Welcome to The Championship Catch-up, a new Sky Sports column in which Andy Hinchcliffe rounds up some of the key stories from the second tier. This week, we examine the remarkable turnaround at Birmingham City, West Ham's statement victory at the league leaders, and the deepening crisis at Preston North End.
Davies deserves huge credit for Birmingham form
The transformation orchestrated by Chris Davies at Birmingham City demands substantial recognition. In the previous campaign, the club dominated possession but struggled to convert that control into away victories, ultimately falling short of the play-off picture.
The potential was evident, yet what Davies has accomplished during the summer represents a clear shift in approach. The side now ranks 10th for possession, demonstrating they remain keen to retain the ball and dictate play, but they've become more progressive and direct in their passing patterns.
August Priske leads the line as more than just a goalscorer—he serves as a focal point for the team's attacking play. Birmingham have evolved into a side capable of breaking down opponents through multiple methods: possession-based football, direct play, or movement around the pitch.
Liam Millar stands among the top three Championship performers since his arrival. Davies had long identified him as a target, but only recently secured the deal. The winger's impact is immediate and obvious. Millar scored twice against QPR on October 17, and he has already netted four league goals in seven Birmingham appearances, surpassing his total of three goals in 36 Championship matches for Hull the previous season.
In a recent interview, Millar discussed not only his personal form but also the attacking variety now available to the team. The unpredictability is crucial. Last season, opponents could predict the starting XI, the tactical shape, and how to counter it. Teams exploited that consistency.
This season, with Davies's stylistic evolution and new signings hitting their stride immediately, the picture has changed entirely. It centres on Davies's willingness to adapt. He recognised that repeating the previous campaign's approach and hoping for better results would fail. He needed an alternative strategy, and he has delivered one. The players appear to relish this more direct style at times, and the results reflect that enjoyment.
Observers across the game believe Birmingham now represent the most entertaining team in the league and among the most threatening in attack. This assessment underscores the remarkable shift Davies has engineered from last season to this one.
West Ham make statement with win at leaders Swansea
The clash at Swansea represented the season's most significant standalone fixture and the toughest examination either side had faced. Although Swansea remained competitive, West Ham demonstrated once again that they possess formidable attacking resources.
The statistics tell a compelling story. Across their last five matches, West Ham have featured 11 different goalscorers. That attacking depth creates enormous problems for opponents. Combined with the league's fourth-best defence, they have achieved a rare balance.
Everything West Ham have shown has been encouraging. With only one defeat and six wins in their last eight games, they are gathering momentum. Divine Mukasa scored the winner in their 1-0 victory at Swansea on October 17, moving West Ham to second in the table.
The summer signings—Joel Piroe and Manor Solomon—have integrated seamlessly and are delivering goals as intended. That 1-0 win away from home carried enormous significance. A home victory might have been expected, but to travel to Swansea, given their early-season form and style of play, represented a genuine test. Swansea are not a straightforward opponent, making this a major statement result.
West Ham have rarely appeared vulnerable this season. Perhaps for half an hour against Millwall, when the home side overwhelmed them and led 2-0, but Millwall could not sustain that dominance. Beyond that spell, West Ham have looked assured.
Nothing observed so far suggests their momentum will suddenly evaporate. They possess depth, quality, creativity, and crucially, application and a genuine desire to enjoy Championship football. Many players arriving from the Premier League view this division with reluctance. West Ham's squad has embraced it, and their travelling supporters have done likewise. They have essentially decided to savour this season rather than endure it.
West Ham have benefited from fortunate circumstances, but they have also created their own luck through their approach to each match. Even if they occupied eighth or ninth position, they would still represent favourites. With their current standing and the way they have embraced the league far more than anticipated after 11 games, West Ham must be considered title favourites.
Preston looking doomed as Alexander struggles to make impression
The difficulties at Preston do not appear rooted in tactics. If you examine what occurred previously, they are essentially operating in the same manner with largely the same squad that Paul Heckingbottom managed.
This reveals how much Heckingbottom overachieved in his tenure. They finished 14th with a group whose underlying numbers ranked among the bottom three or four in the division. He extracted maximum value from that squad to secure mid-table results. It represented an extraordinary coaching achievement.
Graham Alexander's desire to return home is understandable, yet he likely recognised the challenge posed by the squad he inherited. Investment in fresh players has been minimal. The question became whether he could replicate Heckingbottom's feat of coaching maximum performance from limited resources.
However, the evidence from their matches and the goals conceded reveals the core problem. Defensive solidity forms the foundation of any successful team, particularly in the Championship. Under Alexander, Preston have conceded approximately nine goals while scoring only one. Confidence has deteriorated sharply. Typically, a new manager brings an initial boost, but that has not materialised.
The situation is dire. They have lost nine of 11 matches and are not even securing draws. They are not picking up occasional points through stalemates. That avenue has closed off entirely. Preston lost 4-1 away to Wrexham on October 17, continuing their downward spiral.
Without drastic improvement, Preston face genuine peril. The table reflects their predicament starkly. After 11 matches, Swansea led with 23 points, West Ham and Middlesbrough occupied second with 22 points, Birmingham held 20 points, while Preston languished at the bottom with just four points. The gap between them and safety grows wider with each passing week.
What happens next
The Championship landscape will shift further in the coming weeks. Birmingham are scheduled to face West Ham on December 19, a fixture that could prove pivotal in the title race, while Swansea are set to visit Preston that same day—a match that could offer the struggling hosts a lifeline against fellow strugglers.
