Birmingham City v Cardiff City
Third versus fifth here and all the pressure will be on Birmingham. They are three points behind Reading with a game in hand but can't afford to lose ground in home games. Cardiff have only lost twice away all season although their eight draws on the road are possibly points dropped in their promotion challenge.
Prediction; 1-1
Bristol City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves need to bounce back after their surprise home defeat by Preston. City have been no great shakes at home this year and might find this a struggle.
Prediction; 0-2
Coventry City v Blackpool
Toughie this as it really could go either way. Chris Coleman must be pulling his hair out over Coventry's inconsistency this year. Both of these clubs are middle-of-the-road Championship sides at the moment and home advanatge might tell.
Prediction; 2-1
Crystal Palace v Ipswich Town
Neil Warnock is keeping Palace's season alive in both the league and the Cup. They are handily placed in eight and he will tell his players before they run out that a win here would give them a seven point cushion over Town. I think this will be a close game but the Eagles may edge it.
Prediction; 2-1
Derby County v QPR
County under Clough and he got the best of all possible starts by beating the Premier League and European Champions in midweek. Pride park will be cock-a-hoop and expectant this week and I can see them seing off a QPR side that has flattered to deceive this season.
Prediction; 2-0
Norwich City v Barnsley
I see Nigel Worthington has been refused permission to speak to Norwich - why would he want to return after being forced out previously? Mark Bowen has also dropped out of the reckoning, so they will likely be managerless for this one. I think they have possibly been premature in firing Glenn Roeder so it will be interesting to see if their players respond without him. They looked a poor side in the two games I saw against them recently and their loss to us in midweek only supports that. So, I can see Barnsley getting something here.
Prediction; 0-0
Nottingham Forest v Plymouth Argyle
Forest on a roll and in Tyson and Earnshaw they have a pairing capable of netting regularly in this division. I can see them climbing further out of trouble on Saturday.
Prediction; 2-0
Preston NE v Burnley
Impressive victory at Wolves for PNE last time out whilst Burnley were beaten at home. Momentum therefore for Preston to beat their neighbours and increase their one point league lead over them at the same time.
Prediction; 2-1
Sheffield Wednesday v Charlton Athletic
Oh how I feel bad about this. Despite our first win in eons in midweek, I really can't see us having enough fight and goal-scoring threat to win this. Wednesday are strong at home and I think the flash-in-the-pan against a poor Norwich side will be seen as just that.
Prediction; 2-0
Southampton v Doncaster Rovers
Six pointer here and both of these sides have been boosted by wins in recent weeks. Saints have struggled at St. Mary's all season and I will go for an unlikely result for Donny.
Prediction; 1-2
Swansea City v Reading
Good match in prospect here. Both sides like to get the ball forward and I can see plenty of goals. A 3-2 either way wouldn't surprise me so I'll settle for 2-2!
Prediction; 2-2
Watford v Sheffield United
United were nearly humbled by the O's in the Cup but they battled on. Greg Halford finally equalised and then put them in front before they ran away with it. Watford have been reinvigorated since Brendan Rodgers arrived and this looks like it'll be a feisty encounter. Both sides are desperate for points at opposite ends of the table and a share would be best bet.
Prediction; 1-1
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