Championship's Unfolding Drama: Hull's Steady Ascent and Leicester's Troubling Plunge

Ah, the Championship! It truly never disappoints, does it? This past weekend, you could say, offered a rather stark illustration of its unpredictable, often brutal, beauty. We saw teams soaring, frankly, with what felt like effortless grace, while others, well, others found themselves wrestling with a beast they just couldn't quite tame. And so it goes.

For instance, let’s talk about Hull City. They really are the story, aren't they? They just keep on keeping on, extending their truly impressive unbeaten run to a staggering 11 matches. A 2-0 victory over Sunderland, sealed comfortably enough by Ozan Tufan and then Liam Delap, has propelled them all the way up to fourth place. Honestly, you have to hand it to them; their form is just superb, a testament to consistency and, in truth, a clear vision.

But then, there's Leicester. Oh, Leicester. What a difference a few weeks make, and how quickly fortunes can turn in this relentless league. For a team that started with such promise, their 1-0 defeat at the hands of Bristol City was, put simply, another blow. That’s four losses on the trot now, which sees them plummet to tenth. Anis Mehmeti was the man who netted for Bristol, twisting the knife a little further into the Foxes' wounds. One has to wonder, truly, what Enzo Maresca is thinking right now, the pressure surely mounting like a storm cloud over the King Power Stadium.

Meanwhile, Preston North End, ever the dark horses, continued their quietly brilliant season. They saw off Cardiff with a convincing 3-1 win, a result that shoves them into a very respectable third position. Liam Millar, Alan Browne, and Duane Holmes all found the net, demonstrating a breadth of attacking threat that’s frankly quite exciting. They’re certainly a team to watch, aren't they?

Down at the other end, QPR managed a 1-1 draw with Coventry, thanks to a Chris Willock opener, though Matty Godden’s equaliser meant they remain stubbornly stuck in the bottom two. And Plymouth Argyle, bless them, were involved in a lively 2-2 draw with Birmingham. Bali Mumba and Morgan Whittaker both scored for the home side, but George Hall and Jordan James ensured the points were shared in a proper seesaw battle.

Elsewhere, the drama continued. Watford secured a good 2-1 win over Norwich, with Mileta Rajovic bagging both goals for the Hornets. Ashley Barnes did pull one back for Norwich, but it wasn't enough. Burnley and Stoke played out a rather drab 0-0 draw, leaving both firmly entrenched in the bottom half – a spot neither, you’d imagine, is particularly happy with. Swansea and Middlesbrough shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw, as did Sheffield Wednesday and Millwall in a goalless affair. And West Bromwich Albion managed a solid 2-0 victory against Blackburn, while Leeds United edged out Ipswich Town 1-0 with a Joel Piroe strike. A busy weekend, indeed, and one that, for better or worse, certainly shuffled the pack once more.