LFW Weekend Championship Preview
Thursday, 23rd Apr 2009 21:04

LFW takes a look ahead to the Coca Cola Championship's penultimate fixtures this weekend

Welcome back to LFW Championship Preview and as we look forward to the penultimate fixtures with so many issues, still to be resolved. Inevitably, two were decided last weekend with Wolves winning promotion to the Premier League and barring a freak couple of results from Birmingham, the Title as well. Our congratulations go to them. With one going up, one went down as Charlton will be playing in League One next season.

Moving swiflty on and if Birmingham beat Preston at St Andrews on Saturday, they will be joining Wolves in the top flight next season. With this in mind, the game has been chosen for live Sky coverage. Which leaves then, the play off places and realistically, there is just the one place to play for with Preston, Swansea and Burnley all in the running. Burnley are in pole position at this point and face what would have been a winner takes all encounter away at Southampton. Basically, if Burnley win, they are in the play offs and if Southampton didn't, they would be joining Charlton in League One - and following the news tonight that the Saints have been deducted 10 points after going into administration and they will indeed, be in playing League One football next season. As mentioned, Preston are away at Birmingham and Swansea face a tough trip to Bramall Lane to take on Sheffield United. Cardiff, who can still mathematically be caught in 5th place, take on Ipswich in Roy Keane's first game in charge, following his appointment today after the Tractor Boys sacked Jim Magilton yesterday.

Down at the bottom and things just couldn't be closer. With all things considered and us unlikely as it may seem, anyone from Norwich, Barnsley, Forest, Plymouth, Derby, Blackpool and Watford could all still go down. Although Watford and Blackpool just need one point from their two games to be safe, with the Hornets travelling to Coventry and Blackpool, facing a real six pointer at home to Forest. Barnsley will be hoping that Wolves will be suffering a major hangover as the Premier League new boys travel to Oakwell. Derby take on already relegated, Charlton at Pride Park and Norwich must wait until Monday before taking on Reading at Carrow Road in a live Sky game. Plymouth travel to Loftus Road to take on QPR and LFW Preview of the game will be online soon...

Saturday 25 April

Barnsley v Wolves

Birmingham v Preston

Blackpool v Nottm Forest

Bristol City v Sheff Wed

Cardiff v Ipswich

Coventry v Watford

Derby v Charlton

Doncaster v Crystal Palace

QPR v Plymouth

Sheff Utd v Swansea

Southampton v Burnley