Championship Preview – Matchday 8

There is a mouth watering fixture to get this weekend’s set of Championship fixtures underway, with leaders Leeds United taking on struggling Derby County at Elland Road Saturday afternoon.

Marcelo Bielsa’s side can open up a three point gap between themselves and second place Swansea City with victory, while a defeat for the Rams could see them slip even closer to the bottom three.

Second place Swans will be looking to capitalise any potential slip ups by Leeds, though they will have their work cut out for them as they travel to a Bristol City side who themselves have their eyes on the top spot, being just two points behind the top two at the start of play.

Strong

Charlton Athletic who are flying high in third place after a strong start to life back in the second tier travel to a Wigan Athletic side who sit just above the bottom three on goal difference while Preston North End have a tough trip to Birmingham City, with both sides tied on thirteen points.

West Bromwich Albion are the division’s only remaining unbeaten side, and will be confident of that remaining the case as they welcome second-from-bottom Huddersfield Town to the Hawthorns in Sunday’s sole fixture.

Slaven Bilic will be extra keen for a return to the top table after having a taste with West Ham United a few years ago, and the Baggies can be backed for promotion at a price of 13/8.

Hope

The Terriers didn’t have the start they would have hoped for under new manager Danny Cowley, having lost at home to Sheffield Wednesday and the Owls are amongst a host of sides in touching distance of the top six ahead of their match with Fulham.

Nottingham Forest, who haven’t lost since the opening day of the season welcome lowly Barnsley to the City Ground while Queens Park Rangers are looking for a third straight win as they make the short trip to Millwall.

Back-to-back defeats have seen Reading slip to within two points of the bottom three, and the Royals will look to return to winning ways as they take on Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park, while thirteenth takes on fourteenth as Middlesbrough host Cardiff City.

Climb

Luton Town and Hull City are just a point, but four places apart ahead of their clash at Kenilworth Road while Stoke City, who prop up the rest of the division after taking just a point from their opening seven games travel to Brentford.

The Potters have won just three Championship games in the whole of 2019, though bookmakers still tip five teams more likely to drop to League One than themselves.