Championship preview

Top three aim to go clear after international break

By Ben Collins   Last updated: 10th September 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship preview

Warnock: Taken QPR top

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Burnley v Preston
Cardiff v Hull City
Coventry v Leicester
Derby v Sheff Utd
Leeds United v Swansea
Norwich v Barnsley
Nott'm Forest v Millwall
Portsmouth v Ipswich
QPR v Middlesbrough
Reading v Crystal Palace
Scunthorpe v Bristol City
Watford v Doncaster

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QPR, Cardiff and Ipswich will look to go clear at the top of the Championship as the league resumes following the international break.

The trio are the only unbeaten teams left in the Championship and are joint top having each taken 10 points from their opening four games.

QPR are top having scored 11 goals so far and they host Middlesbrough, who are looking to kick-start their season after just one win from four.

Hull City have also won just once since their relegation from the Premier League and travel to Cardiff, who are still in buoyant mood having won 4-0 and 2-0 since the high-profile arrival of Craig Bellamy.

Roy Keane has got Ipswich off to a fine start and they travel to rock-bottom Portsmouth, who are still trying to find their feet following relegation.

Fourth-placed Millwall are level with QPR as the league's top scorers and face a test of their play-off credentials as they travel to a Nottingham Forest side still looking for their first win.

Two derbies

Fifth-placed Burnley renew their battle with Lancashire rivals Preston in an evening kick-off at Turf Moor, with Burnley looking to bounce back from their first league defeat last time out while Preston seek just their second league win.

Another derby sees eighth-placed Coventry host Leicester in a lunch-time kick-off at the Ricoh Arena, where the visitors desperately need to improve on just one point so far.

Leeds have made a positive start after their return to the Championship and lie sixth as they welcome Swansea to Elland Road.

Fellow newcomers Norwich host Barnsley, who are both level with Coventry and Leeds on seven points and sit just outside the play-offs.

Gary Speed will hope to pick up another win as Sheffield United boss as the Blades visit Derby in another early kick-off.

Adkins interest

Scunthorpe could also be set for a managerial change with Nigel Adkins having been targeted by League One Southampton and they host Bristol City, where Keith Millen is still looking for a first win since Steve Coppell's sudden exit.

In Saturday's other games, Watford host ninth-placed Doncaster while Crystal Palace visit Reading.

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