LFW looks ahead to this weekend's and next weeks fixtures in the Coca Cola Championship.
Welcome back to LFW Championship Preview which follows an exciting Carling Cup week, which overall, has seen Championship representation almost completely wiped out, with only Peterborough, Scunthorpe and Barnsley taking their place in the 4th Round Draw. The Posh saw off high flying Newcastle 2-0, Barnsley knocked out last season's Cup Kings, Burnley 3-2 at Oakwell and Scunthorpe needed extra time to see off Port Vale.
It's back to League action this weekend and the BBC have probably picked out the standout game for live coverage, as Roy Keane's Ipswich take on Newcastle at Portman Road. It is somewhat a surprise that the Tractor Boys are currently in the bottom three and one of two teams yet to register a league success, especially after being touted as a promotion favourite following the Summer appointment of Roy Keane. Newcastle though, have adapted to life in the Championship very well and are currently second, just one point behind the early leaders, West Brom. This Saturday, the Baggies have a home tie with Crystal Palace to look forward too, after being dumped out of the Carling Cup by Arsenal's Youngsters on Tuesday night.
It has probably come as a huge relief to QPR supporters that Barnsley got there first win of the season away at Derby a fortnight ago, but they travel to Loftus Road full of confidence after their cup win over Burnley. LFW Preview of the game will be online soon...
Elsewhere, and Middlesbrough travel to Coventry and Leiceseter v Preston look a couple of half decent games. Improving Scunthorpe have a lunchtime meeting at home to Doncaster and Watford travel to Reading in pretty decent form and look a good bet to leave struggling Readind down at the wrong end of the table.
The Sky Sports cameras will be with bottom club, Plymouth on Sunday lunchtime as the take on Nottingham Forest at Home Park. The Pilgrims are yet to win this season and have taken just two points from their 8 matches so far and no prizes for guessing who one of them was against?? Forest in fairness, haven't faired much better, winning just once but I am sure that there supporters are still revelling in that one victory, which came over their bitter rivals, Derby. Forest have drawn all of their 4 away games so far so I know what I will be putting on my coupon this week.
Saturday, 26 September 2009
Blackpool v Peterborough, 15:00
Coventry v Middlesbrough, 15:00
Derby v Bristol City, 15:00
Ipswich v Newcastle, 17:30
Leicester v Preston, 15:00
QPR v Barnsley, 15:00
Reading v Watford, 15:00
Scunthorpe v Doncaster, 12:00
Sheff Wed v Cardiff, 15:00
Swansea v Sheff Utd, 15:00
West Brom v Crystal Palace, 15:00
Sunday, 27 September 2009
Plymouth v Nottm Forest, 13:15
After the weekend, we have a full midweek programme of fixtures to look forward too and I take back everything I said on these pages a few weeks ago about common sense prevailing with regards to the fixtures, as it is back to ridiculous midweek trips for football fans. No more so than QPR fans having to make the long trip to the North East on Wednesday night to face Newcastle.LFW's Preview of the game will be online early next week. The other game on Wednesday is probably the only sensible fixture of the night as Forest take on Scunthorpe at the City Ground.
The rest of the games are on Tuesday night and our thoughts go out to almost all Chamionship away fans, especially the fans of Blackpool, who make the long trip South to Bristol City - Sheffield Wednesday who travel to South London to face Palace - Leicester who also go to the North East to take on Middlesbrough - Reading who make the long midweek hike to Preston - and Plymouth, who's almost every away game is a marathon. The 'Green Army' travel to Peterborough. Good Luck and Safe Journey's to you all!!.
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Barnsley v West Brom, 19:45
Bristol City v Blackpool, 19:45
Cardiff v Derby, 19:45
Crystal Palace v Sheff Wed, 19:45
Doncaster v Swansea, 19:45
Middlesbrough v Leicester, 19:45
Peterborough v Plymouth, 19:45
Preston v Reading, 19:45
Sheff Utd v Ipswich, 19:45
Watford v Coventry, 19:45
Wednesday, 30 September 2009
Newcastle v QPR, 19:45
Nottm Forest v Scunthorpe, 19:45