Two of the Championship's most pressing storylines converge this weekend as the second tier returns from the international fortnight. West Bromwich Albion welcome Birmingham City to The Hawthorns in a West Midlands derby that carries real table significance, while at Deepdale, Graham Alexander begins the considerable task of pulling Preston North End away from the relegation zone.

West Brom vs Birmingham: bragging rights and a point to prove

Albion head into Saturday's lunchtime kick-off (12:30) in fifth place, three points above Birmingham in tenth. That gap sounds comfortable enough, but Blues will be well aware that a victory would see them leapfrog their hosts, and Preston are not the only club desperate for a win this weekend.

For West Brom, the timing of the derby is awkward. Defender Conor Townsend was quoted calling the 1-0 defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers their "worst performance of the season," and the Baggies have now taken back-to-back defeats to West Midlands rivals without response. A third would make uncomfortable listening around The Hawthorns.

Birmingham arrive with their own momentum to find. The Blues have drawn repeatedly this season, a run of results that supporters have debated at length as either five points dropped or five points earned depending on perspective. In the Championship, where the margins between the automatic places and the bottom three can be wafer-thin, the inability to convert draws into wins eventually costs you.

History suggests this one will be close. The two sides shared the points in both Championship meetings last season, with a single goal apiece on each occasion. Neither club will want to make a habit of that, particularly Albion, who need to demonstrate they can perform in high-pressure fixtures after the Wolves humbling.

Alexander's return to Deepdale

Graham Alexander made 410 appearances for Preston and served as club captain before his retirement. Fourteen years on, he is back in the dugout at a club he has described as "special" to him, though the circumstances of his return are anything but sentimental. Preston sit one place off the foot of the Championship table, kept out of bottom spot only on goal difference, with a solitary win to show from the opening weeks of the season.

The international break gave Alexander his first real opportunity to work with the squad without an immediate fixture looming. Whether a fortnight is enough to embed new habits and lift a group that has been short on confidence is the central question. In the Championship, new managers typically see a short-term bounce in results, but Preston need sustained improvement rather than a one-game reprieve.

Alexander's appointment has divided supporters, as a recent survey of fan opinion made clear, but there is broad agreement that the club is in a precarious position. One win from the first phase of the season is not a platform; it is a warning. Preston's home support will be hoping that the emotional pull of a returning favourite translates into something tangible on the pitch this weekend.

What the table says

West Brom's position in fifth reflects genuine promise but also the volatility of early-season standings. Birmingham in tenth are close enough to both the top six and the bottom three to make every result consequential. Preston, effectively in the relegation places on goal difference alone, have no margin for further slippage.

The international break has offered clubs across the division time to reset, recruit new ideas on the training pitch and, in some cases, integrate a new manager's methods. Whether that breathing space proves productive or simply delays the inevitable will become clearer over the coming weeks. For now, Saturday at The Hawthorns and whatever follows at Deepdale will tell us something meaningful about where all three clubs are genuinely headed this season.

The second tier rarely offers comfortable viewing for long. That is, of course, entirely the point.

Frequently asked

What time is West Brom vs Birmingham City on Saturday?
The West Midlands derby at The Hawthorns kicks off at 12:30 BST on Saturday.
Where are Preston North End in the Championship table?
Preston are kept out of the bottom spot only on goal difference, with just one win from their opening fixtures this season.
Who is Graham Alexander and why has he returned to Preston?
Graham Alexander is a Preston legend who made 410 appearances for the club as a player. He was appointed manager in late September 2026 with the task of lifting the club away from the relegation zone.