High flying Coventry face off against desperate Derby County as unbeaten Bournemouth face the Terriers.
After being just over a quarter of the season the table is starting to shape up nicely. It’s tight at the top as there are only seven points between West Bromwich Albion in third place to Blackpool in mid-table (twelfth) .
Top of the table Bournemouth face Huddersfield at the Vitality Stadium this weekend with the away side hoping for an upset.
The Cherries have had an excellent start to the season whilst being the only club to still be undefeated in the football league this campaign. They will hope to build on this sensational start with a home win against their promotion rivals.
Having won their last three successive games, they will hope to extend their lead at the top of the table.
After failing to return to the top-flight at the first time of asking last season, the Cherries hope their new manager Scott Parker can have the same success he had with Fulham two seasons ago.
Huddersfield are going under the radar as they sit in the last of the play-off positions with a good string of results.
The Yorkshire side sit sixth in the table but are hoping they can improve on their midweek draw against Birmingham City when facing the lead leaders. Dropping points on the south coast could give up their place in the play-off positions.
High flying Coventry face off against desperate Derby County
Favourites to get relegated Coventry are continuing to prove fans up and down the country wrong as they are fourth in the table after a sensational start to the season. They are only three points away from the automatic spots and will hope to get another win when facing their midland’s counterpart which will apply pressure to the top two.
The Rams have struggled all season on and off the pitch from financial issues, points deduction and lack of first team players. Wayne Rooney’s side are without a win in three matches and only sit on four points and bottom of the league. The 35-year-old will be desperate to pick up some vital points this weekend.
Nottingham Forest vs Fulham
After making a terrible start to the season recent results suggest new manager Steve Cooper has steadied the ship. The Midlands side have won their last four games in a row and will hope for the same when facing strong outfit Fulham when they visit the City Ground on Sunday.
Fulham will have a boost after seeing their captain Tom Cairney return after a long period on the side-lines and hooping back into the automatic places. The returning midfielder scored midweek as they breezed past strugglers Cardiff City 2-0. Alexander Mitrovic is currently the league’s top goal scorer on thirteen goals in as many appearances. The Cottagers will be looking to close the gap on Sunday if Bournemouth slip up against Huddersfield.
Barnsley vs Sheff United
Unfortunately for Barnsley they are not reciprocating their form from last season where they finished in the play-off places. They have lost their last five games in a row and sit second from bottom. They will hope to change their fortunes around when the host fellow Yorkshire side Sheffield United on Sunday.
Sheffield United have had mixed fortunes since returning to the Championship as they currently sit 17th. The Blades will hope to bounce back from their defeat to Millwall last time out.
Birmingham vs Swansea
Birmingham have been struggling as of late and will be hoping to catch a break so they can push up the league. The pressure is certainly increasing on Blue’s boss Lee Bowyer after a long period of poor results.
Swansea will be hoping to build on their win against promotion hopefuls West Bromwich Albion from last time out which will close the gap between themselves and the playoff places.
Blackburn vs Reading
The home side have failed to have any form of late but will turn to Chilean striker Ben Brereton Diaz after impressing for the South America national team in their most recent World Cup Qualifiers.
The Royals have quietly been going about their business and a win would put pressure on the rest of the following pack fighting for a play-off spot.
Blackpool vs Preston
The two sides face off in the West Lancashire derby with both teams needing to claim the bragging rights. Blackpool have been on a great run of late and only sit within a win of the top six spots.
The away side are hovering above the relegation zone and a defeat will drop them deeper into trouble.
Cardiff vs Middlesbrough
Another defeat for the Welsh side this weekend could see the end of manager Mick McCarthy as Cardiff are on their worst losing run since 1934.
Middlesbrough will be hoping to build on their midweek win against Barnsley.
Luton vs Hull
Having finished midtable last campaign Luton are having quite the season this time around and a win against their struggling opponents will continue their brilliant start to the season.
Millwall vs Stoke
After losing his 100th game in charge Michael O’Neil will be hoping to bounce back from midweek’s defeat against top of the table Bournemouth. The Potters’ manager will be eager to get back to winning ways which could see them return into the top six.
Millwall’s ‘The Den’ is always an intimidating place to visit for any side and will hope they can leapfrog their promotion rivals in the table by picking up all the points.
Peterborough vs QPR
New boys Peterborough go into their game against QPR as huge underdogs as their opponents have made an excellent start to the campaign. However, Darren Ferguson’s men picked up a crucial win against fellow strugglers Hull in the week which will give them confidence going into this London match-up.
West Brom vs Bristol City
West Brom have been reformed since the arrival of new manager Val Ismal. Since their relegation back into the Championship they have been a breath of fresh air but will be hungry to turn their fortunes around from midweeks defeat to Swansea.
Bristol City will be ambitious to grab all the points this weekend when travelling to the Midlands as they don’t want to be dragged into a relegation battle.
By Jack Bunclark
