Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest will meet in a crucial promotion clash at Loftus Road on Sunday.
QPR currently hold a seven point lead at the top of the table, while Forest are seven points behind them. Forest are two points behind second placed Cardiff City and have two games in hand in the Bluebirds.
Both teams will enter this clash in red hot form, QPR are unbeaten in their last six games and have not conceded in their last three. Forest are unbeaten in nine, and a win would equal a club record as their seventh straight victory. The last time Forest won seven consecutive games was in 1979 under the management of the great Brian Clough.
Cardiff City will be looking to extend their five league game unbeaten streak when they play host to struggling Scunthorpe United, who are winless in their last seven games.
Third placed Cardiff are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Scunthorpe currently occupy the relegation zone and are seven points away from safety.
The Cardiff attack will be led by Wales international Craig Bellamy. The Manchester City loanee has scored in each of his last three games, including an 85th minute winner last week against Swansea, and a last gasp 97th minute equalizer against Reading.
Promotion chasing Norwich City will face Reading at Carrow Road on Saturday. Norwich are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Reading are seven points off the playoff spots.
Swansea City will travel to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Fifth place Swansea are two points behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough are six points above the relegation zone.
At the other end of the table, Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their climb away from the relegation zone when they travel to face sliding Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.
Relegation threatened Sheffield United will play host to playoff chasing Millwall at Bramall Lane. United are four points adrift of safety in the relegation zone, and are looking to end a nine game winless skid.
Leeds United will continue their promotion challenge as they face Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Leeds are currently in the playoff spots and only three points behind second placed Nottingham Forest.
Bristol are eight points above the drop zone and will be looking to build on last weekend’s 4-0 win at rock bottom Preston North End.
Star striker Nicky Maynard could make his long awaited return after missing the entire season so far with knee surgery. Maynard was the Robins’ leading goal scorer last season with 21 goals.
Leeds will be looking to extend a four game unbeaten streak, and could hand a debut to USA international Eric Lichaj who has joined on loan from Aston Villa.
Portsmouth will be searching for their first win in 11 games when they travel to face Doncaster Rovers. Pompey’s miserable run of form means they are currently five points above the drop zone, while Doncaster are five points above them.
Star midfielder Brian Stock will feature for Rovers and this week signed a two and a half year contract to stay at the club. Neil Sullivan and James Coppinger are both set to return for Doncaster, while Matthew Kilgallon and Mark Wilson are sidelined with injury.
Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena will be unavailable as he is currently experiencing a delay with his work permit.
Cardiff City will be looking to extend their five league game unbeaten streak when they play host to struggling Scunthorpe United, who are winless in their last seven games.
Third placed Cardiff are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Scunthorpe currently occupy the relegation zone and are seven points away from safety.
The Cardiff attack will be led by Wales international Craig Bellamy. The Manchester City loanee has scored in each of his last three games, including an 85th minute winner last week against Swansea, and a last gasp 97th minute equalizer against Reading.
Scunthorpe let up five goals in last weekend’s defeat to Hull City, and will hand Chelsea loanee Ben Gordon a debut in an attempt to shore up their defense.
Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their climb away from the relegation zone when they travel to face sliding Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.
Palace are four points clear of the bottom three after avoiding defeat in their last four games, managing to keep a clean sheet in three of them. Coventry have fallen way out of the playoff race after failing to win in their last 10 league games.
Freddy Eastwood and Marlon King will lead the Sky Blues attack, and are the only Coventry players to have found the net during their 10 game winless streak.
The Crystal Palace attack will be led by James Vaughan, who scored the decisive goal in last weekend’s win over Middlesbrough. Vaughan is the only Palace player to have scored in their last five games.
Promotion chasing Swansea City will travel to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Fifth place Swansea are two points behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough are six points above the relegation zone.
Boro captain Matthew Bates is out after tearing his hamstring in last weekend’s defeat to Crystal Palace, while defenders Andrew Taylor and Joe Bennett are both injury doubts. Merouanne Zemmama and Maximilian Haas could be included in the squad after joining the club from Hibernian and Bayern Munich II respectively.
Luke Moore will start in the Swansea attack, and will be looking for his first goal for the club. Moore scored a hat-trick at the Riverside Stadium in 2007 as an Aston Villa player.
In-form Hull City will play host to rock bottom Preston North End at the KC Stadium on Saturday. Hull are unbeaten in six league games and are seven points off the playoff spots, the Tigers won 5-1 at Scunthorpe United last time out.
Rock bottom Preston are 10 points adrift of safety and are winless in their last eight games in all competitions.
The Hull attack will be led by Matt Fryatt who has scored four goals in his last two games, including a hat-trick in the win at Scunthorpe. Striker Caleb Folan will not feature, and has travelled to the USA to have trials with a number of MLS clubs.
Striker Iain Hume is ruled out for Preston with a hamstring injury, while defender Conor McLaughlin is out with a dislocated ankle. Goalkeeper Iain Turner could play for Preston after joining on loan from Everton. USA international Eddie Johnson will be looking for his first PNE goal, after the Fulham loanee made his debut in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Bristol City.
Promotion chasing Norwich City will face Reading at Carrow Road on Saturday. Norwich are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Reading are seven points off the playoff spots.
The Norwich attack will be led by captain Grant Holt, who will be looking to add to his seasons tally of 13 goals. Andrew Crofts will also play and played 90 minutes for Wales against the Republic of Ireland in midweek.
Reading will feature Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu, who both played alongside Crofts for Wales in midweek.
Barnsley and Ipswich will go head to head at Oakwell with both teams needing a win to move up towards the playoff race. Barnsley are nine points behind the top six, while Ipswich are a further three points back.
Barnsley will be looking to extend a three game unbeaten streak at home, while Ipswich will be looking for their fourth straight win.
Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace is unlikely to feature for Barnsley and manager Mark Robins revealed to BBC Sport this week that he is looking offload the former player of the season on loan. “We have to have everyone fighting for the cause and if someone isn’t fighting for the cause something will have to be done about it,” said Robins.
Young starlet Connor Wickham will feature in the Ipswich attack, and received glowing praise this week from manager Paul Jewell. “There’s an awful lot more to come from Connor and I think that’s the beauty of him,” Jewell told BBC Sport.
Relegation threatened Sheffield United will play host to playoff chasing Millwall at Bramall Lane. United are four points adrift of safety in the relegation zone, and are looking to end a nine game winless skid. Millwall are looking to build on last weekend’s 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, and are within four points of the playoff spots.
The Blades have brought in former manager Dave Bassett to act as a consultant in a bid to end their miserable run of form. Manager Micky Adams welcomed Bassett into the fold and hinted that he is currently struggling to cope with the demands of a Championship relegation fight. “He’s back because there’s not enough hours in the day for me,” Adams told BBC Sport. “I’ve found the club bigger than I thought and his experience will be valuable to me.”
Millwall’s leading goal scorer Steve Morison will lead the Lions attack, and will be looking to add to his season tally of 13 goals. Morison signed a new contract this week that will keep him at the club until 2013.
Watford and Burnley will clash at Vicarage Road with both teams looking to keep up their playoff challenge, both teams currently sit six points behind the playoff places.
Watford will field one of the most prolific attacks in the league, with Danny Graham (18 goals) joined up front by Marvin Sordell (13 goals).
Chelsea loanee Jack Cork will feature in the Burnley midfield, and this week told the official Burnley website that he would seriously consider a permanent move to Turf Moor in the summer.
Leicester City will be looking for their fourth straight Championship win when they travel to face East Midlands rivals Derby County. Derby have failed to win in their last six games in all competitions.
Derby have limited striking options having lost leading goal scorer Kris Commons to Glasgow Celtic during the transfer window. No Rams player has scored more than four goals this season, and manager Nigel Clough told BBC Sport this week he is looking to add two strikers during the emergency loan window.
Andy King will be a chief threat for Leicester and has scored three goals in his last two games, including a brace in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Barnsley.
Manager Sven Goran-Eriksson told the official Leicester City website this week that he is expecting a tough game despite Derby’s recent struggles. “Every game is a battle, every game is a war and every game is difficult so you cannot take everything for granted in this league,” said the Foxes boss.
Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest will meet in a crucial promotion clash at Loftus Road on Sunday.
QPR currently hold a seven point lead at the top of the table, while Forest are seven points behind them. Forest are two points behind second placed Cardiff City and have two games in hand in the Bluebirds.
Both teams will enter this clash in red hot form, QPR are unbeaten in their last six games and have not conceded in their last three. Forest are unbeaten in nine, and a win would equal a club record as their seventh straight victory. The last time Forest won seven consecutive games was in 1979 under the management of the great Brian Clough.
Heidar Helguson and Tommy smith are injury doubts for QPR, while Hogan Ephraim is ruled out due to suspension. Pascal Chimbonda could be in line to make his debut for the Hoops in this game.
Forest will be without midfielder Guy Moussi, who has suffered a season ending thigh injury.
Both teams will enter this clash in red hot form, QPR are unbeaten in their last six games and have not conceded in their last three. Forest are unbeaten in nine, and a win would equal a club record as their seventh straight victory. The last time Forest won seven consecutive games was in 1979 under the management of the great Brian Clough.
Cardiff City will be looking to extend their five league game unbeaten streak when they play host to struggling Scunthorpe United, who are winless in their last seven games.
Third placed Cardiff are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Scunthorpe currently occupy the relegation zone and are seven points away from safety.
The Cardiff attack will be led by Wales international Craig Bellamy. The Manchester City loanee has scored in each of his last three games, including an 85th minute winner last week against Swansea, and a last gasp 97th minute equalizer against Reading.
Promotion chasing Norwich City will face Reading at Carrow Road on Saturday. Norwich are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Reading are seven points off the playoff spots.
Swansea City will travel to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Fifth place Swansea are two points behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough are six points above the relegation zone.
At the other end of the table, Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their climb away from the relegation zone when they travel to face sliding Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.
Relegation threatened Sheffield United will play host to playoff chasing Millwall at Bramall Lane. United are four points adrift of safety in the relegation zone, and are looking to end a nine game winless skid.
Leeds United will continue their promotion challenge as they face Bristol City at Ashton Gate. Leeds are currently in the playoff spots and only three points behind second placed Nottingham Forest.
Bristol are eight points above the drop zone and will be looking to build on last weekend’s 4-0 win at rock bottom Preston North End.
Star striker Nicky Maynard could make his long awaited return after missing the entire season so far with knee surgery. Maynard was the Robins’ leading goal scorer last season with 21 goals.
Leeds will be looking to extend a four game unbeaten streak, and could hand a debut to USA international Eric Lichaj who has joined on loan from Aston Villa.
Portsmouth will be searching for their first win in 11 games when they travel to face Doncaster Rovers. Pompey’s miserable run of form means they are currently five points above the drop zone, while Doncaster are five points above them.
Star midfielder Brian Stock will feature for Rovers and this week signed a two and a half year contract to stay at the club. Neil Sullivan and James Coppinger are both set to return for Doncaster, while Matthew Kilgallon and Mark Wilson are sidelined with injury.
Portsmouth captain Aaron Mokoena will be unavailable as he is currently experiencing a delay with his work permit.
Cardiff City will be looking to extend their five league game unbeaten streak when they play host to struggling Scunthorpe United, who are winless in their last seven games.
Third placed Cardiff are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Scunthorpe currently occupy the relegation zone and are seven points away from safety.
The Cardiff attack will be led by Wales international Craig Bellamy. The Manchester City loanee has scored in each of his last three games, including an 85th minute winner last week against Swansea, and a last gasp 97th minute equalizer against Reading.
Scunthorpe let up five goals in last weekend’s defeat to Hull City, and will hand Chelsea loanee Ben Gordon a debut in an attempt to shore up their defense.
Crystal Palace will be looking to continue their climb away from the relegation zone when they travel to face sliding Coventry City at the Ricoh Arena.
Palace are four points clear of the bottom three after avoiding defeat in their last four games, managing to keep a clean sheet in three of them. Coventry have fallen way out of the playoff race after failing to win in their last 10 league games.
Freddy Eastwood and Marlon King will lead the Sky Blues attack, and are the only Coventry players to have found the net during their 10 game winless streak.
The Crystal Palace attack will be led by James Vaughan, who scored the decisive goal in last weekend’s win over Middlesbrough. Vaughan is the only Palace player to have scored in their last five games.
Promotion chasing Swansea City will travel to face Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday. Fifth place Swansea are two points behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Middlesbrough are six points above the relegation zone.
Boro captain Matthew Bates is out after tearing his hamstring in last weekend’s defeat to Crystal Palace, while defenders Andrew Taylor and Joe Bennett are both injury doubts. Merouanne Zemmama and Maximilian Haas could be included in the squad after joining the club from Hibernian and Bayern Munich II respectively.
Luke Moore will start in the Swansea attack, and will be looking for his first goal for the club. Moore scored a hat-trick at the Riverside Stadium in 2007 as an Aston Villa player.
In-form Hull City will play host to rock bottom Preston North End at the KC Stadium on Saturday. Hull are unbeaten in six league games and are seven points off the playoff spots, the Tigers won 5-1 at Scunthorpe United last time out.
Rock bottom Preston are 10 points adrift of safety and are winless in their last eight games in all competitions.
The Hull attack will be led by Matt Fryatt who has scored four goals in his last two games, including a hat-trick in the win at Scunthorpe. Striker Caleb Folan will not feature, and has travelled to the USA to have trials with a number of MLS clubs.
Striker Iain Hume is ruled out for Preston with a hamstring injury, while defender Conor McLaughlin is out with a dislocated ankle. Goalkeeper Iain Turner could play for Preston after joining on loan from Everton. USA international Eddie Johnson will be looking for his first PNE goal, after the Fulham loanee made his debut in last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Bristol City.
Promotion chasing Norwich City will face Reading at Carrow Road on Saturday. Norwich are only one point behind second placed Nottingham Forest, while Reading are seven points off the playoff spots.
The Norwich attack will be led by captain Grant Holt, who will be looking to add to his seasons tally of 13 goals. Andrew Crofts will also play and played 90 minutes for Wales against the Republic of Ireland in midweek.
Reading will feature Simon Church and Hal Robson-Kanu, who both played alongside Crofts for Wales in midweek.
Barnsley and Ipswich will go head to head at Oakwell with both teams needing a win to move up towards the playoff race. Barnsley are nine points behind the top six, while Ipswich are a further three points back.
Barnsley will be looking to extend a three game unbeaten streak at home, while Ipswich will be looking for their fourth straight win.
Argentine midfielder Hugo Colace is unlikely to feature for Barnsley and manager Mark Robins revealed to BBC Sport this week that he is looking offload the former player of the season on loan. “We have to have everyone fighting for the cause and if someone isn’t fighting for the cause something will have to be done about it,” said Robins.
Young starlet Connor Wickham will feature in the Ipswich attack, and received glowing praise this week from manager Paul Jewell. “There’s an awful lot more to come from Connor and I think that’s the beauty of him,” Jewell told BBC Sport.
Relegation threatened Sheffield United will play host to playoff chasing Millwall at Bramall Lane. United are four points adrift of safety in the relegation zone, and are looking to end a nine game winless skid. Millwall are looking to build on last weekend’s 1-0 win over Doncaster Rovers, and are within four points of the playoff spots.
The Blades have brought in former manager Dave Bassett to act as a consultant in a bid to end their miserable run of form. Manager Micky Adams welcomed Bassett into the fold and hinted that he is currently struggling to cope with the demands of a Championship relegation fight. “He’s back because there’s not enough hours in the day for me,” Adams told BBC Sport. “I’ve found the club bigger than I thought and his experience will be valuable to me.”
Millwall’s leading goal scorer Steve Morison will lead the Lions attack, and will be looking to add to his season tally of 13 goals. Morison signed a new contract this week that will keep him at the club until 2013.
Watford and Burnley will clash at Vicarage Road with both teams looking to keep up their playoff challenge, both teams currently sit six points behind the playoff places.
Watford will field one of the most prolific attacks in the league, with Danny Graham (18 goals) joined up front by Marvin Sordell (13 goals).
Chelsea loanee Jack Cork will feature in the Burnley midfield, and this week told the official Burnley website that he would seriously consider a permanent move to Turf Moor in the summer.
Leicester City will be looking for their fourth straight Championship win when they travel to face East Midlands rivals Derby County. Derby have failed to win in their last six games in all competitions.
Derby have limited striking options having lost leading goal scorer Kris Commons to Glasgow Celtic during the transfer window. No Rams player has scored more than four goals this season, and manager Nigel Clough told BBC Sport this week he is looking to add two strikers during the emergency loan window.
Andy King will be a chief threat for Leicester and has scored three goals in his last two games, including a brace in last weekend’s 4-1 win over Barnsley.
Manager Sven Goran-Eriksson told the official Leicester City website this week that he is expecting a tough game despite Derby’s recent struggles. “Every game is a battle, every game is a war and every game is difficult so you cannot take everything for granted in this league,” said the Foxes boss.
Queens Park Rangers and Nottingham Forest will meet in a crucial promotion clash at Loftus Road on Sunday.
QPR currently hold a seven point lead at the top of the table, while Forest are seven points behind them. Forest are two points behind second placed Cardiff City and have two games in hand in the Bluebirds.
Both teams will enter this clash in red hot form, QPR are unbeaten in their last six games and have not conceded in their last three. Forest are unbeaten in nine, and a win would equal a club record as their seventh straight victory. The last time Forest won seven consecutive games was in 1979 under the management of the great Brian Clough.
Heidar Helguson and Tommy smith are injury doubts for QPR, while Hogan Ephraim is ruled out due to suspension. Pascal Chimbonda could be in line to make his debut for the Hoops in this game.
Forest will be without midfielder Guy Moussi, who has suffered a season ending thigh injury.
