Championship preview

Magpies tackle Tykes; Baggies meet Rangers; Forest face Swans

Last updated: 5th March 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Championship preview

Warnock: New QPR boss

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

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Newcastle will be looking to extend their lead at the summit, while Neil Warnock takes the reins at QPR.

Nottingham Forest will be glad to be back on home soil and Paul Hart will be hoping to start edging Crystal Palace clear of trouble.

Newcastle have opened up a six-point advantage at the top of the table after three straight wins, but they host a Barnsley side this weekend who have also found form.

West Brom have taken five wins from their last seven games, to remain inside the automatic promotion places, but they face a tricky trip to Queens Park Rangers - who will be looking to make a positive first impression on new boss Warnock.

Nottingham Forest continue to struggle on the road, suffering four defeats in a row, but they have won their last nine at the City Ground and will be hoping that fine run continues against the side directly below them in the table, Swansea.

Leicester will put their eight-game unbeaten run on the line away at Sheffield Wednesday, while the Owls will be looking to claw their way out of the relegation zone.

Cardiff have suffered back-to-back defeats, putting their play-off dreams in doubt, and they entertain a Middlesbrough team who still harbour hopes of gatecrashing the top six.

Sheffield United are also well-placed to pounce on any slip-ups from those just above them in the second tier standings and they would give their own promotion aspirations a welcome shot in the arm with victory over struggling Crystal Palace.

Three wins in 12 outings has seen Blackpool start to wobble at an important stage of the season and they will be desperate to get back on track when they face Roy Keane's Ipswich.

Coventry have emerged as surprise play-off contenders, following four wins in five, and they will fancy their chances of taking something from a day out at rock-bottom Peterborough.

Bristol City's season is in danger of fizzling out and they know three points at home to Doncaster is a must if they are to challenge the top six.

Derby and Watford are currently locked together just below mid-table and they go head-to-head at Pride Park on Saturday.

The final game on a busy afternoon of Championship action sees Plymouth, who continue to languish inside the bottom three, face Preston.