Championship preview

Leaders play on Friday as Baggies and Forest continue chase

Last updated: 5th February 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship preview

Hughton: Looking to protect lead

Click below for individual match previews and stats
Friday:
Newcastle v Cardiff
Saturday:
Swansea v Preston
Barnsley v Watford
Blackpool v Leicester
Bristol City v Coventry
Ipswich v Middlesbrough
Nottm Forest v Sheff Wed
Peterborough v QPR
Plymouth v West Brom
Scunthorpe v Crystal Palace
Sheff Utd v Derby
Doncaster v Reading

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Newcastle United have an early chance to increase their lead at the top of the Championship as West Bromwich Albion and Nottingham Forest continue their pursuit.

Jim Gannon takes charge of Peterborough United for the first time, while Roy Keane and Gordon Strachan go head-to-head at Portman Road.

The Championship programme starts on Friday night as leaders Newcastle put the only unbeaten home record in the division on the line again when Cardiff City visit St James' Park.

Second from bottom play second from top as struggling Plymouth Argyle entertain West Brom, who moved back into the automatic promotion spots with victory at Blackpool on Wednesday evening.

Nottingham Forest's 19-match unbeaten run in the league was ended by local rivals Derby County last weekend and Billy Davies will be demanding an immediate response when Sheffield Wednesday travel to the City Ground.

At the other end of the table, bottom club Peterborough United welcome another club that have experienced plenty of managerial upheaval this season - Queens Park Rangers - to London Road.

Gannon replaced Mark Cooper at the start of the week to become Posh's third boss of the campaign, while Mick Harford is currently QPR's third manager of the season.

Keane and Strachan were fierce competitors in their playing days and the duo clash as managers for the first time when Middlesbrough head to Ipswich Town.

Ipswich boss Keane finished his playing career under Strachan at Celtic and will be looking to continue Town's progress up the table.

Ian Holloway welcomes former club Leicester City to Bloomfield Road as Blackpool bid to bounce straight back from a midweek defeat by West Brom.

Swansea City are in action early on Saturday, with a 1pm kick-off for the visit of Preston North End, who have had a mixed start under Darren Ferguson.

Kevin Blackwell was unhappy with Sheffield United's performance in losing to Watford in midweek and will be demanding an improvement when Derby County make the trip to Bramall Lane.

Watford, fresh from the easy win over the Blades, have an away game against another team that enjoyed a convincing midweek success as they face Barnsley, who won 4-1 at Preston.

Crystal Palace put their off-field troubles to one side by knocking Wolves out of the FA Cup in a fourth-round replay on Tuesday and Neil Warnock's men visit Scunthorpe United.

Bristol City still harbour hopes of gatecrashing the play-offs and will be looking for three points at home to Coventry City.

Brian McDermott celebrated a first Championship win as Reading boss last weekend and will be hoping for a repeat at Doncaster Rovers in a game which can be seen live on Sky Sports 1 & HD1.