Saturday 3 December 2016 07:48, UK
David Prutton is back with his latest set of predictions for the Sky Bet Championship action this weekend.
There are three Championship games live on Sky Sports this weekend - QPR v Wolves, Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (Friday, 7.45pm) and Leeds v Aston Villa (Saturday, 5.30pm) - and Prutton is tipping entertaining draws in all three.
Prutton was impressive last week, predicting six correct results and two correct scores. Read who he's tipping for this weekend below...
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle (Friday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 7pm)
You look at what an emphatic victory they had against Barnsley, and Newcastle's very surprising loss against Blackburn with a much-changed team.
Dwight Gayle should come back into the picture, as should Jamaal Lascelles who has been superb this season and will get to play at his former team and show them where he is at the moment.
But they're up against a Forest team who look resurgent and a lot more focused to be honest. I think this is going to be a draw, but a high-scoring affair.
Maybe the game against Blackburn goes to show we can't all get carried away with Newcastle, and that they may not go on and romp this league. It may be a reality check. But Newcastle don't strike me as a club who would allow negativity to breed, and Rafa Benitez himself I'm sure is the type of boss who will put things into perspective.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Leeds v Aston Villa (Saturday, live on Sky Sports 1 HD from 5.15pm)
Villa are still unbeaten under Steve Bruce, he's very pragmatic, and is getting the most out of players like Jonathan Kodjia, who has really come to the party for them.
Again, they come up against a Leeds team who had differing results in the past seven days. They won at Rotherham, but with a second-half performance that you could see Garry Monk was far from happy with. But with a couple changes to the team they did themselves very proud against a Liverpool team that was full of energy and youth.
When you see how Villa played at Brighton, and how Leeds saw Newcastle come and dominate, I can see a draw here.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-2 (Sky Bet odds: 14/1)
Birmingham v Barnsley (Saturday 3pm)
Having not won in four after a relatively bright start, I think it's a tricky time for Barnsley at the moment. They go to a Birmingham side who are solidly and effectively positioning them in the play-off spots.
They look to be setting themselves up for a really good season, and Gary Rowett has got everyone feeling very positive at St Andrews at the moment.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds: 8/1)
Blackburn v Huddersfield (Saturday 3pm)
I think if we'd have taken this fixture a couple of weeks ago, for me it would have been very much in Huddersfield's favour. But with the way Blackburn have been, winning the last two, things have changed.
They were more backs-to-the-wall against Newcastle, but they've got Sam Gallagher up there, and with Danny Graham coming back, we know they can score goals.
Huddersfield again are dominating possession-wise, but they've not won in four. It might be a case of them seeing this through until January and adding to the squad. I can see them getting something from this, but not the much-needed three points.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds: 9/2)
Burton v Rotherham (Saturday 3pm)
I think obviously with the first half against Leeds, Rotherham had no energy about them, before turning into a completely different team in the second half.
They had fight in them and were very close to actually taking something from the game.
Kenny Jackett has gone, and I think they come up against a Burton side who will be relatively confident after drawing against Preston, relatively settled, and this season is about consolidation and everything other than that will be a bonus.
Unfortunately, I can't see anything other than a Burton win.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds: 15/2)
Cardiff v Brighton (Saturday 3pm)
For me this is a Brighton away win. These are the types of games that, with the addition of Glenn Murray and the form he is on, and the experience Brighton have had over the last couple of years, they know they have to cement themselves in the top two.
Cardiff are coming off the back of a loss to Villa, and they have potential to upset, but I think Brighton will be too strong and see this through.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds: 17/2)
Fulham v Reading (Saturday 3pm)
It wasn't all plain-sailing for Reading against Bristol City, but with the form and players they've got, especially Garath McCleary playing superbly at the moment, I think they'll be confident enough to go to a mid-table Fulham side and get a victory.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds: 12/1)
Norwich v Brentford (Saturday 3pm)
The last five league games for Norwich have been terrible. The 5-0 loss at Brighton, where the scoreline didn't necessarily represent the game, seems to have taken the wind out of their sails.
It's a team full of fight and experience, and if you take out the relegation battle in the Premier League last season, it's the first real negative feeling that Alex Neil has had to face at Carrow Road.
I'm not using the word 'downward spiral' but they are in a position where they have to arrest it before they fall out of the promotion picture altogether.
I think this is a good time to play Brentford, and this feels like the game where they arrest their slump.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds: 7/1)
Sheffield Wednesday v Preston (Saturday 3pm)
Sheffield Wednesday are nicely nestled behind the top six ready for a push again. I think beating Wolves last week, they will have the energy and optimism to go up against Preston and win.
Again, Preston are making a very good fist of another Championship season, sitting in 12th, but with the energy Wednesday have in midfield, and the relatively good form of Fernando Forestieri, I can see Wednesday winning this 1-0.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-0 (Sky Bet odds: 9/2)
Prutton's Thursday night prediction...
QPR v Wolves
It's a very intriguing match-up, with one manager who is new to his place and another who has gone back to his old place.
I've spoken to them both this week, and they've found their clubs very open, with a lot to work with, a good solid foundation for two squads.
But I think both will see comings and goings in the next window. For the game, with Wolves not winning in nine, and hearing Ollie's cautionary tale after what happened at Ipswich last weekend, it smacks of a draw to be honest.
I'm sure Ollie will be keen to harness any sort of positive energy at Loftus Road and could go at Wolves, but I think the visitors will look relatively solid.
PRUTTON PREDICTS: 1-1
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