surely a must-win - instead, Gary Rowett's side raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Spurs loanee Will Lankshear and another long-range belter from captain Cam Brannagan. Sean Fusire's first senior goal entirely changed the momentum and their second-half performance deserved a point, but they couldn't find an equaliser.
Lampard's clinical Coventry keep on winning
The Frank Lampard party train at Coventry rolls on. History is being etched by the week with Coventry's sixth-straight win, coming at the expense of a sorry 10-player Watford, becoming the longest win streak in the club's history.
Goals from Brandon Thomas Asante, Jamie Allen and Tatsuhiro Sakamoto all before Imran Louza's second-half penalty ensured 34 goals for the Sky Blues after 12 games played - equalling a 34-year-old record.
Lampard has Coventry fans dreaming of promotion and has given them good reason to believe they deserve a spot in the top flight and their ruthless nature in front of goal is at the heart of what their achievements.
Watford generated double of Coventry's expected goals with 2.61 to the Sky Blues' 1.31 but every Coventry attack felt sure to end in a Coventry goal. Mistakes get punished at the CBS and the forward line that Lampard has unshackled continue to perform.
It's still early days with more twists and turns expected ahead but Lampard's Coventry are a joy to watch at full flight.
Will Bitibiri
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Pressure rises further on Manning as Swansea record much-needed win
Even with both teams coming into the game on poor runs of form, all eyes were on Norwich City and Liam Manning after losing four in a row, with talks about his future and where the club can go. The stats just didn't look good. Their first time in the relegation zone since 2009, the year they were relegated to League One, and they've taken two from a possible 21 points.
Swansea took the lead through Zan Vipotnik with an unbelievable strike and with Swansea not being in the best vein of form either, that lifted the spirits at the Swansea.com stadium. Speaking to Alan Sheehan post-match, he referenced it himself.
He felt like they actually let Norwich City back into it when they equalised, which has been the story of their season so far. But in the second half, Vipotnik managed another wonder goal, a thunderous strike which felt like it was full of frustration. After the goal the ball actually bounced back to him from the net, he picked it up and absolutely booted it back to the fans - there was lots and lots of frustration.
They managed to hold on and take all three points, which were absolutely vital for Swansea. But for Norwich, five games they've been beaten in a row in the league now and it isn't looking too good.
Speaking to Liam Manning post-match, he looked completely deflated and defeated. He said that the manner in which the goals were conceded was soft and that players were playing within themselves. He certainly brought some harsh truths for the players and about the style of play.
At the end of the game the fans did not look happy at all. They were gesturing to push the players away when they went over to show their support. Lots of fans didn't want that support. They were very, very negative and it just didn't feel good at all.
Kyle Walker
Derby on the up after positive week?
Could this be a turning point for Derby County? After earning their first home win of the season against Norwich on Tuesday night, the Rams faced a tough test against a Queens Park Rangers side full of attacking talent.
That didn't prove to be the case, though, with QPR failing to register a single shot on target. Speaking to their manager Julien Stephan post-match, he admitted tiredness after an away trip to Swansea on Wednesday may have been a factor, but he insisted it couldn't be used as an excuse.
Derby have struggled in front of goal this season, but captain Carlton Morris made the difference on the day. On his first match wearing the armband, Morris reacted quickest to tap in after Sondre Langas' effort was saved following a ball into the box from Max Johnston.
Derby were denied by the woodwork twice afterwards but secured three points which helps them start looking up the table rather than nervously over their shoulder.
Harriet Prior
Philogene, Clarke or both? McKenna needs to find Ipswich solution
Is it a problem or a good headache to have for Kieran McKenna? When arguably your two best players operate in the same role.
Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke are his two top scorers, but both want to play off the left so they can cut in onto their right foot, and neither are as effective on the other side.
The former, Philogene, has five goals, and has been the one favoured from the start this season.
While Clarke has five as well, with almost every single one coming off the bench, usually as a replacement for Philogene. The latest the late winner against West Brom on Saturday.
Somehow, you feel, if Ipswich are going to reach their potential this season, McKenna is going to have to find a way to squeeze both into his side.
Simeon Gholam
Preston show credentials as they bounce back to beat Sheffield United
It had been a challenging week for Preston North End, suffering two narrow defeats on the bounce heading into Friday night's game against Sheffield United.
And then, at two goals down after 16 minutes, it looked like their season might be derailed entirely after such a promising start.
But they showed their credentials with a brilliant comeback to beat the resurgent Blades 3-2. Paul Heckingbottom, clearly frustrated in midweek after he felt refereeing decisions again cost them in defeat to Birmingham, was delighted with their resolve.
"It's a really good win, the main thing for us is we kept our head. We started brilliantly then we had a 10 or 15-minute spell when we totally went off the rails and that was the message at half-time.
"We're really disappointed with the goals we've given away but really proud of the players once again. It's just ironic, that's probably our worst performance of the three we've had and it's the one game we've won."
Simeon Gholam
All the possession but no end product for Birmingham
It's becoming a recurring theme for Birmingham City. All the possession but no end product. Despite the newly promoted side having more than 70% of the ball - away from home - they barely tested the Bristol City goal. Such dominance of possession against a promotion hopeful is commendable. But it counts for little if it doesn't lead to anything.
The Blues have scored only four goals on the road so far this season. They ended the game with three fully fledged internationals - Marvin Ducksch, Lyndon Dykes and Kyogo Furuhashi - up front in addition to Lewis Koumas and Demarai Gray. Yet still, clear-cut chances were few and far between.
Aside to the defeat to league leaders Coventry City - when they were reduced to 10 men in the first half - they have been in contention to pick up points in every game this season. Yet last season's top scorers in League One are now averaging less than a goal a game in the second tier. A frustrated Jay Stansfield was removed on the hour mark having been left isolated up against a three-man Robins defence.
As for the home side, Gerhard Struber's side have picked up maximum points following the international break. It's three straight wins for Bristol City for the first time in nearly two years. If the victory over Southampton in midweek was thrilling, this latest home win was hard-fought. The Robins offered close to zero attacking threat after they had opened the scoring. Yet the ability to win in different ways and the end to Sinclair Armstrong's goal drought - after his first goal in 34 matches - will delight the Austrian.
James Savundra
Key stats from the weekend
- Coventry's 34 goals this season is the most by a team after 12 games in a second-tier campaign since Wolves in 1965-66 (also 34).
- Leo Scienza scored his first league goal for Southampton in what was his seventh Championship appearance; he's just the second Brazilian player to score a league goal for the Saints in the last 10 years, alongside Lyanco.
- Femi Azeez has now scored in four consecutive Championship appearances for Millwall, netting as many in that span as across his previous 53 EFL games combined (4, 2 for Reading, 2 for Millwall) - he's the first player to score in four straight league games for Millwall since Tom Bradshaw between November 2021 and January 2022 (5 games in a row).
- Hull City's Joe Gelhardt has now either scored (3) or assisted (1) each of the Tigers' last four Championship goals - it's as many goal involvements as Gelhardt had managed across his previous 18 league games.
All Championship weekend results
Friday
Saturday
