There is a full programme of fixtures in the Championship this weekend and looking at the top five games which will have an impact on both ends of the table, none come bigger than the St Mary’s showdown between Southampton and Middlesbrough.
Southampton v Middlesbrough (3pm)
We’ll start the preview on the south coast as top-of-the-table Southampton play host to a Middlesbrough side which sits in third spot and three points off the Saints while also boasting the best away record in the Championship to date.
Saints boss Nigel Adkins will hope Adam Lallana shakes off the injury which has ruled him out of the past four games as his side look to bounce back from the 2-0 Carling up exit at Crystal Palace by recording a club record 16th consecutive win on home soil.
However, Boro, who secured a first win in six league games against Derby last weekend, should have skipper Matthew Bates back from injury to bolster a defence which is the tightest in the division with only eight goals conceded to date.
Boro have never lost at St Mary’s but this weekend could see that run end in a close-fought encounter.
Prediction: Southampton Home 90 Minutes @ 10/11
Value Bet: Southampton To Win 2-1 Correct Score @ 7/1
West Ham v Leicester (3pm)
Sam Allardyce’s Hammers jumped above Middlesbrough into second spot on goal difference courtesy of Monday’s hard-fought 1-0 win against Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
And they will be hoping to collect a fourth win in seven league games against a manager-less Foxes side which axed Sven-Goran Eriksson in the week following their dismal 3-0 home defeat to Millwall last Saturday – a second defeat in three outings.
Leicester have not won away from home since the opening day of the season at Coventry, while they have not picked up three points at Upton Park in 11 years, although it is seven seasons since the sides last met in the league.
Allardyce is still without a host of players including Henri Lansbury, Matt Taylor, James Tomkins, Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Gary O’Neil and goalkeeper Robert Green, but it seems he has enough to grind out results.
But with Leicester still missing defender Matt Mills due to suspension, surely the Hammers will come out on top in this one.
Prediction: West Ham Home 90 Minutes @ 5/6
Value Bet: Nolan 1s Goal West Ham 2-0 Scorecast @ 28/1
Birmingham v Brighton (3pm)
An interesting fixture is in store at St Andrew’s where the two sides have seen their respective fortunes change drastically in recent weeks.
Chris Hughton has overcome a lacklustre start to the campaign to guide the Blues to six straight wins in all competitions to move to within a point of the play-off places with two games in hand.
Brighton, on the other hand, enjoyed a six-match unbeaten start, but have now failed to win in seven which has seen them slide from top spot to 13th in the table.
They will be without Gary Dicker who fractured his fibula during Monday’s home defeat to West Ham. It could be a close game, but with Birmingham on a hot run of form it would be a surprise if they did not come out on top in this clash.
Prediction: Birmingham Home 90 Minutes @ Evens
Value Bet: Brighton/ Birmingham HT/FT @ 25/1
Doncaster v Coventry (3pm)
Looking down the Championship table and while it is relatively early in the season, this is a game that could well be billed as a relegation six-pointer at the Keepmoat Stadium.
Dean Saunders’ arrival as new Rovers boss heralded the start of a mini-revival just before and after the international break as they picked up seven points from his first three matches to jump out of the relegation places.
However, three successive defeats since have plunged the South Yorkshiremen back into the drop zone and they will hope to get back to winning ways when fourth-bottom Coventry arrive in town.
Andy Thorn’s men, who are just a point clear of the bottom three, should be boosted by the return of Gary McSheffrey and Martin Cranie for the game.
However, they have only won one in their last seven games while they have scored just three away goals in six away games to match the same paltry figure Rovers have scored so far on home soil.
It has got a low-scoring draw written all over it.
Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 9/4
Value Bet: 0-0 Correct Score @ 15/2
Barnsley v Bristol City (3pm)
A game of huge importance at Oakwell as new Bristol City boss Derek McInnes takes charge of his first away match having spent a first full week in charge at Ashton Gate.
It will not be an easy match for the Robins against Keith Hill’s Tykes who are aiming to register their third straight win on home soil. However, with a five-point gap between City at the foot of the Championship and fourth-bottom Coventry, McInnes will not want it to widen anymore this weekend.
City are set to have Cole Skuse back from a head injury picked up in last weekend’s home defeat against Birmingham as they chase only their second win of the season. Barnsley sit five points clear of the drop zone after their recent good run at home, although they were beaten 5-3 at Cardiff last weekend.
Bobby Hassell faces a late fitness test while Danny Haynes and Matty Done are set to miss out yet again.
There are usually goals in games between these two sides – at least five in their previous four head-to-heads – and that could be the case again on Saturday.
It looks a home banker but the outcome could well depend on how well McInnes has got his ideas across to the Bristol City players over the past five days.
Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 12/5
Value Bet: 2-2 Draw Correct Score @ 14/1
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