5 Things We Learnt From This Weeks Championship Fixtures

After another eventful weekend of Championship football its time to analyse who's defying expectations and who's struggling to get anywhere near pre-season aspirations? Five things learnt from this weeks Championship fixtures...

· Leeds United Still Have Some Issues

In the early afternoon Saturday kick-off, Leeds absolutely battered Derby 1-1. The home side took the lead in the 20th minute through a Max Lowe own goal and looked set to add a few more throughout the game. However, come the 91st minute Leeds had failed to make 63% possession pay, as forgotten man Chris Martin found an equalizer and sent the away end delirious. It was a familiar story for Bielsa's men who yet again wasted chance after chance, including a missed penalty from Polish international Mateusz Klich, to allow Derby a point at Elland Road.

Upon his contract renewal in the summer, Bielsa said he knew what went wrong last season and he knew how to fix it. However, if the points dropped by Leeds this season are anything to go by, he's not fixed it yet. If the Whites continue to squander games they dominate, surely the better teams will begin to pick them off. Currently, they remain top and thus it seems silly to question United, but fans have left Elland Road deflated this season as their home form features two draws and a loss from four games.

There's no doubt Leeds will be up there when the season concludes next May, but it could be another needlessly nervy season for the West Yorkshire outfit.

· Preston North End Are This Seasons Dark Horses

Every season Championship fans are surprised as a team who weren't expected to be in and around the top six in May find themselves defying the odds sitting in a play-off spot. Preston are making strides towards being that team this year.

Preston North End are enjoying a magnificent start to the season, sitting in third with five wins from their first eight games. An away trip to Birmingham was never going to be easy but after an eventful 90 minutes which saw two penalty claims turned down, the visitors travelled back to the North West with three points on the board. Alex Neil has been at the helm for North End for over two years now and his side seem to be constantly improving. They have a relatively young squad yet plenty of Championship experience. With Gallagher and Pearson protecting the back four in midfield and an interchangeable attack of Barkhuizen, Maguire, Harrop, and Johnson, North End will cause problems for any team this season.

· Brentford Are Struggling to Live Up to Their Potential

For the past few years Brentford have been tipped as outsiders for a play-off spot. Last season they started off as one of the leagues brighter teams, competing with Leeds in the top two. However, they stumbled down the table and the departing of gaffer Dean Smith to Aston Villa saw the bees finish the season in 11th.

This year, even more expectation was placed on the London club. Pontus Jansson made the switch south and was handed the captains armband, which coupled with Ollie Watkins remaining at the club meant Brentford fans were hopeful for the upcoming season. However, fast forward eight games into the season and Brentford have just been held at home by bottom of the season Stoke. Stoke had also conceded the most goals in the league, therefore Brentford fans leaving Griffin Park after watching a 0-0 on Saturday were rightfully angered at their team's lacklustre performance.

Brentford now sit 17th, with only two wins to their name. If the Bees want to live up to any pre-season hype, their form needs a drastic turnaround very soon.

· Huddersfield Are Still in Trouble

The Cowley Brothers arrived in West Yorkshire two weeks ago and already have a mountain to climb at the recently relegated club. Huddersfield Town are rock bottom, winless, and the joint worst defence in the league. This was highlighted live on TV on Sunday as they conceded four to West Brom.

Whilst signs were promising with the Terries 2-1 up during the first half, the team capitulated and subsequently left the Black Country empty handed. The appointment of Cowley is a difficult one to call. On one hand, the young manager has proved his worth at Lincoln, leading them from the wilderness of non-league into battling for promotion in League One. However, he has never managed at this level, and never managed a club the size of Huddersfield. The squad contains players on big wages with big egos. Huddersfield will be in a relegation battle this season which is something Cowley or most his players are yet to experience. Only time will tell if he is the man to save Town, but as things stand times are hard for Huddersfield.

· Charlton's Dream Start Is Over

Incredibly, before the international break Charlton found themselves sitting in the top two and unbeaten. Lee Bowyer's side were dead on favourites for relegation, no one had predicted that kind of start.

However, two weeks later they've dropped down to eighth and have lost their last two. This weekend saw The Addicks slump to a 2-0 loss at Wigan, and things are surely only going to get worse for the London club. They failed to threaten Wigan until the closing minutes of the game and when a centre back scores a brace, as Che Dunkley did, it demonstrates an easy victory for the home side. Charlton's side does combine experience and youth in the correct fashion, yet its hard to pick a player that any other Championship side would take into their starting eleven. For this reason, its difficult to see Charlton replicating their early season form at any later stage in the season, and thus they're expected to be in a relegation battle come May.