Championship preview

With Cardiff not playing until Tuesday, Watford and Crystal Palace will be looking to close the gap on the leaders.

Last Updated: 19/03/13 at 08:52

Glenn Murray: Will hope to help Eagles down Leeds

Glenn Murray: Will hope to help Eagles down Leeds

Watford face Blackpool, Palace host Leeds

With Cardiff City not playing until Tuesday, Watford and Crystal Palace will be looking to close the gap on the leaders in the weekend's busy Championship programme.

Watford, the Championship's form team and new holders of an automatic promotion place, host Blackpool, who are still looking to register their first win under Paul Ince and sit five points outside the relegation zone.

One side whose new manager does now have a victory is Dean Saunders, whose Wolves side now travel to the City Ground to face an in-form Nottingham Forest side looking to win their fifth Championship game in a row and keep a fourth clean sheet on the bounce.

Fourth-placed Crystal Palace are unbeaten in 17 home games, and will be looking to extend this against a Leeds United side with just one win in 14 away games.

The side directly above Neil Warnock's side are Bolton, and Dougie Freedman has his team in great form. They will be hoping to win five consecutive league games for the first time in over six years when they host Brighton at the Reebok Stadium, with the visitors themselves unbeaten in six.

Birmingham City continue to stutter under Lee Clark and sit just five points outside the drop zone after playing a game more than other relegation-threatened sides. They host a Derby side who are without a win in seven games.

One side on the slide are Middlesbrough, who failed to build on their victory over Cardiff last weekend by losing to strugglers Huddersfield Town. Tony Mowbray's men are given the chance to make amends when they make the long trip to Bristol City, who remain bottom of the division and have conceded more goals than any other side.

Whilst Leicester City's automatic promotion bid has taken a hit of late they still remain in the play-off picture, and will hope to rebound from recent poor results with a home victory over Sheffield Wednesday, who have lost two games on the spin.

Another side struggling of late are Charlton Athletic, and the Addicks travel to Huddersfield Town. Both sides have identical records this season, separated by Huddersfield's poor goal difference, the worst in the Championship.

Two of the bottom six sides meet at London Road, where Ipswich Town will hope to retain a full complement of players during their match against Peterborough United. The Tractor Boys were reduced to nine men during a midweek defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Monday night's game sees Hull City, knocked out of the automatic positions in midweek after defeat to Crystal Palace, visit Burnley, who were denied victory on Tuesday by a late Tomasz Cywka goal for Barnsley.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

thought you were describing Bart Simpson there from the episode where he sold his soul to Milhouse. I wonder do automatic doors work for Michael Owen.

sulman
The Evaporation Of Michael Owen

R

afa Benitez has won more trophies (10) over the past 11 years than the rest of the current managers in the EPL combined, except for Alex Ferguson.

angry bird
Chelsea duo salute Benitez

T

he day Tonys hat goes missing for some bantz will be different story altogether..

TheBrestEver
Stoke probe 'banter gone wild'

Footer 365

Jack Wilshere wants to captain Arsenal and England

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed his long-term ambition is to captain both his club and country.

Lampard: Mourinho is the best

Frank Lampard has hailed former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho as "the best" ahead of an expected return to Stamford Bridge this summer.

Ferguson wins LMA Manager gong

Sir Alex Ferguson has been named the LMA's Premier League Manager of the Year, with Malky Mackay, Gary Johnson and Martin Allen also rewarded.

Mail Box

What Would United Be Like In The Pub?

The Premier League season has only been over for about 20 hours and already we're well into the summer-type Mailbox. Plus, a shout for the 2014 player of the year...

Arsenal Should Be Praised For Finishing Fourth

Arsenal fans are largely positive after their top four finish, whilst one wag suggest buying Bale from their rivals. We also have an interesting final mail. Enjoy...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved