The headline clash in the Championship this weekend is at St. Andrew’s where Birmingham host Middlesbrough as two recent top flight sides battle it out for a return to the big time. Southampton look to extend their lead at the top as they visit Millwall, whereas Reading and West Ham face tricky trips to Yorkshire to face Barnsley and Leeds respectively.

Troubled Portsmouth host Bristol City in a crucial encounter at the other end of the table while Doncaster could climb out of the bottom three with a win at home to Derby.

 

BARNSLEY v READING 15.00, Oakwell (Saturday)

The feeling of mid-table security may have sent the Tykes into a comfort zone – they have picked up just one win in thier last eight games. Goals are starting to become a problem for Keith Hill’s men with just four in the last seven games. Fortunately they have a 12 point buffer between them and the relegation places so the recent run is not sounding too many alarms.

Reading’s sparkling form has seen them rise up to second spot and if results go their way this weekend the Royals could sit top of the league. Eight wins on the bounce were followed by a disappointing draw at Doncaster, yet Brian McDermott’s men have the momentum that could seem them claim an automatic promotion spot.

What to watch out for:

Captain Jobi McAnuff has been the creative spark in Reading’s recent run, the experienced winger crafting opportunities for Reading’s busy front men.

Possible line-ups:

Barnsley – Steele, Foster, McNulty, Wiseman, McEveley, Done, Dawson, Doyle, Dagnall, Davies, Nouble

Reading – Federici, Cummings, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, McAnuff, Karacan, Leigertwood, Robson-Kanu, Hunt, Roberts

Recent form: Barnsley – WLLDLL; Reading – WWWWWD

Prediction: 1-2

 

BIRMINGHAM v MIDDLESBROUGH 15.00, St.Andrew’s

After an excellent run of form, the Blues have had the carpet pulled from under them in recent weeks with just one win in their last six games and a Midlands derby defeat at the hands of Leicester in midweek. A win here for Chris Hughton’s side could see them jump four places to fourth.

Boro currently occupy that fourth place and have won four of their last six as they look to regain their early season form. A disappointing defeat at home to Leeds last weekend saw Barry Robson sent off meaning the midfield engine room will miss his services for the next three crucial matches.

What to watch out for:

Andros Townsend ditched Leeds for Birmingham for a loan spell from Spurs; the quick footed winger hasn’t hit his stride at St. Andrew’s yet but his moment will come soon.

Possible line-ups:

Birmingham – Myhill, Ramage, Caldwell, Davies, Spector, Burke, N’daw, Mutch, Townsend, Huseklepp, King

Middlesbrough – Steele, Hoyte, Bates, Hines, Bennett, Hammill, Thomson, Haroun, Smallwood, Jutkiewicz, Emnes

Recent form: Birmingham – DWLDDL; Middlesbrough – WWLWWL

Prediction: 2-2

 

BLACKPOOL v BRIGHTON 15.00, Bloomfield Road

Back-to-back defeats for Ian Holloway’s side have seen Blackpool drop out of the play-off places, weeks after looking like they could challenge the top two. With ten games left, the Tangerines will look to reignite their season and build momentum similar to that which took them to the top flight two years ago.

Brighton’s unbeaten run was extended to 12 after last week’s comfortable 2-0 win over Portsmouth and the Gus Bus looks to be motoring just at the right time of the season. Victory over play-off rivals here could provide a cushion to Albion’s play-off place.

What to watch out for:

Vincente put his injury nightmare behind him to fire Brighton to their last win and the experienced winger could be a timely boost to his side’s play-off hopes.

Possible line-ups:

Blackpool – Gilks, Cathcart, Crainey, Evatt, Baptiste, Taylor-Fletcher, Sylvestre, Ferguson, M Phillips, K Phillips, Ince

Brighton – Brezovan, Mattock, Greer, El-Abd, Jara, Navarro, Bridcutt, Razak, Noone, Barnes, Mackail-Smith

Recent form: Blackpool – WLWDLL; Brighton – DDWDDW

Prediction: 2-2

 

CRYSTAL PALACE v HULL 15.00, Selhurst Park

Palace are unbeaten in eight now but still require a momentum shift above them to creep into the play-off places. Teenager Wilfred Zaha won Football League Young Player of the Year last week, but a rush of blood saw a red card which means the key attacker misses the Eagles next three encounters.

Nick Barmby’s Tigers are now back in the top six on the back of a nine game unbeaten run. A convincing 3-0 success over Cardiff has made people take notice of the improving side as the hometown manager looks to inspire Hull to a top flight return.

What to watch out for:

Jonathan Williams, dubbed Joniesta by his Crystal Palace teammates, is back from a broken leg and the attacking midfielder could return to the Eagles line-up.

Possible line-ups:

Palace – Speroni, Parr, McCarthy, Gardner, Moxey, Jedinak, O’Keefe, Scannell, Martin, Ambrose, Murray

Hull – Mannone, Rosenior, Chester, Hobbs, Dawson, Stewart, McKenna, Evans, Koren, McLean, Fryatt

Recent form: Palace – DWDWDD; Hull – DDDDDW

Prediction: 1-0

 

DONCASTER v DERBY 15.00, Keepmoat Stadium

Donny are unbeaten in five now, including matches against in form Brighton, West Ham and Reading. Just three points from safety with a vital game in hand, a win over an out of sorts Derby could see Dean Saunders outfit climb out of the bottom three.

Derby’s season seems to be settling for mid-table now after a jittery run which sees them eight points from the top six. After recent indifferent results, Nigel Clough was boosted by his side’s win over East Midlands rivals Nottingham Forest in the week.

What to watch out for:

El-Hadj Diouf and Fred Piquionne form two of Donny’s attacking three – their pace and experience could fire Doncaster to safety.

Possible line-ups:

Doncaster – Doncaster – Ikeme, Chimbonda, Beye, Martis, Spurr, Barnes, Gillett, Coppinger, Diouf, Piquionne, Bennett

Derby – Fielding, Bryson, Barker, Shackell, Roberts, B Davies, Hendick, Carroll, Green, S Davies, Robinson

Recent form: Doncaster – LDDWDD; Derby – LLDWDW

Prediction: 2-1

 

IPSWICH v PETERBOROUGH 15.00, Portman Road

Just one defeat in six for the Tractor Boys including three clean sheets demonstrate the turnaround that Paul Jewell has overseen at Ipswich this season. Draws against promotion chasers Southampton and Hull show they are harder to beat than earlier this season and it should serve as a lesson to trigger happy Championship chairmen to stand by their manager.

Peterborough gained an excellent three points with a win over Blackpool to ease fears Posh could get dragged into the relegation scrap – the win was just their second in 12 matches.

What to watch out for:

Paul Taylor is an exciting attacker and key outlet for Darren Ferguson’s side and has attracted Premier League interest.

Possible line-ups:

Ipswich – McCarthy, Leadbitter, Delaney, Smith, Cresswell, Edwards, Emmanuel-Thomas, Drury, Martin, Murphy, Chopra

Peterborough – Jones, Little, Alcock, Zakuani, Briggs, Sinclair, Rowe, McCann, Boyd, Barnett, Taylor

Recent form: Ipswich – WWLWDD; Peterborough – LWDLLW

Prediction: 2-1

 

LEEDS v WEST HAM 15.00, Elland Road

Leeds got their first goals and first win under Neil Warnock against Middlesbrough last weekend and with just four points between them and the top six, the club’s sights are firmly set on gatecrashing the play-offs. Robert Snodgrass has enjoyed a productive season to date and seemed to enjoy the extra freedom afforded by his manager last time out.

The Hammers have dropped out of the automatic promotion places and a consistent run of form is needed in the last 10 games to get back to the top flight at the first time of asking. West Ham have drawn three out of four and the six dropped points could be costly at the end of the season.

What to watch out for:

Two active and passionate managers in the respective dug outs on Saturday – the fourth official will have his hands (and ears) full.

Possible line-ups:

Leeds – Lonergan, Connolly, Lees, O’Dea, Robinson, Snodgrass, Clayton, Brown, Pugh, Becchio, McCormack

West Ham – Green, Collins, Faye, Tomkins, McCartney, Collison, Nolan, Noble, Vaz Te, Maynard, Cole

Recent form: Leeds – LWDLDW; West Ham – DWDWDD

Prediction: 1-1

 

MILLWALL v SOUTHAMPTON 15.00, New Den

Defeat to fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest last weekend will have reignited some relegation nerves for Millwall who are now just six points and three places from the bottom three. A win here would take the Lions to the 40 point mark for the season.

Southampton lead the three horse race for the title and sit a pretty ten points from fourth place – evidence that their mid-season jitter was no more than a slight stutter. The Saints are currently on a nine game unbeaten run and are inching closer to a top flight return.

What to watch out for:

Rickie Lambert already has 25 goals this season and he will be looking to get closer to the 30 goal mark in this match.

Possible line-ups:

Millwall – Forde, Dunne, Robinson, Ward, Barron, Henry, Abdou, Wright, Bouazza, Keogh, Kane

Southampton – Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Harding, Guly, Schneiderlin, Hammond, Lallana, Lambert, Lee

Recent form: Millwall – DLWLWL; Southampton – DWWWDW

Prediction: 0-2

 

PORTSMOUTH v BRISTOL CITY 15.00, Fratton Park

Pompey prop up the table and the gap to safety is eight points. Administration has meant another mainstay of the team, Hayden Mullins has left on loan leaving Michael Appleton’s men even shorter on the ground. Portsmouth have not won in seven, losing five matches along the way.

Bristol City could join Portsmouth in the bottom three if they lose at Fratton Park. The Robins sit just three points above the drop zone having played a game more than Doncaster who sit immediatly below them. City have lost seven of their last nine games and picked up just four points in this troubled period.

What to watch out for:

The versatile Jamie Ward who has played in three positions for Pompey this season. He is a key member of the side but could find himself leaving the club on loan in the near future to save costs.

Possible line-ups:

Portsmouth – Ashdown, Ward, Rocha, Pearce, Halford, Mokoena, Allan, Norris, Thorne, Futacs, Varney

Bristol City – James, Fontaine, Carey, McManus, McAllister, Woolford, Foster, Cisse, Pearson, Stead, Pitman

Recent form: Porsmouth – LLDLLL; Bristol City – DLLLWL

Prediction: 0-0

 

WATFORD v COVENTRY 15.00, Vicarage Road

The Hornets have lost just twice in seven as Sean Dyche’s side continue to make steady progress in a season of transition at Vicarage Road and they could reach the magical 50 point mark with three points against relegation-threatened Coventry.

The Sky Blues are yet to register a win on the road this season and have picked up the sum total of three points on their travels to date. They are four points from safety so cannot rely on their home form to propel them out of the bottom three.

What to watch out for:

On loan from Manchester City, Alex Nimely has shown glimpses of his potential but not backed this up with consistency. #

Possible line-ups:

Watford – Kuszczak, Doyley, Nosworthy, Mariappa, Dickinson, Kacaniklic, Eustace, Hogg, Murray, Deeney, Garner

Coventry – Murphy, Keogh, Cranie, Clarke, Cameron, Baker, Clingan, Norwood, McSheffrey, Nimely, McDonald

Recent form: Watford – WLLWDD; Coventry – WLWLDW

Prediction: 2-0

 

CARDIFF v BURNLEY 15.00, Cardiff City Stadium (Sunday)

The Carling Cup adventure hangover continues for Cardiff; since booking their place at Wembley, the Bluebirds have lost six of the nine games they have played winning just once. Malky Mackay will be desperate for his charges to find their previous form to arrest the slide which has seen Cardiff slip from third to seventh.

Burnley’s form is not too different to Cardiff’s; Eddie Howe’s side have won just once in their last seven and the play-off challenge seems to have all but fizzled out. Jay Rodriguez remains on the radar of Premier League managers highlighted by the striker being voted by Championship managers as one of ten best in the league.

What to watch out for:

Two of the most promising young managers in the Football League come head to head, both in the middle of a poor run of form. How they come out of this form could be key to their managerial development.

Possible line-ups:

Cardiff – Marshall, McNaughton, Hudson, Turner, Taylor, Lawrence, Whittingham, Cowie, Gunnarsson, Mason, Miller

Burnley – Grant, Tripper, Duff, Edgar, Mee, McQuoid, Marney, McCann, Wallace, Austin, Rodriguez

Recent form: Cardiff – LWLLDL; Burnley – LWLLLD

Prediction: 2-1

 

 

Tags: Birmingham City, Blackpool, Chris Hughton, Crystal Palace, Doncaster Rovers, Leeds United, Leicester City, Neil Warnock, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Reading, Sam Allardyce, Southampton, West Ham United