Coventry City host Portsmouth in a crunch relegation six-pointer as the Championship enters the home straight. Fellow strugglers Doncaster visit league leaders Southampton in their quest to avoid the drop, while Bristol City also face a tough away fixture at Middlesbrough.

Second placed Reading play host to play-off chasing Blackpool in what promises to be an entertaining encounter. West Ham travel to Burnley looking to leave their home blues behind and get their promotion push back on track. Nottingham Forest host Brighton who themselves are looking to close the gap on the top three.

 

BARNSLEY v PETERBOROUGH 15.00, Oakwell (Saturday)

A match which many believed would be a relegation six-pointer has turned out to be a mid-table clash with both sides sitting comfortably away from the drop zone. However, Keith Hill will be eager to end a run of eight defeats in nine, failing to score in the last four, to end the season on a high.

Peterborough recovered from their disappointing late defeat to Ipswich with a stunning 3-1 win over Reading in midweek as Posh continue to impress the neutrals with their attacking play and giving opportunities to lower league talent.

What to watch out for:

Paul Taylor and Tyrone Bennett are the epitome of Posh’s transfer policy – the exciting attackers making a name for themselves while causing Championship defences problems.

Possible line-ups:

Barnsley – Button, Foster, McNulty, Wiseman, Goldbourne, Done, Dawson, Doyle, Nouble, Davies, Gray

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

Recent form: Barnsley – LLDLLL; Peterborough – DLLWLW

Prediction: 1-2

 

BURNLEY v WEST HAM 15.00, Turf Moor

The Clarets suffered a disappointing defeat to Ipswich on Wednesday to make it six without a win as any faint hopes of a top-six finish all but evaporated - Eddie Howe’s side are now ten points off the play-off places.

Despite their recent home record unsettling the Upton Park faithful, the Hammers have won ten times on the road this season and their away record has underpinned their promotion push. Sam Allardyce has stood by his style in the face of criticism from a section of fans; he will need a return to the top flight in order to justify the means.

What to watch out for:

While the Hammers’ faithful call for greater width and pace in their side, that is exactly the approach their claret rivals use. The clash of styles will be one for the tactically tuned in football fan.

Possible line-ups:

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

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

Recent form: Burnley – LLDLDL; West Ham – DWDDDD

Prediction: 1-1

 

COVENTRY v PORTSMOUTH 15.00, Ricoh Arena

A last-gasp draw against Cardiff earned Coventry just their fifth away point of the season, leaving the Sky Blues just three points from Bristol City on the other side of the relegation zone. Andy Thorn’s men are unbeaten in their last four home games.

Portsmouth gave themselves a survival lifeline with a shock 4-1 win over promotion chasers Birmingham ending a prolonged winless streak. A win over 22nd placed Coventry would pull Pompey closer to safety going into the last eight games of the season.

What to watch out for:

Goal difference – Pompey’s reasons for being bottom is they have a vastly superior goal difference to their rivals, minus 3 at the time of writing; this could be key to their closing position to this season.

Possible line-ups:

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

Portsmouth – Ashdown, Ward, Rocha, Pearce, Halford, Ben-Haim, Allan, Norris, Thorne, Maguire, Varney

Recent form: Coventry – WLDWDD; Portsmouth – DLLLDW

Prediction: 1-0

 

DERBY v CRYSTAL PALACE 15.00, Pride Park

After long winning and losing runs this season, Nigel Clough will have found some strange comfort in the Rams’ recent inconsistency. They sit seven points off the top-six and barring a consistent winning run and some favourable results elsewhere, it has been another season of quiet progress for Derby.

Just a point and a place above the Rams, Palace go into this on a ten-match unbeaten run. However, just three of those have resulted in wins and the Eagles have scored just five goals in open play this year. The jewel in the crown, Wilfried Zaha, serves the last match of his ban.

What to watch out for:

Dougie Freedman has revealed he spent time in Italy studying the Italian approach to tactics; 16 clean sheets and a lack of goals could bare testimony to that – will he loosen the shackles in the closing stages of the season?

Possible line-ups:

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

Palace – Speroni, Clyne, McCarthy, Gardner, Parr, Dikagoi, Jedinak, Scannell, Martin, Ambrose, Easter

Recent form: Derby – DWDWWL; Palace – DWDDDW

Prediction: 0-0

 

LEICESTER CITY v HULL CITY 15.00, KP Stadium

Nigel Pearson faces his former side following a thrilling 3-3 draw against Blackpool. Jermaine Beckford has done little to justify his £3.5million price-tag since his move from Everton, but the Foxes faithful will be hoping his brace against Blackpool is the turning point.

Hull dropped out of the top six as their 11-game unbeaten run ended at the hands of Southampton in midweek. The Tigers have kept the most clean sheets in the division and this has been a key feature of their play-off push; a win could see them go fourth.

What to watch out for:

The master meets his apprentice on the touchline in this match; Nick Barmby seems to have picked up Nigel Pearson’s knack for making sides hard to beat – the latter will be looking to instil this into his Foxes side going forward.

Possible line-ups:

Leicester – Schmeichel, Peltier, St Ledger, Morgan, Konchesky, Danns, Drinkwater, Wellens, Dyer, Nugent, Beckford

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

Recent form: Leicester – WWLLWD; Hull – DDDWDL

Prediction: 1-1

 

MIDDLESBROUGH v BRISTOL CITY 15.00, Riverside Stadium

Boro recovered from back-to-back defeats to earn a deserved point at West Ham and hang onto their top six place. Tony Mowbray’s side will need to find a greater cutting edge in the closing weeks of the season as look to secure a play-off place.

Just the one win in 11 for the Robins in their battle to avoid the drop; they are currently four points clear but have played a game more than the sides around them. Derek McInnes mini-revival was short lived and their season of struggle will hinge on whether one of the bottom three can string a few results together.

What to watch out for:

Bristol City have the second poorest goals for column in the division and this will need to change if they are to avoid dropping into League One.

Possible line-ups:

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

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

Recent form: Middlesbrough – LWWLLD; Bristol City – LLWLDL

Prediction: 2-0

 

MILLWALL v LEEDS 15.00, The New Den

Millwall’s survival chances took a huge boost with a convincing 3-0 win at Doncaster, as Darius Henderson scored his 19th goal of the season. The Lions are now nine points from danger and with just eight games to go, the New Den is breathing a little easier.

Leeds are six points from the play-offs but will have to show real bouncebackability if they are to gatecrash the top six after a shocking 7-3 home defeat to Nottingham Forest. The Whites came back from 3-1 down to level, but still conceded a further four goals on the night.

What to watch out for:

When a Neil Warnock side gets hammered, they have a habit of coming out fighting – expect an organised and disciplined defensive performance from his side.

Possible line-ups:

Millwall – Taylor, Smith, Ward, Robinson, Craig, Henry, Abdou, Montgomery, Kane, Henderson, Keogh

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

Recent form: Millwall – WLWLLW; Leeds – DLDWDL

Prediction: 0-2

 

NOTTINGHAM FOREST v BRIGHTON 15.00, City Ground

Four wins from seven have pulled Forest clear of immediate danger of relegation – the Reds sit six points clear with a game in hand. Fresh from scoring seven at Elland Road, Steve Cotterill will be determined his sides breaks the 40-point barrier here.

Brighton are one of the division’s form teams and with eight games left, their purple patch could not have come at a better time. The Gus Bus momentum has seen them lose just once in their last 14 games, putting Albion into fourth place.

What to watch out for:

Garath McCleary scored four goals in midweek for Forest – can the winger repeat the achievement in front of his own fans?

Possible line-ups:

Forest – Camp, Lynch, Cunningham, Chambers, Gunter, Moussi, Guedioura, McCleary, Majewski, Reid, Blackstock

Brighton – Brezovan, Mattock, Greer, Dunk, Calderon, Navarro, Bridcutt, Vincente, Noone, Barnes, Voakes

Recent form: Forest – WDLWLW; Brighton – WDDWLW

Prediction: 1-2

 

READING v BLACKPOOL 15.00, Madejski Stadium

Reading stay second despite suffering their first defeat in 11 outings in midweek. With just two points between the Royals and third placed West Ham, Brian McDermott will need to keep his side focused going into the final push.

A midweek point against Leicester ensured Blackpool go into the weekend in the top six as they seek an instant return to the top flight. Blackpool are the league’s top scorers away from home this season but to counter this, they also have the third leakiest defence on the road this season, conceding 33 goals.

What to watch out for:

Two veterans go head to head on the pitch here, each looking to get their side back to the Premier League. Kevin Phillips and Jason Roberts are both key to their club’s ambitions.

Possible line-ups:

Reading – Federici, Leigertwood, Pearce, Gorkss, Harte, McAnuff, Karacan, Mullins, Kebe, Hunt, Roberts

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

Recent form: Reading – WWWDWL; Blackpool – WDLLWD

Prediction: 2-2

 

SOUTHAMPTON v DONCASTER 15.00, St. Mary’s

The Saints have a five point lead at the top of the division as they close in on promotion. They will be confident of a win over relegation threatened Doncaster, having picked up a massive 45 points at home so far. Forward Rickie Lambert is just two goals away from reaching 30 for the season.

Donny have just three wins on the road this season and one win in their last 12 games overall. However, in that run, they picked up points against Reading and West Ham, giving Dean Saunders confidence of causing an upset at Southampton.

What to watch out for:

Jos Hooiveld, who scored for the Saints midweek, just reward for a defender whose excellent season has been over shadowed by his attacking colleagues.

Possible line-ups:

Southampton – Davis, Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox, Guly, Schneiderlin, Hammond, Lallana, Lambert, Sharp

Doncaster – Ikeme, Chimbonda, Beye, Hird, Spurr, Barnes, Gillett, Coppinger, Diouf, Piquionne, Hayter

Recent form: Southampton – WWDWWW; Doncaster – DWDDLL

Prediction: 3-0

 

WATFORD v IPSWICH 15.00, Vicarage Road

Watford’s five match unbeaten run has seen them go beyond the 50 point mark and the Hornets can prepare for next season as the current campaign winds down. Sean Dyche’s side have added some guile to their early season graft; a demonstrable sign of progress.

Like the hosts, Ipswich have gone past 50 points and after flirting with a relegation fight earlier in the season, they are also on a five match undefeated streak.

What to watch out for:

With nothing to play for, both sides may be in an experimental phase – look out for some new talent which could be on show.

Possible line-ups:

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

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

Recent form: Watford – LWDDDW; Ipswich – LWDDWW

Prediction: 2-1

 

BIRMINGHAM CITY v CARDIFF CITY 12.00, St. Andrew’s (Sunday)

Following a mid-season push for promotion, Blues have stuttered of late and have just one win in six at this crucial juncture. Tuesday’s 4-1 defeat at bottom side Pompey, after taking the lead no less, will have done little to restore confidence within the camp.

Cardiff’s Carling Cup hangover continues – Malky Mackay’s men have gone from challenging the top two to just two wins in 12, dropping to eight in the division. Two points eluded them late in midweek as Coventry levelled in injury time.

What to watch out for:

It’s seventh against eighth in this clash, with the winner likely to be in the top six come Sunday afternoon. It will be interesting to see which of these sides is more likely to maintain a play-off place as the season’s end nears.

Possible line-ups:

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

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

Recent form: Birmingham – LDDLWL; Cardiff – LDWLDD

Prediction: 1-1

 

 

Tags: Birmingham City, Blackpool, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bristol City, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Gus Poyet, Leicester City, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, Sam Allardyce, Southampton, West Ham United