Wembley Stadium

Next Game

C Palace v Watford

Monday, 27 May 2013, 15:00

Championship Play-Offs Final

Amex Stadium

Last Game

Brighton 0 - 2 C Palace

Monday, 13 May 2013, 19:45

Championship Play-Offs Semi-Final

Championship preview

With the transfer window now closed, Championship teams will refocus their respective efforts on promotion and avoiding relegation.

Last Updated: 01/02/13 at 16:45

Malky Mackay: The Cardiff boss takes his club to old rivals Leeds United

Malky Mackay: The Cardiff boss takes his club to old rivals Leeds United

Cardiff aim to reopen double-point lead at top of the table

With the transfer window now closed, Championship teams will refocus their respective efforts on earning promotion and avoiding relegation at both ends of the table.

At the summit, Cardiff City will want to reopen a 10-point lead and Hull City, Watford, Crystal Palace and Middlesbrough could strengthen their positions in the play-offs.

Peterborough, Bristol City and Barnsley will remain in the bottom three regardless of what happens on Saturday and they will know they are running out of matches.

Elsewhere, Alex McLeish is likely to receive a hostile reception when returning to Birmingham City while managerless Huddersfield continue life after Simon Grayson.

Leicester City are still clinging to Cardiff's coattails after beating Wolverhampton Wanderers on Thursday night but Malky Mackay's table-toppers will be determined to return to a double-figure points advantage when they visit old rivals Leeds United.

Hull City have yet to give up hopes of automatic promotion and Steve Bruce's third-placed club could move level on points with Leicester if they win at out-of-form Millwall.

Watford also hold ambitions of returning to the top flight but Tuesday's shock defeat by Bristol City was a setback and Gianfranco Zola's team need to win against Bolton Wanderers at Vicarage Road.

Crystal Palace have been struggling for form since the beginning of December, taking just 11 points from 10 games, but remain in the play-off places ahead of their London derby against Charlton Athletic at Selhurst Park.

Sixth-placed Middlesbrough are also out of form having lost three successive matches and Tony Mowbray will be demanding a win against relegation-threatened Ipswich Town.

Like Ipswich, Sheffield Wednesday are just four points clear of the bottom three and would prefer to ease any nerves by defeating play-off-chasing Brighton & Hove Albion.

Bottom-of-the-table Peterborough earned a surprise point against Hull in their last outing and they will want to build on that but Burnley will visit London Road with play-off ambitions.

Nottingham Forest suffered a frustrating transfer window and boss Alex McLeish has had to play down rumours of a bust-up with the club's owners ahead of a Midlands derby at former club Birmingham, where he is not fondly remembered after leaving for Aston Villa.

Huddersfield overcame the sacking of ex-boss Simon Grayson to defeat Palace in their last outing and could have some self-belief ahead of a trip to Derby County.

Barnsley remain in the relegation zone but if they win against Blackpool, they would be just six points behind the 14th-placed Bloomfield Road club in a typically tight division.

Finally, Barnsley's fellow relegation zone occupants, Bristol City, will want to make it three successive wins when they travel to Blackburn Rovers.

Related News

Sky Bet

    • Retrieving latest Sky Bet odds

Most Commented

Readers' Comments

I

m absolutely disgusted that I've been misquoted in saying that if a chance came up to join Arsenal I would be interested. What I meant to say is if Man United or Chelsea were interested......

gulliver
Agent cools Benteke exit talk

L

FC league positions and points from last 4 seasons - 7 (61), 8 (52), 6 (58), 7 (63). Werner calls it progress, I call it mid table stability.

kolev_lfc
Reds progress delights Werner

I

s there a PR agency covering Begovich, Odemwingie, Steven Fletcher and Grant Holt or something? Why would you offer a quote like that without having been announced by either club. #headsshoulderskneesandtoesgone

Havelange
Begovic hints at Liverpool move

Footer 365

Champions League final: Dortmund coach Jurgen Klopp says side can bounce back

Jurgen Klopp is backing Borussia Dortmund to reach another Champions League final despite their defeat to Bayern Munich.

Champions League final: Bayern Munich's Arjen Robben relieved by Wembley win

Bayern Munich hero Arjen Robben admitted winning the UEFA Champions League buried his previous demons.

Champions League final: Mats Hummels salutes Bayern Munich after Wembley win

Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels admitted Bayern Munich deserved to be crowned champions of Europe.

Mail Box

Wayne Rooney Is Just An Average Athlete

That's the difference between him and someone like Cristiano Ronaldo - his body just isn't right. We have mails on him, Sparky, Brendan Rodgers and the Europa Lge...

Saving The Europa League And More...

Nice one UEFA, but not far enough. We have some ideas to make the Europa League better as well as more views on Wayne Rooney, Vermaelen in midfield and...

© 2013 British Sky Broadcasting Ltd. All Rights Reserved