Summary

  • West Ham visit Cardiff in Scott Parker's first game in charge

  • Ex-England and Hammers midfielder appointed earlier on Wednesday

  • West Ham eighth after successive losses under previous boss Nuno, Cardiff 18th

  • Leaders Middlesbrough visit Wrexham, Bristol City host Wolves

  • In League One, Oxford host fellow top-six side Reading

  • Get Involved: Use yellow button on page

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  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:44 GMT

    Use yellow button on page

    “I’ve been promoted 3 times from this division." ..And how many time has Scott Parker been relegated and/or sacked the next season!

    Paul, Barcelona

    Hammers what have you done, he probably will take you back up, but so would any decent manager, but he'll definitely take you back down

    Paul, Wigan

    I look forward to another year of people who wouldn't have taken Moyes at their club in a million years saying "be careful what you wish for!"

    Steven, London

  2. Read all about itpublished at 19:43 GMT

    Championship

    BBC Local Radio

    Because of EFL broadcasting rights we are unable to bring you audio commentary of today's games online.

    Your BBC local radio station will be at the games to give you all the latest though and if you aren't able to tune in, don't worry.

    We will bring you a flavour of their coverage from selected matches as part of our live text service.

  3. City setting out to be aggressivepublished at 19:42 GMT

    Bristol City v Wolves (20:00 GMT)

    Sophie Hurcom
    BBC Sport at Ashton Gate

    This is the first league meeting between Bristol City and Wolves since 2017, but the two did meet in the FA Cup in January last year at Ashton Gate.

    That game ended with Wolves as 2-1 winners although the upside for Bristol City fans in that match was at least their side managed to score a goal.

    At home this season the Robins’ goalscoring form is pretty dire – just three goals all season in six games, the lowest in the division, with the 1-0 win against Watford on 18 September the last time they found the back of the net at home (granted, they have had just two home games since then).

    Manager Michael Skubala said he is setting his side up to be aggressive tonight and play on the front foot and he has brought Scott Twine and Sam Bell in to start, two players who came off the bench and scored on Saturday as they came from 2-1 down to beat Bolton 3-2 in added time.

  4. Double change for Robins, James missing for Wolvespublished at 19:41 GMT

    Bristol City v Wolves (20:00 GMT)

    Bristol City XIImage source, Opta

    Bristol City make a double change to greet Wolves.

    Scott Twine and Sam Bell enter the XI in place of Dom Ballard and Brian De Keersmaecker, who are both on the bench.

    Just one change for Wolves as Jordan James misses out.

    The midfielder went off injured in the first half of their 3-0 victory against Cardiff at the weekend.

    Jean-Ricner Bellegarde replaces him in the line-up.

    Wolves XIImage source, Opta
  5. Robins aim to solve home woespublished at 19:40 GMT

    Bristol City v Wolves (20:00 GMT)

    Michael Skubala looks on as he opens a bottle of waterImage source, Shutterstock

    Bristol City boss Michael Skubala has visitors Wolves down as "one of the best three teams" in the league and Wanderers will no doubt be wanting to prove him right to position themselves in the automatic promotion spots with a victory.

    It's a daunting prospect for a Robins side meandering in mid-table, with not even home advantage necessarily helping.

    City have only scored three goals at Ashton Gate this season, fewer than any other team in the Championship, and have picked up only half the amount of points at home that they have on the road.

    However, they have managed to score against Wolves in the past 11 times they've met. But unfortunately, so have the visitors, finding the net in all but one of their previous 12.

  6. Postpublished at 19:39 GMT

    We also have one game which kicks off at 20:00 GMT. Let's look ahead to that.

  7. Marriott returns, Brannagan and Brown both startpublished at 19:38 GMT

    Oxford United v Reading (19:45 GMT)

    U's XIImage source, Opta

    Here is how the sides line up in our sole League One game tonight with kick-off fast approaching in the Thames Valley derby.

    Oxford have been unsuccessful in their appeal against Jamie Cumming's red card so Simon Eastwood comes into Aaron Ramsey's side between the sticks.

    Both Ciaron Brown and Cameron Brannagan are fit to make the starting side having been injury doubts after the weekend.

    Jack Marriott returns for Leam Richardson's Reading, from the start for the first time since his injury and Haydon Roberts starts in place of Josh Knight.

    Royals XIImage source, Opta
  8. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 19:37 GMT

    Use yellow button on page

    No Lankshear tonight for Boro - this will be a real test of their promotion credentials - relying on the depth in the squad. Hopefully this season's other scorers have brought their boots tonight and find a way to continue their fine form!

    Adam, Birmingham

  9. We want to hear from youpublished at 19:36 GMT

    Championship

    Get Involved
    Get in touch by clicking the Get Involved button on the left

    Happy with Scott Parker, West Ham fans?

    Is losing Will Lankshear going to hit Middlesbrough hard this evening?

    Let us know your thoughts by clicking Get Involved on the left of the page.

    P.S. don't be shy Cardiff, Wrexham, Bristol City and Wolves fans - we want to hear from you too!

  10. No Lankshear, no fear?published at 19:35 GMT

    Wrexham v Middlesbrough (19:45 GMT)

    Ian Mitchelmore
    BBC Sport Wales at the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham

    Phil Parkinson, head coach of WrexhamImage source, Getty Images

    Will Lankshear scored his first Middlesbrough goal against tonight's opponents Wrexham in the first round of the Carabao Cup in early August.

    The 21-year-old has managed 15 goals in 16 appearances across all competitions so far this season.

    His 13 league goals come at a rate of 1.12 goals per 90 minutes, and he is averaging a goal every 81 minutes in the Championship.

    His tally of 15 goals is the same amount the entire Wrexham side have scored in their 14 matches across all competitions in 2026-27 so far.

    So the hosts will breathe a HUGE sigh of relief that he's not available this evening.

  11. Four changes for Wrexham, no Lankshear for Boropublished at 19:33 GMT

    Wrexham v Middlesbrough (19:45 GMT)

    Wrexham XIImage source, Opta

    Wrexham make four changes to face the league leaders.

    George Thomason and Max Cleworth both start after returning from injury at the weekend alongside George Dobson and Ben Whiteman.

    Dom Hyam, Matty James, Ben Sheaf and Oliver Rathbone are all available from the bench but missing among the substitutes is Sam Smith.

    The forward is going to be sidelined for a significant period with a knee injury.

    Middlesbrough's top scorer Will Lankshear misses out on the trip with injury so Kyle Joseph steps up to lead the front line.

    Lankshear had scored seven goals across his past five league games for Boro.

    Luke Ayling replaces Riley McGree to make up the only other change.

    Middlesbrough XIImage source, Opta
  12. Wrexham digging deeppublished at 19:31 GMT

    Wrexham v Middlesbrough (19:45 GMT)

    A close up of Phil ParkinsonImage source, Shutterstock

    "We're not where we want to be, we know that, but we've got to dig deep," Wrexham boss Phil Parkinson said of his struggling team.

    Far from the promotion contenders their ambitious spending set them out to be in the summer, Wrexham are gasping for results and that isn't the life they've been used to in recent years.

    Even the Racecourse, their home ground where they only lost five games across their three successive promotion campaigns to get to the Championship, has not been the fortress it was.

    The Red Dragons have not won at home consecutively since February. They face a Middlesbrough side who are ruthless on the road, losing just one of their past 12 away games (W5 D6).

  13. Postpublished at 19:30 GMT

    Right, there are other games tonight you know! Let's look at those...

  14. Parker rings in the West Ham changespublished at 19:30 GMT

    Cardiff City v West Ham (1945)

    Laura Kenyon
    BBC 5Live reporter at the Cardiff City Stadium

    Scott Parker, manager of West Ham United, arrives at the stadiumImage source, Getty Images

    The first message of intent from new West Ham boss, Scott Parker: five changes to the side that lost at home to West Brom this weekend.

    Taty Castallenos in for Pablo up top. Manor Soloman replaces Edvin Austbo on the left wing. And a return for Konstantinos Mavropanos – the centre half fit again after a knee injury.

    Will Parker be the man to get West Ham’s ambitions of immediate promotion back to the Premier League back on track?

    He certainly has the credentials. Three times he’s guided teams up to the top flight. Keeping them there has been the only sticking point.

    He inherits a side unbeaten on the road this season and the Championship’s highest scorers with 33 goals so it’s not all doom and gloom beyond the league position.

  15. Bellamy watches on as Parker begins West Ham reignpublished at 19:28 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Dafydd Pritchard
    BBC Sport Wales at Cardiff City Stadium

    Scott Parker will have been West Ham boss for barely 10 hours when his first match at the helm gets under way at Cardiff tonight.

    The former Hammers midfielder has won promotion from the Championship with three different clubs as a manager, and he'll be expected to make it four this season.

    Parker's first opponents, Cardiff, are unbeaten at home in the league this season, although their iffy away form means they start this fixture 18th in the table.

    He'll have a familiar face in the crowd too, with ex-West Ham team-mate and current Wales head coach Craig Bellamy here to watch two of his former clubs do battle.

  16. City swap brothers; Mavropanos and Magassa return for Ironspublished at 19:26 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Bluebirds XIImage source, Opta

    Brian Barry-Murphy has made one change to the Bluebirds XI which lost 3-0 at Wolves on Saturday.

    It’s one Colwill in, one out, as Joel drops to the bench to be replaced by Rubin who also takes the captain’s armband… big brothers, eh?

    It's all change for the Hammers on the sideline with five more on the pitch after Saturday’s 3-1 defeat by West Brom.

    Scott Parker’s first line-up is boosted by the return from injury of Konstantinos Mavropanos while Joel Veltman, Manor Solomon and Taty Castellanos are handed starts and forgotten man Soungoutou Magassa is given his first minutes of the season in midfield.

    Mohamadou Kante, Edvin Austbo and Airidas Golambeckis drop to the bench while Kyle Walker-Peters and Pablo miss out.

    Hammers XIImage source, Opta
  17. Bluebirds aim to be pitch perfectpublished at 19:24 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Cardiff City Stadium's pitch ahead of a gameImage source, Shutterstock

    Bluebirds boss Brian Barry-Murphy feels the quality of the pitch at the Cardiff City Stadium has helped his side's impressive home record.

    City have earned 12 points from their six home games, 10 more than across their seven away games and Barry-Murphy told BBC Wales: "I think the games away from home were always more difficult because of the challenge you face, but for us [against West Ham] we're at home, back at our own stadium.

    "The pitch is in incredible condition; we've done a lot of work. It hasn't been easy and it hasn't been cheap. We've been supported incredibly well by Ken Choo (Cardiff chief executive), who's had to finance a lot to help us.

    "Liam [James, Cardiff grounds manager] has put it in great condition and for us the way we play, we have a highly skilled team.

    "Obviously we have to have the players, but the most important thing then is to have a pitch that we can play on. It's so important for us and we've been provided with it. So now the next part is to try and play well and win."

  18. 'We believe we can win'published at 19:22 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Brian Barry-Murphy in a Cardiff coat looking to the skyImage source, Shutterstock

    Cardiff will be looking to preserve their unbeaten home record in the Championship this season when the Hammers come to town.

    The Bluebirds have three wins and three draws in the Welsh capital, and a win in their seventh match would give them the third-best home record in the second tier behind Southampton and Middlesbrough.

    That contrasts with their fortunes on the road, where they have taken just two points from seven games. Only Watford and Preston have fared worse.

    "We can't wait," said boss Brian Barry-Murphy, whose Cardiff side were promoted back up from League One last season.

    "We worked all last season for games like this, against teams of the calibre we're going to face and we want to test ourselves, compete against them.

    "We know the qualities, they're clear, but we believe we can win."

  19. Pick of the statspublished at 19:20 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Club badges bannerImage source, Opta
    • Cardiff City won their last league meeting with West Ham in March 2019 (2-0), last winning consecutive league games against the Hammers in April/September 1950.
    • West Ham have won four of their past five league games against Cardiff City (L1), a run which started with a 2-0 victory on their last Championship visit to the Bluebirds in March 2012.
    • West Ham have already won 1-0 at Swansea this season – they've never won two away games against Welsh sides in the same league campaign before.
    • Cardiff are unbeaten at home in the Championship this season, winning the last three in a row (D3). They last won four consecutively in this division in October/November 2024.
    • West Ham are unbeaten away from home in the league so far this season (W3 D3), winning their last two by an aggregate score of 7-0. They last won three in a row on the road in October 2021, while they last did so without conceding between April and September 2007 (4 in a row).
  20. 'Perfect formula for success?' - analysispublished at 19:18 GMT

    Cardiff v West Ham (19:45 GMT)

    Phil Parry
    BBC Radio London sports editor

    Scott Parker shouting and pointing on the sideline while coaching BurnleyImage source, Shutterstock

    As soon as the news broke that Nuno Espirito Santo had been relieved of his duties at West Ham it became clear that the club had identified Scott Parker as the coach they believed could lead them back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

    The only nagging question for me was why this move was not made in the summer, giving Parker time to build a squad he would want and have pre-season to prepare them.

    Parker's pedigree of guiding clubs to promotion from the second tier in his first full year in charge is unquestionable having done it at Fulham, Bournemouth and Burnley. These achievements were at clubs where there was an expectation of success so the fact that West Ham have the same aim this season will not faze him.

    He follows in the footsteps of the great Billy Bonds, the only other former captain to go on and manage West Ham. Bonds was also charged with gaining promotion, something he achieved.

    There is no doubt where the issues have been for West Ham so far this season, starting games slowly, conceding first and on a number of occasions conceding too many.

    Parker will bring structure and clarity to the team, providing a stable platform from which the front line can start exploiting their talents. He will want to quickly create an identity and will leave players in no doubt that hard work and commitment lead to positive outcomes.

    The question of 'style' had been on the lips of a number of people in regards to Parker and much was made of Burnley's incredible parsimony during their promotion to the Premier League under him, but they were also the third highest scorers and gained 100 points, which is no mean feat.

    He has players at his disposal to be effective going forward, and the coaching ability to make a rather leaky side more watertight.

    The fans and the club will hope that is the perfect formula.