Championship Preview – Matchday 5

Matchday five in the Championship kicks off on Friday evening with the mouth-watering clash between Middlesbrough and West Bromwich Ablion.

Since their opening day draw with Millwall Boro have taken maximum points, though Leeds United leapfrogged them into first place on Tuesday evening after they drew with fellow promotion hopefuls Swansea City.

West Brom are also riding high after dropping points on matchday one and will end Friday on top of the division if they get one over former manager Tony Pulis.

Stalemate

Both meetings between the sides in the top flight two campaigns ago ended all square and you can back this tie ending in a draw at a price of 9/4.

Leeds travel to Norwich City, who themselves chalked up their first win of the campaign in midweek while the surprise package of the opening weeks – Bolton Wanderers host Sheffield United.

Blackburn Rovers and Brentford are both unbeaten and face each other at Ewood Park while Aston Villa will be looking to return to winning ways against Reading after back-to-back draws.

Unbeaten

Swansea City are also yet to lose and they face a tough test with Bristol City the visitors at the Liberty Stadium this weekend while Nottingham Forest will be hoping to start better than they have in three of the five games in which they have played this season as they take on Birmingham City at the City Ground.

Aitor Karanka’s men have conceded inside the first five minutes on three occasions though they are yet to face defeat while their opponents are yet to taste victory.

Wigan have also started well and will be keen to pile more misery on Queens Park Rangers manager Steve McClaren as they travel to Loftus Road.

The Hoops’ 7-1 thumping at the hands of West Bromwich Albion last weekend was their fifth straight Championship defeat and fourth from four this season.

New blood

Tomer Hemed and Nakhi Wells have both scored lots of goals at this level not too long ago, and they are both in line to feature to QPR after being drafted in on loan.

Derby County eased past Ipswich Town midweek and they welcome Preston North End to Pride Park while the Tractor Boys, who are only outside of the relegation zone on goal difference head to Sheffield Wednesday.

Stoke City need a positive result after a tough start to life back in the Championship and they take on a Hull City side buoyed by their first win of the campaign though the Potters have come out in top in three of the last four meetings between the sides.

Finally, Rotherham United welcome Millwall to the New York Stadium on Monday evening with both sides having been beaten on Wednesday evening.