Championship preview

Three sides look to maintain a perfect start, while three are yet to score

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 23rd August 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship preview

Coventry: Leading the way

Click below for individual match previews and stats:

Birmingham v Barnsley
Blackpool v Sheff Utd
Cardiff v Norwich
Charlton v Reading
Coventry v Bristol City
Crystal Palace v Burnley
Derby v Southampton
Ipswich v Wolverhampton
Nottm Forest v Watford
Plymouth v Swansea
QPR v Doncaster
Sheff Wed v Preston

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Saturday promises to be a busy day in the Championship, with all 24 teams in action.

With two games down, there are now just three sides heading into the weekend fixtures with maximum points in the bag.

Coventry, Preston and Birmingham are the early pacesetters, while Burnley, Southampton and Barnsley are yet to get off the mark.

It may still be early days, but getting cast adrift at this stage can sap morale and lay the foundations of an unwanted relegation battle.

Meanwhile, for those at the top, a good start helps to settle the nerves and build up momentum which could, just maybe, lead to a promotion party come May.

Chris Coleman's Coventry are currently top-dogs, shaking off the shackles of last season's basement battle to make the perfect start.

They tasted opening day success at the Ricoh Arena against Norwich, but will need to be at their best when they welcome last year's surprise package, Bristol City, to the Midlands.

Birmingham were widely tipped to make an immediate return to the top flight and would appear to represent money well spent for those who have had a flutter on the Blues to climb back into the big-time.

They will go in search of a third consecutive victory this weekend when they welcome pointless Barnsley to St Andrews.

Preston's late resurgence towards the end of the 2007/08 promised much, and Alan Irvine's side have not disappointed.

With six points already secured, the Lilywhites will be hoping to add another three at Hillsborough against Sheffield Wednesday.

Reading have made a solid, if unspectacular, start to life back in the second tier and will grace the television cameras for a second time in three weeks when they face Charlton at the Valley, live on Sky Sports 1.

Derby have just a solitary point to show for their endeavours so far, unable to shake off their relegation hangover.

However, the Rams have the ideal opportunity to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they play host to struggling Southampton.

Ipswich and Wolves harbour promotion aspirations this year and come head-to-head at Portman Road, while mega-bucks Queens Park Rangers welcome Doncaster to Loftus Road.

Nottingham Forest will go in search of their first maximum points haul back in the second tier, but face a stern test of their credentials as Watford arrive at the City Ground.

Cardiff are unbeaten, while Norwich are yet to win, and the two sides come face-to-face in south Wales this weekend.

Burnley currently prop up the table and will be looking to take advantage of Crystal Palace's stuttering start, while Sheffield United make the journey to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool.

The final game on Saturday sees Roberto Martinez's Swansea travel to the coast for a tea-time contest with Plymouth.

Much is expected of the Swans this season, and they will be allowed the opportunity to display their considerable talent to the watching world with the Home Park clash broadcast live on Sky Sports 1.