By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 31st December 2007
Mowbray: Top of the leaague
West Brom start 2008 as Championship leaders but the race for promotion is still wide open, while competition is also fierce at the bottom of the table.
Tony Mowbray's Baggies will find it difficult to make a winning start to the New Year as they travel to Ipswich, who are unbeaten at home this season.
Watford will be looking to end their recent bad run against an equally out-of-form Southampton, while third-paced Bristol City take on Coventry.
Two of the season's surprise packages, Stoke and Hull, meet at The Britannia Stadium, while Wolves and Sheffield United, two sides that were expected to challenge for top spot but have slipped back into mid-table, lock horns at Molineux.
Preston tackle Sheffield Wednesday in a relegation six-pointer, while bottom club Colchester face high-flying Charlton.
Crystal Palace, who have collected more points in their last six games than any other team, play struggling Norwich.
Elsewhere, play-off hopefuls Plymouth are away to Cardiff, Blackpool entertain Burnley, Queens Park Rangers meet Leicester, and Scunthorpe host Barnsley.

A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
Pictures from the unveiling of Real Madrid's reported £56 million signing at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Pictures from the Under 21 championship semi-final between England and Sweden in Gothenburg.
Pictures from England's draw with Germany in the last Group B game of the Under 21 Championships.
A look at the best pictures as Michael Owen completes a surprise move to Manchester United.
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Friday 7th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 20:00 | Middlesbrough vs Sheff Utd |
| Saturday 8th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Cardiff vs Scunthorpe |
| 15:00 | Crystal Palace vs Plymouth |
| 15:00 | Derby vs Peterborough |
| 15:00 | Leicester vs Swansea |
| 15:00 | Preston vs Bristol City |
| 15:00 | QPR vs Blackpool |
| 15:00 | Reading vs Nottm Forest |
| 15:00 | Sheff Wed vs Barnsley |
| 15:00 | Watford vs Doncaster |
| 17:30 | West Brom vs Newcastle |
| Sunday 9th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 12:45 | Coventry vs Ipswich |
| Saturday 15th August | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| 15:00 | Barnsley vs Coventry |
| 15:00 | Blackpool vs Cardiff |
| 15:00 | Bristol City vs Crystal Palace |
| 15:00 | Doncaster vs Preston |
| 15:00 | Ipswich vs Leicester |
| 15:00 | Nottm Forest vs West Brom |
| 15:00 | Peterborough vs Sheff Wed |
| 15:00 | Plymouth vs QPR |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Monday 25th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Tuesday 12th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Reading 0 - 2 Burnley | |
| Monday 11th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Sheff Utd 1 - 0 Preston | |
| Saturday 9th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Burnley 1 - 0 Reading | |
| Friday 8th May | |
| Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Preston 1 - 1 Sheff Utd | |
| Sunday 3rd May | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Reading 1 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Crystal Palace 0 - 0 Sheff Utd | |
| Sheff Wed 1 - 0 Cardiff | |
| Watford 3 - 1 Derby | |
| Plymouth 1 - 2 Barnsley | |
| Nottm Forest 3 - 1 Southampton | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Doncaster | |
| Charlton 4 - 2 Norwich | |
| Preston 2 - 1 QPR | |
| Swansea 0 - 1 Blackpool | |
| Burnley 4 - 0 Bristol City | |
| Ipswich 2 - 1 Coventry | |
| Monday 27th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Norwich 0 - 2 Reading | |
| Saturday 25th April | |
| The Coca-Cola Football League Championship | |
| Birmingham 1 - 2 Preston | |
| Bristol City 1 - 1 Sheff Wed | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barnsley | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | Blackpool | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | Bristol City | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | Cardiff City | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | Coventry City | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Crystal Palace | 0 | 0 |
| 7 | Derby County | 0 | 0 |
| 8 | Doncaster Rovers | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | Leicester City | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | Middlesbrough | 0 | 0 |
| 12 | Newcastle United | 0 | 0 |
| 13 | Nottingham Forest | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | Peterborough United | 0 | 0 |
| 15 | Plymouth Argyle | 0 | 0 |
| 16 | Preston North End | 0 | 0 |
| 17 | Queens Park Rangers | 0 | 0 |
| 18 | Reading | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | Scunthorpe United | 0 | 0 |
| 20 | Sheffield United | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | Sheffield Wednesday | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | Swansea City | 0 | 0 |
| 23 | Watford | 0 | 0 |
| 24 | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 0 |
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Alex Dunn delves into the hornet's nest of hypocrisy that is loyalty in football and is left disappointed.
Julian Gray has joined Sheff Utd on trial, while Ian Bennett has signed a new deal with the club.
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Michael Owen believes Alan Shearer is the man to lead Newcastle United back to the Premier League.
Peter Ridsdale has dismissed suggestions Cardiff are not prepared to offer Joe Ledley an improved deal.
Michael Chopra has completed a record £4million return to former club Cardiff City from Sunderland.