Yet again, there are more ludicrous midweek journeys for fans to make as LFW takes a look ahead to a full midweek programme in the Coca Cola Championship.
Welcome back to LFW Championship Preview and just as the final whistles have blown on the weekends game, we have a full midweek programme to look forward too, starting tomorrow night at Selhurst Park and a Sky live offering between Crystal Palace and Southampton. A bit of a strange choice this one but I suppose everyone has to have a fair share? The game itself has a bit of a home banker feel about it, with Palace in very good form. But although the Saints continuing to struggle, they did pull off a shock 2-1 away win at 3rd placed Reading a few weeks back. Also, it isn't the worst of midweek journeys for Saints fans to make midweek and yet again, there are plenty of ludicrous ones in this lot of fixtures - QPR fans will be travelling to Sheffield Wednesday, Cardiff to Burnley, Birmingham to Plymouth, Blackpool to Reading and Barnsley to Swansea - which is a really big ask so close to the Christmas period.
In fact, Burnley v Cardiff is arguably the pick of the bunch on Tuesday night as 4th take on 5th respectively. Both are in good form and both had decent wins against teams close to them at the weekend. I would personally back Burnley in this one though. Staying at the top, which after Saturday, is a lot closer now due to a certain result, Wolves take on Derby at Molinuex who despite their Carling Cup heroics, were beaten at home on Saturday, albeit by an in form Palace side. As mentioned, 2nd placed Birmingham have a long and tricky looking encounter away at Plymouth.
Reading v Blackpool has the look of an entertaining game about it, but I just can't help looking further up the fixtures at Charlton v Coventry, with the Addicks now sitting on the bottom of the Championship. It's now 11 games without a win for Managerless Charlton, but Coventry don't travel too badly and have recent away wins at Birmingham and Sheff Weds on their CV this season.
Fresh from the East Anglian derby on Sunday lunchtime, Norwich and Ipswich both play on Wednesday night with Norwich taking the bragging rights away to Watford, following their 2-0 win over their local rivals. Ipswich take on Bristol City at Portman Road in what now is a classic mid table clash with 13th taking on 14th. City won't be relishing this tough looking trip though as they go into the game without a win in five.
LFW Preview of QPR's trip to Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday, will be online soon...
Monday, 8 December, 2008
Crystal Palace v Southampton 20:00
Tuesday, 9 December, 2008
Burnley v Cardiff City
Charlton Athletic v Coventry City
Nottingham Forest v Sheffield United
Plymouth Argyle v Birmingham City
Preston North End v Doncaster Rovers
Reading v Blackpool 20:00
Sheffield Wednesday v Queens Park Rangers
Swansea City v Barnsley
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County
Wednesday, 10 December, 2008
Ipswich Town v Bristol City
Watford v Norwich City