Weekend Championhip Preview

Three games to go as the promotion, play-off and relegation issues begin to get settled. At the top, West Brom could take a giant step closer promotion this weekend if results go their way. Hull, Stoke, Bristol City and Watford contest the remaining automatic place and the fixtures this weekend could make that position a lot clearer. Realistically it's Palace, Ipswich or Wolves to join the losers for second automatic place in the play-offs.

At the other end, Colchester and Scunthorpe have gone but the fight to avoid joining them takes in Leicester, Coventry, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton and Blackpool. For once we can at least breathe easy this week and watch the others suffer.

Barnsley v Leicester City

This is a critical game for Leicester as a win would probably lift them out of the bottom three and they would drag themselves within a point of Barnsley. Lose and their match at home to Sheffield Wednesday will gain relegation status with a final away game at Stoke to come. Barnsley are suffering post-cup blues but I can see them getting the win they need for safety and the Leicester nightmare continuing.

Prediction: 1-0

Blackpool v Sheffield Wednesday

Another relegation six-pointer in prospect here. This could be Blackpool's best opportunity for a further three points which could mean safety as they face Plymouth away and Watford at home in the last two. Wednesday have Leicester away and Norwich to come at home, so this is game is key for them too; they will fancy beating Norwich on the last day, although history has not been kind to them on the last day of the season previously. I'll go for the draw but favour Blackpool otherwise.

Prediction: 1-1

Colchester United v Coventry City

Coventry have Wolves at home and Charlton away in the last two, so this represents their best chance of three points. Unfortunately, relegated teams invariably play relaxed and free-flowing football which I think might be too much for Coventry.

Prediction: 2-0 - Lisbie to score again to rub salt into our wounds.

Norwich City v West Bromwich Albion

West Brom are nearly there after all these weeks of contriving to fluff it. Free from the distraction of the cup, they have buckled down to winning games and I fully expect them to do so again at Carrow Road tomorrow.

Prediction: 1-2

Plymouth Argyle v Preston North End

Like ourselves, Plymouth look to have missed the boat. At least they have two winnable home games against Preston and Blackpool before they go to Wolves on the last day. I think they will beat Preston comfortably and prolong their interest.

Prediction: 2-0

QPR v Charlton Athletic

With a tad more at stake, I could believe we are capable of getting the three points to roll on for another week. However, I believe our players saw the last real hope disappearing during the second half against Southampton and were unable to do anything about it. I can see the entire 90 minutes at Loftus Road going the same way and a QPR goal will kill us off.

Prediction: 2-0

Scunthorpe United v Cardiff City

Cardiff still have a game in hand at Wolves on Tuesday which they will believe is their opportunity to catch the play-off train. With Burnley and Barnsley after that, they should have enough incentive to beat Scunthorpe on Saturday. I think the Cup has distracted them too much to make it this year, but Dave Jones deserves a medal for the nonsense he has had to put up with down there. They don't deserve him as a manager,and I hope he gets a better offer and leaves them in the lurch next year.

Prediction:0-1

Sheffield United v Hull City

Hull need something from this game to remain in second place with Stoke and Bristol facing each other just behind them. They have a lot yet to do with Palace at home and Ipswich away but they have momentum and Phil Brown has shown how good a manager he is by motivating them to where they are. Watford probably don't deserve promotion this year, so I hope Hull can do it but they will need something here to maintain their their lead and I think they might find a re-focused Blades too sharp.

Prediction: 2-0

Southampton v Burnley

Southampton battled well last week and I will be keen to recreate the feel-good factor from beating Bristol City in their last home outing. Burnley have nothing to play for. Three points and relative saftey for the Saints.

Prediction 3-0

Stoke City v Bristol City

First of three table-topping six pointers this weekend. With Colchester away and Leicester at home to come, Stoke will be fired-up for 9 points to secure automatic promotion. They won't get a better chance than this. I think Bristol City will make it tough but I have to go for Stoke to land a knock-out blow.

Prediction: 2-1

Watford v Crystal Palace

With Scunny at home and Blackpool away, this is Watford's hardest game left and they know that they must win. That means they will need to play against themsleves as well as a confident Palace. Watford beat Palace 2-0 in the third round of the cup at Vicarage Road but I can't see them repeating that feat. A draw might be the best both sides can hope for.

Prediction: 1-1

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Ipswich Town

Alan Pardew will be praying for the draw here. I have been rooting for Ipswich in recent weeks in order to prevent Palace from making the play-offs, but I am switching my allegiance to Wolves this weekend as they have the best chance of making the last play-off place. After today they have Cardiff and Plymouth at home and Scunthorpe away. Ipswich haven't travelled well all season and Wolves might be ready for one last push. In Sylvain Ebanks-Blake they have a player who looks dtermined to take his chance of Premiership football. Town's last home game aginst Hull City at Portman Road is also looking like a potential party-pooper for them.

Prediction: 1-0

For me, it looks like it could be West Brom and Stoke straight up with Hull City missing out. Hull to be joined by Bristol City, Watford and Wolves in the play-offs. Joining Colchester and Scunthorpe on League Two next year is still wide open but Coventry, Leicester and Sheffield Wednesday have a bit more to do than the those above them and one of them looks likely to fail. How the mighty have fallen and a warning for all relegated Premier big-shots.