Championship Preview

After the midweek fun and games, LFW looks ahead to this weekend's action in the Coca Cola Championship.

Welcome back to LFW’s look ahead to the weekends fixtures in the Coca Cola Championship, with the games coming thick and fast now following a full midweek programme of games. Just one Sky game this week and it is arguably the game of the day at the Madjeski Stadium as Reading take on QPR – LFW preview of Saturday evenings game will be online soon…

Moving on and all of a sudden, there are a few more Championship Managers names cropping up in the ‘under pressure’ stakes. Charlton’s Alan Pardew being one of them. Two straight defeats have seen the Addicks slump to 20th in the table and this week, they take on another form side in the shape of Burnley at the Valley. The Clarets sneaked into the top six, almost unnoticed following their 3-1 win at Coventry on Tuesday. If things couldn’t get any worse for Charlton, there is further disappointment with the news today that Dubai-based investment company Zabeel Investments have pulled out of a bid to buy the Club.

Surprisingly, Jim Magilton is starting to feel the pressure at Ipswich who have yet to find any sort of consistant form this season and currently sit in 18th spot. Following a draw at bottom club, Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, the tractor boys are on the road again this weekend and make the long and difficult trip to Plymouth. Forest have another tough looking encounter at home to 5th placed Cardiff.

Moving to the top of the table, in which the lead changed hands again midweek, new leaders Birmingham face Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrews. The Owls followed up their derby victory over Sheffield United at the weekend, with a derby defeat at Oakwell against Barnsley on Tuesday. Not for the first time this season, Birmingham left it very late to clinch victory - with a 94th minute O’ Connor goal giving the Blues a 1-0 win over improving Crystal Palace. Birmingham took over from Wolves who were soundly beaten 5-2 away at Norwich midweek with a hat trick coming from the on loan, Leroy Lita.

Saturday, 25 October, 2008

Barnsley v Bristol City

Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday

Blackpool v Crystal Palace

Charlton Athletic v Burnley

Coventry City v Derby County

Norwich City v Doncaster Rovers

Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City

Plymouth Argyle v Ipswich Town

Reading v Queens Park Rangers 17:20

Sheffield United v Preston North End

Swansea City v Southampton

Watford v Wolverhampton Wanderers

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