As is usually the case on FA Cup fourth round weekend there is a truncated Championship programme on matchday twenty-nine though there is plenty of action bound to affect matters at both ends of the table.
Arguably the pick of the fixtures takes place at Carrow Road where second place Norwich City take on a Sheffield United side just two places and three points below them.
Having seen their winning run end at four league games last weekend, the Blades can leapfrog their opponents with victory on Saturday due to their already superior goal difference while a win for Daniel Farke’s side could see them move into first place – depending on how leaders Leeds United get on at Rotherham United.
Drop
Marcelo Bielsa’s men have lost three of their last four league games while the Millers have triumphed just once in their last twelve – a poor run of form that sees them go in to this weekend’s games just one place and two points above the drop zone.
Both Blackburn Rovers and Hull City sit just six points off the play-offs ahead of their meeting at Ewood Park.
Blackburn have win their last three, while the Tigers have not tasted defeat in the league since November 24th – a record that can only be matched by Bristol City and not bettered by anyone in the division.
Nottingham Forest will be desperate to reignite their push for a top-six spot as they welcome a wobbling Wigan Athletic side to the City Ground.
The Latics have won just one of their nine games, losing six of the other eight though Forest’s record is not that much better.
Slip
The Reds have taken just five points from the last twenty-four available to them – a run that has seen them slip to twelfth place and anything but victory this weekend could well them see them in the bottom half come matchday thirty.
Having been among the favourites for promotion just seven weeks ago, the East Midlands side can now be backed at a massive 25/1 to end their twenty-year exodus from the top flight this term.
Aston Villa are just below Forest on goal difference and will fancy their chances of getting a result as they welcome bottom-of-the-table Ipswich Town to Villa Park.
Sink
The Tractor Boys’ season just can’t seem to get going, with their tally of three wins the lowest in the entire football league.
Finally, fresh from recording their first win under Nathan Jones against table-topping Leeds, Stoke City entertain a Preston North End side who ended their own winless run with an impressive 4-1 triumph over Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road last time out.
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