Football Feb 04, 2026

Championship promotion race: How did the January window impact the battle to reach the Premier League?

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Championship promotion race: How did the January window impact the battle to reach the Premier League?

The January window is shut and the race for the Premier League is well and truly on.

But how did winter business impact the Championship promotion battle? Did all the runners and riders get the players in they need, or did they leave themselves short?

We take a look...

What did they need?

Frank Lampard mentioned time and time again when Coventry were flying in the early part of the season that their squad lacked depth, and those warnings came to pass in the hectic period around December and January. A lead that once seemed unassailable at the top has been cut to just goal difference.

They needed extra options in attack, midfield reinforcement and perhaps an extra centre-back.

Who have they signed?

Did they do enough?

While many Coventry fans would have been hoping the club would go big to capitalise on their best position in years, overall the business has been solid.

Onyeka could prove vital in the middle of the park for a team that have let leads turn into defeats in their last two games. While Yang hasn't quite hit the ground running yet, Esse has certainly impressed.

What did they need?

To hold on to Hayden Hackney, who was subject to bids on Deadline Day. And to maybe add a striker. Overall, the squad was pretty solid.

Who have they signed?

Did they do enough?

Yes. There would have been some murmurings of perhaps needing another striker, but overall the business has strengthened them in areas they were a little light.

What did they need?

Some added depth in the full-back areas wouldn't have hurt, as well as maybe some more backup for Oli McBurnie up top.

Who have they signed?

Did they do enough?

Absolutely. Hull have emerged as unlikely contenders in the promotion race, and they strengthened superbly with the loan market in January. Their squad is far stronger than it was at the turn of the year.

What did they need?

A striker. George Hirst and Chuba Akpom haven't quite done the business this season in attack and having someone putting away the amount of chances they create could fire them back towards the top two.

Who have they signed?

Did they do enough?

Not exactly. They didn't need a huge amount with the squad they have at their disposal, but a No 9 could have made the difference and they didn't get one in.

Millwall are in fifth and have added experience in Barry Bannan in midfield, as well as bringing in loan additions of goalkeeper Anthony Patterson and winger Tommy Watson.

Wrexham are not messing around, having fought their way into sixth. Defender Zak Vyner and strikers Davis Keillor-Dunn and Bailey Cadamarteri were signed just before the window shut.

Tags:

football news

Share this article

Related Posts

Bologna 2-2 Celtic: Martin O'Neill's 10-man Hoops survive fightback to keep Europa League hopes alive

Bologna 2-2 Celtic: Martin O'Neill's 10-man Hoops survive fightback to keep Europa League hopes alive

Celtic survived a Bologna fightback to take a vital point in their penultimate Europa League match and keep their hopes of progression alive. It was t...

Braga 1-0 Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White penalty miss and Ryan Yates own goal cost Sean Dyche's side in the Europa League

Braga 1-0 Nottingham Forest: Morgan Gibbs-White penalty miss and Ryan Yates own goal cost Sean Dyche's side in the Europa League

Nottingham Forest were booed off as they slumped to a 1-0 defeat at Braga after an incredible 54-second spell in which Morgan Gibbs-White had a penalt...

Middlesbrough 4-0 Preston North End: Tommy Conway scores twice in emphatic Boro win

Middlesbrough 4-0 Preston North End: Tommy Conway scores twice in emphatic Boro win

Middlesbrough moved to within three points of Sky Bet Championship leaders Coventry by heaping more misery on 10-man Preston at the Riverside.Alan Bro...

Fulham 2-1 Brighton: Harry Wilson scores 92nd-minute free-kick in second-half turnaround to earn late victory

Fulham 2-1 Brighton: Harry Wilson scores 92nd-minute free-kick in second-half turnaround to earn late victory

Harry Wilson scored a 92nd-minute winner from a free-kick as Fulham produced a second-half turnaround to earn a 2-1 victory over Brighton, who have wo...

Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Wrexham: Red Dragons nick stunning last-ditch turnaround win

Queens Park Rangers 2-3 Wrexham: Red Dragons nick stunning last-ditch turnaround win

Wrexham scored twice in stoppage time to come from behind and pull off an incredible 3-2 victory at QPR.After Harvey Vale's early opener, Callum Doyle...

Chelsea Women's Super League title race 'probably over' says Sonia Bompastor after Arsenal win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge

Chelsea Women's Super League title race 'probably over' says Sonia Bompastor after Arsenal win 2-0 at Stamford Bridge

Sonia Bompastor conceded the WSL title race is "probably over" after Chelsea's defeat to Arsenal gave Manchester City the chance to go nine points cle...