The 2026-27 EFL season is underway and as a result we’re bringing you our first Championship team of the week of the new campaign.
There were impressive wins on the opening weekend for the likes of QPR, Millwall and Watford while all three relegated teams were involved in draws in their opening matches.
Charlton have two players in the Squawka Score Team of the Week following their excellent opening day victory over Derby County, while West Bromwich Albion also boast two players in the XI including a 20 year old debutant who shone in an away win at Carrow Road.
The Squawka Score is our proprietary performance rating, combining multiple Opta stats into a single percentage (45 mins played minimum). It benchmarks players against their positional peers, allowing quick comparisons. Learn more about how it works here: https://www.squawka.com/en/news/squawka-score-explained/
GK: Max O’Leary (West Brom)
- Squawka Score: 85%
No goalkeeper in the Championship made more saves than West Brom’s Max O’Leary on the opening weekend. Norwich dominated the visitors at Carrow Road and took no fewer than 20 shots, drawing seven saves from the 29 year old. He also assisted a goal for another player that found his way into this XI – but more on him later.
Honourable mention: Michael Cooper (Sheffield United ,78%)
DR: Ryan Leonard (Millwall)
- Squawka Score: 79%
Ryan Leonard was a key component in Millwall’s clean sheet away at Bristol City, but he was just as dangerous going forward as he was dependable at the back. The long-serving Lions defender made 11 passes into the box and took a huge 104 touches – while also winning seven of his nine duels. A monster performance from the 34 year old.
Honourable mention: Terry Devlin (Portsmouth, 76%)
DC: Sean McLoughlin (Blackburn)
- Squawka Score: 87%
Sean McLoughlin got on the scoresheet in Blackburn’s 2-2 away draw with newly-relegated Wolves, but his defending of the box was particularly impressive as he made eight clearances and three blocks while going unbeaten in aerial duels. Rovers were desperately unlucky not to take all three points as a controversial late penalty saw Wolves rescue an equaliser.
Honourable mention: Adilson Malanda (Middlesbrough, 83%)
DC: Lloyd Jones (Charlton)
Lloyd Jones not only found himself on the scoresheet in the win over Derby County, but the centre-back also made six clearances and won six out of 10 duels, four of which were in the air. The 30 year old was a near ever-present for the Addicks last season while winning the club’s Player of the Year for the second consecutive season. He’ll be key for them again this time around.
- Squawka Score: 84%
Honourable mention: Caleb Taylor (Millwall, 76%)
LB: Junior Bocat (Stoke City)
Stoke City were poor in their defeat at home to Swansea City, but a rare bright spark within their performance was that of goalscorer Junior Bocat. The Frenchman made three interceptions and six clearances in a solid display, but he’ll need more from his teammates as the Potters travel to Southampton for their second league game of the season on Saturday.
- Squawka Score: 83%
Honourable mention: Josh Tymon (Swansea City, 80%)
CM: Ebrima Adams (Portsmouth)
- Squawka Score: 83%
Like Bocat, Ebrima Adams found himself on the losing side in his team’s opening game of the season, but the Portsmouth midfielder still turned in a solid enough individual performance in the 1-3 defeat to QPR. The ex-Derby County man won seven of his 10 duels and made 11 final-third passes – one of which resulted in a goal for full-back Terry Devlin.
Honourable mention: Marshall Munetsi (Wolves, 78%)
CM: Alex Robertson (Cardiff)
- Squawka Score: 81%
Cardiff City may have needed a late free-kick to earn a point against Wrexham in their Monday night encounter, but boss Brian Barry-Murphy will have been pleased with the performance of Alex Robertson throughout. The Cardiff City man dictated play, completed 70 oasses at 90% completion rate, including 15 final-third passes of which eight were delivered into the box.
Honourable mention: Fernando Lopez (Wolves, 77%)
W: Karlan Grant (Charlton)
- Squawka Score: 88%
Charlton’s fine start to the season was best demonstrated by the individual performance of the returning Karlan Grant on his second debut. The 28 year old marked his first Addicks appearance in seven years with an assist and he was a constant threat throughout, making 12 final third passes and completing two of three attempted take-ons.
Honourable mention: Jarrod Bowen (West Ham, 82%)
AM: Ilias Chair (QPR)
- Squawka Score: 92%
The stand-out individual performance of the entire weekend came from Queens Park Rangers’ talisman Ilias Chair. The attacking midfielder managed two goals as well as an assist in his side’s confident away win over Portsmouth, racking up six shots (three on target) and three key passes. Few players in the division will be as key to their team as Chair for the Hoops this season.
Honourable mention: Iker Bravo (Watford, 80%)
W: Jimmy-Jay Morgan (West Brom)
- Squawka Score: 89%
This is a name to watch out for this season. A Chelsea youth graduate who spent last season on loan at Portsmouth, Jimmy-Jay Morgan got a goal and an assist in his Championship debut for West Bromwich Albion, his goal being a superbly taken strike after a well-executed dribble. The 20 year old also completed three passes in an eye-catching Baggies debut.
Honourable mention: Tyreece Campbell (Charlton, 83%)
ST: Zian Flemming (Burnley)
- Squawka Score: 86%
One of four players to score twice in the opening weekend, the magnitude of Flemming’s late goals that rescued a point from a seemingly hapless position for Burnley play some part in seeing him edge out both Josh Coburn and Will Lankshear for the striker spot. The Dutchman was also a more consistent threat, racking up nine shots over 90 minutes compared to just six for Lankshear and four for Coburn.
Honourable mention: Josh Coburn (85%)