Championship Preview

Following an exciting Carling Cup week, LFW looks ahead to this weekend's action in the Coca Cola Championship.

This week follows midweek Carling Cup exploits of which the Championship is well represented and following the results, is still well represented - Derby (round 3), Swansea, Burnley, Watford and oh yeah, QPR have all made the last 16 of this years competition.

Onto this week’s games and Sky have selected Palace’s trip to Ipswich as their live offering on Saturday evening. Both sides are currently in the wrong half of the table, with Palace sitting just outside the bottom three. Ipswich won their last home game following two defeats on what has always been a bit of a fortress in the past few years. Palace, however, have lost all of their away league games so far.

Staying at the bottom and Barnsley are the only team in the bottom three with a home game this weekend, taking on Norwich at Oakwell. Forest make the long trip to Plymouth and Southampton face another long trip North to take on Doncaster.

The game of the day is arguably at Molineux as leaders Wolves take on Bristol City. Wolves have got off to a fantastic start this season, dropping just two points from their seven games so far and you would fancy them to take maximum points on Saturday, Bristol City though , are saving their best form for their travels, winning twice and drawing once on the road and currently sit just behind QPR in 5th place.

Fans of Burney and Preston may well have something to say about my choice of game of the day, as the two sides meet at Turfmoor for a Lancashire Derby. Preston have had a great start to the season and currently sit in third spot whereas Burnley have started to get their act together after a slow start and sit comfortably in mid table. Confidence will be sky high for the Clarets following their midweek Carling Cup win over Fulham and this has the makings of a very good game!

Elsewhere and second placed Birmingham have a very tricky looking trip to Cardiff. Sixth placed Reading take on Swansea at the Madjeski and Sheffield United will no doubt be grateful of a return to league action after their 6-0 cup demolition at the hands of Arsenals youngsters on Tuesday night.

Championship Fixtures in Full;

Saturday, 27 September, 2008

Barnsley v Norwich City

Blackpool v Coventry City

Burnley v Preston North End

Cardiff City v Birmingham City

Charlton Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday

Doncaster Rovers v Southampton

Ipswich Town v Crystal Palace 17:20

Plymouth Argyle v Nottingham Forest

Queens Park Rangers v Derby County

Reading v Swansea City

Sheffield United v Watford

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Bristol City 12:30

LFW Preview of the R’s home clash with Derby County will be online soon….

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