Weekend Championship Preview, Game 32

Back to the scene of the Palace victory this Saturday. The miserable and hope-less will be joined by 3,000 jubilant and expectant Bluebirds who will be coming for a day out in the Smoke and three more points as they continue their impressive promotion challenge. Having despatched us with moderate ease earlier in the season, I have no doubt that Cardiff can become the eighth side to take maximum points from the Valley this season.

A defeat on Saturday and plucky Parky will have matched Pardew's 10 league losses this season. Parky though, will have managed it in 14 games compared to Pards' 18 and will have accumulated a pitiful 6 points versus Pardew's 16. And we thought it couldn't get worse than Pards!

Elsewhere in the Chumpionship there are promotion and relegation issues still to be sorted....

Barnsley v Crystal Palace
Payment of £1000 wouldn't get me to this clog-fest. Both sides are on good losing runs, so would probably settle for a draw. Those self-deluded Eagles fans have been smelling a lot of coffee lately.
Prediction; 1-1

Birmingham City v Burnley
After their latest cup heroics in midweek, Burnley would have been hoping for mediocre opposition at home. This is a not a good time to visit St Andrews and I suspect Alex McLeish will get the much needed win here.
Prediction; 1-0

Blackpool v Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster Rovers can at last see some light at the end of what's been a very long tunnel. A win here could move them into nosebleed territory. Blackpool look safe even at this stage.
Prediction; 1-2

Charlton Athletic v Cardiff City
Time to get real and cut to the chase. We need to see the core of next seasons team being played now, although I suspect Parky and the Board will wait until the odds are close to mathematical before confronting our demons. I expect our team for the last ten games to look decidely different to that we are playing at the moment. Having missed out on Manager of the Month for January, Parky will know that a second defeat early in February will mean another month without free whisky (just when he could use it most).
Prediction; 1-3

Coventry City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
An atmosphere here to match that in the Steel City derby. Wolves look to have re-focused in the last couple of games and Christophe Berra is an inspired signing. Can't see City winning this but if they really battle, they can take a point.
Prediction; 2-2

Norwich City v Bristol City
A fine point for Norwich at Wolves in midweek and the bounce under Sherriff Gunn continues. I can see the Canaries doing what we failed to do on Tuesday and build on a lead against the Robins.
Prediction; 2-0

Nottingham Forest v QPR
Rangers have rallied in recent weeks after a mini collapse and find themselves in seventh place and pushing for the play-offs. Forest are also going well having established a scoring partnership in Tyson and Earnshaw. I'll sit on the fence here.
Prediction; 1-1

Plymouth Argyle v Derby County
Only a point separates both of these strugglers. This is a real six pointer and the loser could find themselves in hot water.
Prediction; 2-0

Reading v Preston NE
Preston continue to over-perform in my eyes and they will find this game hard. Reading must win to keep Brum at arms length and I am confident they will do just that.
Prediction; 3-0

Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday
Wednesday won the earlier derby at Hillsborough but their form away has been relatively poor and I will go for United to take revenge. They have a five point gap over QPR in seventh and will be confident of a play-off finish.
Prediction; 1-0

Swansea City v Ipswich Town
The play-offs might be a season too early for both of these teams. Swansea have only lost once at home all season but they have drawn eight. Martinez has also been awarded Manager of the Month, so the shrewd money would be to take the odds on an Ipswich upset.
Prediction; 1-2

Watford v Southampton
This is a huge game for Watford and one which they need to win if they are to pull clear of trouble. They have been playing well under Brendan Rodgers but must start to secure the points. It won't get easier than Southampton at home (having already beaten us).
Prediction; 3-0