Championship Struggles: Relegated Clubs Face Challenges
This week's Championship action has not only exacerbated the persistent struggles of the three clubs relegated from the Premier League but has also highlighted broader issues beyond merely adjusting to life in the second tier.
Leicester City, Ipswich Town, and Southampton all suffered defeats in midweek matches, marking the first time since the 2019-20 season that all three recently relegated teams find themselves outside the top six of the Championship at this point in the season.
As unbeaten leaders Coventry City continue to dominate, with second-placed Middlesbrough close behind, managers Marti Cifuentes, Kieran McKenna, and Will Still face significant challenges in their quest for an immediate return to the Premier League.
The Championship is known for its relentless nature, but a positive run of form can quickly propel a team up the standings. With over 100 points still available, BBC Sport explores the key factors contributing to the slow starts of these three clubs and whether they show signs of turning their fortunes around soon.
Cifuentes Expresses Frustration Over Performance
Leicester City - 8th - 11 games played - 17 points (W4, D5, L2).
Leicester City manager Marti Cifuentes did not hold back in expressing his disappointment following the team's 2-1 defeat to Hull City at the MKM Stadium. His side conceded two goals within the first half-hour, leading to a poor opening performance where they were outplayed by their opponents, despite a late attempt to salvage the match.
“It was a bad game, really bad first half. Probably the worst we have played so far this season,” Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester. “I’m not happy at all with the performance. It falls far short of the standards I expect and the vision I have for this club, which makes me very angry.”
After taking the reins at Leicester in July following the departure of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Cifuentes had limited time to prepare, with less than four weeks of pre-season and restricted to free transfers and loan signings. The departure of long-time striker Jamie Vardy to Italy has left a significant void, compounded by Patson Daka's struggles; he has not scored in 2024 and has netted just once in 45 league appearances since February 2024. In total, Daka, Jordan Ayew, and Argentine loanee Julian Carranza have managed only one goal in 27 league matches this season.
“Life for Leicester City back in the Championship hasn’t started the way they would have liked,” noted BBC Radio Leicester’s Owynn Palmer-Atkin. “This situation is quite different from the beginning of the 2023-24 campaign, where they had a stronger squad and a successful transfer window under manager Enzo Maresca, who had a full pre-season to implement his style of play.”
Palmer-Atkin continued, “This time, there was a delay before things could get underway, and Cifuentes’ late arrival has impacted his ability to effectively instill his game plan. Additionally, the squad started the season without any new outfield signings and faced uncertainty as first-team players sought transfers.”
“On the pitch, this season is one that no Leicester fan wanted to witness—a squad without Jamie Vardy. He was the player they relied on even in tough times, the one to score goals and lead the team. His absence has left an irreplaceable gap.”
McKenna Faces His Toughest Challenge Yet
Ipswich Town - 14th - 10 games played (1 abandoned) - 13 points (W3, D4, L3).
After securing their first East Anglian derby victory against Norwich City in 16 years, Ipswich Town has faced back-to-back defeats against Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic. Unlike Cifuentes, manager Kieran McKenna had the financial support to strengthen his squad over the summer, investing nearly £40 million, including record transfer signing Sindre Walle Egeli.
However, following a 3-0 defeat to Charlton, McKenna described his side's performance as “unacceptable” and has struggled to find the right combination of players to replicate the successful form from their promotion-winning campaign last season.
McKenna, who has successfully led Ipswich back to the Premier League after two decades, now faces a critical and challenging period as he nears his four-year anniversary with the club. There is a sense that he has yet to settle on his preferred starting lineup, making seven changes in the recent match against Charlton after a loss to Middlesbrough just days earlier.
“The departures of key players like Sam Morsy, Cameron Burgess, and Conor Chaplin have undoubtedly affected the team’s chemistry,” remarked BBC Suffolk’s Brenner Woolley. “These players were crucial during Ipswich’s most successful period, and McKenna is now tasked with building a new team in one of the toughest divisions in football.”
Woolley added, “While some may have viewed Ipswich as favorites for immediate promotion, the scale of the overhaul makes that a challenging prospect. If McKenna achieves promotion this season, it would be a remarkable achievement given the success he has had in his first two seasons as a manager.”