Monday, 24 November 2008

Midweek Championship Preview, Game 19

It will be very interesting to see how Charlton play tomorrow night at QPR. I think you will be able to tell inside 45 minutes just how much of a factor Alan Pardew has been on results. It will also throw a big light on whether or not Phil Parkinson commands enough respect from the players to have any serious chance of holding on to the Manager's post longer term. In another full programme, here's who else is playing whom...

Birmingham and Wolves are looking increasingly like the automatic promotion candidates. If City can follow-up their fine 3-2 away win at Swansea with another three points here, they might extend their lead over Reading to five points. Kevin Phillips to strike again.
Prediction; 2-0

Wednesday blew up at home to Coventry on Saturday and I can see them going down here as well. They have managed only five points away from home out of a possible 27.
Prediction; 1-0

Watford waved goodbye to Malky McKay with a 3-0 win over QPR on Saturday. Brendan Rodgers is a surprise appointment and hardly awe-inspiring. I can see him starting with a defeat at City.
Prediction; 2-0

Play-off dogfight and Reading will want to recover from a surprise home defeat to Southampton. Cardiff too went down at Plymouth and I will go for them to grind out another home win here.
Prediction; 1-0

Both of these sides are unpredictable. Coventry have lost more at home than away and Swansea have been playing well away from the Liberty Stadium. A draw looks a decent bet.
Prediction; 1-1

Derby County v Preston NE
Derby have been faltering of late but this is a great opportunity to stop the rot and catch-up with the play-off chasers.
Prediction; 2-1

They had to play each other sooner or later, so the gap between them and us looks like narrowing one way or the other. If Doncaster are going to win another home match this year, it looks like this one. 
Prediction; 2-0

Good win for Palace over Bristol City on Saturday. Warnock will be looking for a charge between now and Christmas if they are to have any chance of emulating last year's play-off feat. Norwich won with ten men at Forest and will be eyeing unlikely back-to-back wins. A point each looks likely.
Prediction; 1-1

Intriguing match in prospect here. It should be a straightforward home win but the QPR team slumped to a 3-0 defeat at Watford on Saturday in Paulo Sousa's first match in charge. They had three booked and Fitz Hall dismissed as well. Ironically enough, the game mirrors QPR's win at the Valley last season when they arrived with Mick Harford in caretaker mode and bottom of the table. We were flying high and fell flat on our faces. There's hope here but it will depend on how the players react to Parkinson. I've got to go with the home win and assume Parkinson won't be seen as much of a change and that it will take someone fresh to get our side concentrating and playing as a team for 90 minutes.
Prediction; 2-0

Hum-dinger on the cards here. Wolves are flying and will travel here to have a go. United are up to fourth and will be buzzing after Saturday. United have a mean home defence but have now scored more goals away. Kevin Beattie to get the winner.
Prediction; 2-1

Southampton v Plymouth Argyle
Southampton's win at Reading was their fourth away win this season. At home they boast the poorest form in the division with only six points from 27. Argyle will fancy this although Saints might have enough for a draw.
Prediction; 1-1

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