Weekend Championship Preview

Back to business this weekend and a chance for the Addicks to cut the gap on some of the teams above us. I will be with you in spirit but will be at Borough Briggs to see Elgin City take on Albion Rovers in the Scottish 3rd Division. The sides sit 6th and 7th respectively so I am expecting a good game. I know the Albion Chairman, so there will be an added interest for me - full report to follow!

Meanwhile, here's how I see things panning out in the Championship.....

Barnsley v Norwich City

Norwich are picking up but Barnsley still have realistic play-off ambitions. They should be too strong at home for Norwich.

Prediction; 2-0

Bristol City v Colchester

Oh what we'd give to see Colchester win two away games in succession. Alas, they won't find Bristol City falling over themselves to concede a goal and I expect all of the play to be in the visitors half.

Prediction; 2-0

Burnley v Plymouth Argyle

Burnley have a terrible home record, having only won two games at Turf Moor. This has prevented them from competing for automatic promotion. Plymouth are on something of a roll under Paul Sturrock and I can see them getting something tomorrow.

Prediction; 1-1

Cardiff City v Sheffield Wednesday

Ooh-er, where do we go here? I'll plump for the home form based purely on Cardiff's decent Christmas. Dave Jones looks to have settled the home fans and now needs some good news from the Board in terms of the bigger financial picture and impending court case which could put them in serious trouble.

Prediction; 2-1

Charlton Athletic v Blackpool

Another potential banana skin but I think we should have enough momentum from the West Brom game to get a long awaited victory. Surely Pards will have learnt his lesson from starting 4-5-1 against Colchester and will go 4-4-2 from the off. If Chris Dickson gets more than 20 minutes I'll go for him opening his account. Luke Varney or Chris Iwelumo can chip in with the other.

Prediction; 2-0

Hull City v West Bromwich Albion

West Brom can be beaten away from home but I can't see Hull having enough about them here.

Prediction; 0-1

Ipswich Town v Stoke City

Ideally we would want a draw here and there's every chance of it. Ipswich look invincible at home but Stoke are going great guns and will fight all the way.

Prediction; 1-1

Leicester City v Coventry City

Midlands derby and Leicester are traditional strong in these. However, they have been struggling of late and Ian Holloway's impact hasn't been what Milan would have hoped for. He will also be in the midst of bringing in a queue of new players and Coventry can capitalise on the uncertainty.

Prediction; 0-2

Preston North End v Watford

Watford to coast it here. Marlon King will be cock-a-hoop with Premiership transfer speculation and a £4m+ offer for him; I can see him opening and closing the scoring.

Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield United v QPR

Exciting times at Loftus Road with better quality players beginning to arrive in numbers. They will be a threat next season. Sheffield United's inconsistency has cost them automatic promotion hopes and they look like contriving to miss the play-offs this year.

Prediction; 1-1

Southampton v Scunthorpe United

Southampton either win comfortably at home or get lose 1-0. The first goal might be key and I can see Saints getting it and winning well.

Prediction; 3-0

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crystal Palace

Come on Wolves! I want to be at least 3 points clear of Palace when we play them next month. I expect us to do the double over them but I don't want the ignomy of the them potentially leap-frogging us in the event of another Valley disaster. Palace are on form, but a reversal here would be two in succession and might serve to properly burst the Warnock bubble.

Prediction; 2-0