With Sky Sports’ Championship points predictions for 23-24 October 2026 ready, Andy Hinchcliffe joins Simeon Gholam on this week’s Essential EFL podcast.
Hinchcliffe has more options than David Prutton this week. This is the latest update of our championship predictions article; previous editions remain in our archives.
The four Championship matches televised by Sky are presented below. These are Hinchcliffe’s score predictions kept separate from the Fan Banter predictions in our full Championship weekend preview.
Full match preview, interviews and away trip →
Andy Hinchcliffe’s predictionSky Sports · Essential EFL
Bolton Wanderers1
Middlesbrough2Listen to the score call · 26:00 ↗
View of Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe played down the idea that Middlesbrough’s strong historical record against Bolton will decide this match. He explained that players focus on the current challenge, while supporters are more mindful of a club’s record at a particular venue.
According to him, teams, conditions and time of year change: old results do not make the next victory inevitable. He expected a difficult evening for Boro but still picked them to win 2-1.
Listen to the discussion · 25:28 ↗
Full match preview, interviews and away trip →
Andy Hinchcliffe’s predictionSky Sports · Essential EFL
Charlton Athletic1
City of Norwich0Listen to the score call · 30:00 ↗
View of Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe expected a tight, low-scoring game between two sides who desperately needed a win but could hardly afford another defeat. He discussed Charlton’s return to the back five, citing defensive solidity as central to their chances as they failed to create big chances.
He compared Charlton’s ability to get narrow results to Norwich’s repeated finishes on the wrong side of tight matches. That margin shaped his 1-0 Charlton prediction: he felt the hosts were better suited to win such a contest.
Listen to the discussion · 27:10 ↗
Full match preview, interviews and away trip →
Andy Hinchcliffe’s predictionSky Sports · Essential EFL
Portsmouth1
Millwall1Listen to the score call · 33:40 ↗
View of Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe discussed Millwall’s struggle to regain the momentum of the previous season after their play-off disappointment. He also pointed to injuries and the importance of rebuilding a stable, strong starting lineup.
For Portsmouth, he praised their response to the Southampton defeat and their ability to compete and get results despite missing players. Even when football wasn’t glamorous, he admired the coaching behind that tenacity. Since there was no clear winner for either side in his assessment, it was decided with a score of 1-1.
Listen to the discussion · 31:02 ↗
Full match preview, interviews and away trip →
Andy Hinchcliffe’s predictionSky Sports · Essential EFL
Sheffield United2
Derby County0Listen to the score call · 38:15 ↗
View of Hinchcliffe
Hinchcliffe argued that Derby’s missing key players were crucial in a weak squad, with injuries forcing some players into unfamiliar positions. He supported being patient with John Eustace and explained that a change of manager would not automatically solve these constraints.
He felt Sheffield United had enough quality to challenge higher up the table but needed to turn inconsistent performances into a sustained run. Although a home game against struggling Derby brought anticipation and pressure, he backed the Blades to a 2-0 win.
Listen to the discussion · 34:42 ↗
How do Sky picks compare to Fan Banter’s?
Our Saturday picks agree on Charlton and Sheffield United to win. Portsmouth v Millwall is where the verdicts differ: Hinchcliffe calls for a draw, while our view favors Portsmouth. Each Fan Banter pick has its own explanation, along with a final form and head-to-head snapshot.
Read previews of all 12 Championship matches and have your say in fan polls →
Championship weekend preview
Sources
Source is Sky Sports Basic EFL episode, The Hammers are nearing the top, Birmingham are in form and can Preston turn things around?Published on October 22, 2026. It features Simeon Ghulam and Andy Hinchcliffe.
Listen on Sky Sports →
Match context and pre-match form: Championship preview sourced from Fan Banter. Sections titled “Hinchcliffe’s View” refer to his discussion in the associated podcast; they are summaries, not literal quotes. Fan Banter’s own predictions remain in a separate preview article. Podcast times may vary slightly if commercials change.
Score predictions are predictions, not match results. Friday’s selection is held as the date pregame record.
Location photo credits
Previous predictions
Check out previous editions including David Prutton’s previous Championship predictions →
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