EFL Championship news: Five talking points as West Ham hit six, QPR bounce back and Portsmouth snatch late win
Wednesday night’s Championship action provided plenty of drama, with West Ham United scoring six against Lincoln City, QPR returning to winning ways and Portsmouth grabbing a late winner against Sheffield United.
Southampton also continued their positive run with a narrow victory away at Norwich City.
With goals, red cards and late drama across the evening, Sports News Blitz writer Elliot Desage looks at five key talking points from the midweek action.
Midnite pays out £9k to Southampton, Middlesbrough and Wolves fans thanks to ‘2UP’ initiative
Southampton, Middlesbrough, and Wolves fans have won a combined total of £9,000 thanks to Midnite’s ‘2UP’ initiative.
Midnite is the principal partner of Wolves, Middlesbrough, and Sheffield United, while being the official training-kit partner of Southampton for the 2026/27 season. The UK bookmaker’s ‘2UP’ initiative gives fans the chance to win big if those four clubs take a two-goal lead in a home league game.
Championship: Iain Dowie hails Southampton star Cyle Larin, saying ‘he’s a handful’
Former Southampton striker Iain Dowie says in-form Saints forward Cyle Larin reminds him of Jean-Philippe Mateta, claiming "he’s a handful, physically intimidating”.
France striker Mateta has been a key man in recent times for another of Dowie's former clubs, Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Canada international Larin has been named as the Championship's player of the month for August after scoring four league goals.
EFL Championship news: Southampton expelled from Championship play-off final after multiple breaches
Following a review by an Independent Disciplinary Commission, the EFL have announced that Southampton have been expelled from the Championship play-offs after admitting to multiple rule breaches regarding observation of opposition training.
Championship news: A shootout for the Premier League - Everything that can happen on the final day
With relegation confirmed for Sheffield Wednesday, Leicester City and Oxford United, all eyes dart towards the top of the Championship table, where Premier League football is up for grabs heading into the final day.
As is usually the case, England’s second tier has treated fans to a rollercoaster season packed with drama as the 2025/26 campaign draws to a close.
With one match remaining, Sports News Blitz writer Gabriel Mills looks at what each team involved will need in the race for automatic promotion and play-off places.
FA Cup and Premier League betting tips: Arsenal to beat Newcastle, Rayan Cherki to score against Southampton, and more Gameweek 34 tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s Premier League and FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including both FA Cup semis and Arsenal’s huge Premier League clash at home to Newcastle on Saturday, April 25.
Soccer analysis: Southampton topple Wrexham in heated play-off clash
Southampton’s promotion push has become a very real possibility after their emphatic 5-1 win over Wrexham AFC, proving to the rest of the Championship that they are genuine contenders.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Matthew Morgan analyses the significance of this game in terms of promotion for both teams.
FA Cup betting tips: Man City to beat Liverpool, Gabriel Martinelli to score, and more FA Cup quarter-final betting tips
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from this weekend’s FA Cup TV games from Sports News Blitz’s punting laureate - The Bookie Basher - including the big one between Manchester City and Liverpool on Saturday, April 4.
Premier League and FA Cup final betting tips: Nottingham Forest’s woes to continue against West Ham, Eberechi Eze to score, and more
Seven clubs are still battling gamely to finish inside the Premier League’s top five and thus guarantee UEFA Champions League football next season.
Newcastle were the big winners last weekend after beating Chelsea, who incurred an expensive loss and now face Manchester United at home before a potentially decisive visit to Nottingham Forest, also chasing a Champions League place, on the final day of the season.
The Toon travel to Arsenal for another huge game on Sunday while there is also the small matter of the FA Cup final, and Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher has got all the best betting angles covered so chew on that you Goblins.
Premier League news: Substitutes help Aston Villa to three points at relegated Southampton
Aston Villa beat basement boys Southampton 3-0 on Saturday, in the process becoming the first team in Premier League history to have three substitutes score in the same match.
Sports News Blitz writer Harrison Pearce looks at how the subs changed the game at St Mary’s and what it means for Villa ahead of the run-in.
FA Cup news: Five potential fourth-round upsets
This weekend sees the return of the world’s oldest national football competition as the fourth round of the FA Cup kicks off.
Sports News Blitz writer Jon Shea takes a look at five potential upsets ahead of the action.
Man Utd news: Amad Diallo scores a hat-trick as Red Devils overcome Southampton
Amad Diallo scored a late hat-trick as Manchester United overcame a spirited Southampton side at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Sports News Blitz writer Robert Bore offers his thoughts on the game against the Saints.
Man Utd vs Southampton news: Preview and score prediction
Having both secured a positive result in the FA Cup this past weekend, struggling Premier League duo Manchester United and Southampton are set to square off at Old Trafford on Thursday night.
Sports News Blitz writer George Russell offers his thoughts on the upcoming game and makes a score prediction.
Southampton news: A look at manager Russell Martin’s career so far
Russell Martin’s name is hogging the headlines after Southampton secured a return to the Premier League with a 1-0 win over Leeds at Wembley on Sunday.
Southampton FC back in the big time - a look at the Saints’ story so far
Southampton fans are celebrating a return to the Premier League after Adam Armstrong’s first-half strike toppled Leeds United at Wembley on Sunday.
Saints march into the Premier League after seeing off lacklustre Leeds at Wembley
Southampton are back in the Premier League after Adam Armstrong scored the only goal at Wembley to secure a 1-0 win over Leeds in Sunday’s Championship play-off final.