Championship preview

Top two look to maintain grip on Championship

Last updated: 27th November 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship preview

Hughton & Di Matteo: Top two

Click below for individual match previews:
Saturday
Bristol City v Sheffield United
Crystal Palace v Watford
Derby County v Reading
Newcastle United v Swansea City
Nottingham Forest v Doncaster Rovers
Peterborough United v Middlesbrough
Plymouth Argyle v Barnsley
Queens Park Rangers v Coventry City
Scunthorpe United v Leicester City
Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion
Sunday
Cardiff City v Ipswich Town
Monday
Blackpool v Preston North End

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Newcastle and West Brom will look to maintain their grip on the promotion places in the Championship this weekend.

The two relegated Premier League clubs are separated by two points with Newcastle leading the way, but West Brom in second are four points clear of Leicester in third.

Indeed wins over Swansea and Sheffield Wednesday respectively could see a seven-point gap open up.

Newcastle, who are on a run of four successive wins, are yet to lose at home this season and they will look to continue that run against Swansea.

West Brom are on the road as they travel to Hillsborough, where Sheffield Wednesday have not won for over a month.

The third of the relegated sides from last season, Middlesbrough, have endured a very poor run in recent times and new manager Gordon Strachan is without a win since taking charge three games ago.

He will look to put that straight as they travel to bottom-of-the-table Peterborough United.

Third placed Leicester have lost just one game in their last eight and will look to continue their good form at Scunthorpe - who are hovering just above the bottom three.

Queens Park Rangers could move into the top three over the weekend, as they entertain Coventry City at Loftus Road.

Watford will look to push into the top six, but they will need victory at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace to do so.

Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell will hope last week's first win since September will see his side go on a good run as they travel to the South West to face Bristol City at Ashton Gate.

Nottingham Forest are on a run of four successive draws, but they have not lost for nine games and will look to continue that against Doncaster at the City Ground.

Plymouth could move out of the bottom three as they host Barnsley - should the Pilgrims win, then Derby or Reading could slip into the drop zone. They meet at Pride Park.

There two further games in the Championship over the weekend. Cardiff will look to get back to winning ways on Sunday as they host lowly Ipswich.

Whilst the game of the weekend is arguably the final fixture as Blackpool meet local rivals Preston in a mouth-watering derby clash at Bloomfield Road - a match you can see live on Sky Sports.