LFW Boxing Day Championship Preview
Wednesday, 24th Dec 2008 08:27

LFW looks forward the festive period with a preview of Boxing Day's fixtures in the Coca Cola Championship.

Welcome back to LFW preview of the forthcoming fixtures in the Coca Cola Championship. This time it's a full Boxing Day programme. Although QPR are away at London neighbours Charlton, it seems that the days of the traditional Boxing Day derby fixture is now a thing of the past. Although looking down the fixtures, it appears the F.A. have been kinder this year, well, certainly to us anyway by sending us to South London rather than Plymouth. LFW Preview of QPR's trip to the Valley will be online soon...

At the time of writing, I'm not sure which of the Championship games have been selected for live TV coverage, if at all? But there are some potentially cracking fixtures on display. Reading v Cardiff looks the pick of the bunch with both sides in great from. Reading moved into the top two with an excellent 3-1 away win at Birmingham on Saturday and currently boast the best home record in the division. Cardiff moved into 5th place after their win over Sheffield Wednesday reserves on Saturday and have only been beaten twice on the road so far this season. The two sides drew 2-2 at Ninian Park a few weeks back.

Leaders Wolves, take on Sheffield United at Molinuex. The Blades are just about hanging onto their top six status, with just one win in their last 5 games. Wolves moved seven points clear at the top going into Christmas following their 1-0 win at bottom club Doncaster. They won the reverse of this fixture comfortably a few weeks back, running out 3-1 winners at Bramall Lane.

At the other end of the table, there is a real six pointer as third from bottom Nottingham Forest, take on bottom club, Doncaster at the City Ground. Forest closed the gap with a morale boosting victory over the team just above them, Southampton, at St Marys on Saturday and a win could see them move out of the bottom three if the Saints draw a blank away at Plymouth. The two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the Keepmoat back in late November.

Elsewhere and in form and 4th placed Burnley, have a home tie with Barnsley. Another form side, Crystal Palace, who are unbeaten now in seven matches, take on Norwich at Selhurst Park. Third placed Birmingham have a tricky looking trip to Ipswich and two sides that continue to struggle, face eachother at Vicarage Road as Watford take on Bristol City.

Boxing Day Fixtures in Full;

Friday, 26 December, 2008

Burnley v Barnsley 15:00

Charlton Athletic v Queens Park Rangers 13:00

Crystal Palace v Norwich City 13:00

Ipswich Town v Birmingham City 15:00

Nottingham Forest v Doncaster Rovers 15:00

Plymouth Argyle v Southampton 15:00

Preston North End v Derby County 15:00

Reading v Cardiff City 15:00

Sheffield Wednesday v Blackpool 15:00

Swansea City v Coventry City 15:00