There is a full programme in the Championship on Saturday as the table begins to take shape nine games into the season and the stand-out match has to be the surprise package so far, Derby County, travelling to East Midlands rivals Leicester City.
Moneybags Leicester were busy in the transfer window this summer as they look to return to the ‘promised land’ of Premier League football and are third in the betting to win the Championship, priced at 7/1.
However, it has not been the start to the season they would have hoped for as the new arrivals are perhaps taking their time to gel and they lie six points behind the leaders, down in 11th place in the table.
And one of three teams that share 19 points at the top is Derby, and the Rams are looking for their seventh win in 10 matches to seal their best start to a season for 42 years.
Sven Goran Eriksson’s men have had the better of the recent record between the two, winning both fixtures 2-0 last season (13/2 repeat scoreline), and have been installed as the 4/6 favourites in the match betting.
However, the Foxes have won two and lost two of their four games at the King Power Stadium and although they have gone six games unbeaten in the league, they are struggling to come out on top as four of those results have been draws.
County, in contrast, have won three of the four games on their travels and although a defeat at Coventry earlier in the season and a 1-1 draw against Barnsley last time out do not look impressive, surely a form side is worth considering at a huge price of 4/1, while the draw is available at 11/4.
Leicester have higher profile players in their squad but Jermaine Beckford (5/1 First Goalscorer) is an injury concern for Eriksson along with Richie Wellens, both groin, while Michael Johnson is suffering with a shoulder problem.
However, one-time England striker David Nugent is available again after a hamstring complaint and is priced at 11/2 First/Last Goalscorer, along with Darius Vassell, while Steve Davies is a 15/8 joint favourite to Score Anytime for Derby – no surprise after having bagged five already this term.
West Ham look a good shout to take the points at Selhurst Park in a London derby against Crystal Palace and are Evens favourites in the match betting, with the Eagles on offer at 11/4 and the draw at 12/5.
The Hammers have only ever lost two away matches in this fixture and are unbeaten on their travels this season, with three wins and a draw, scoring nine goals in the process and conceding just one.
The fact that West Ham were beaten at home by Ipswich in midweek might work in their favour as well as Sam Allardyce will want, expect and demand a positive response.
Middlesbrough look a cracking price at 19/10 to continue their perfect away record at Reading, with the home side priced at 11/8 and the draw at 12/5.
It is at the Riverside where Boro have had their problems, although they remain unbeaten this season, with just one win and four draws.
However, Boro have been unstoppable scoring seven goals and conceding just one in their first four wins away from the Riverside.
The Royals lost Shane Long to West Brom before the transfer window shut and have struggled to perform in front of their own fans so far.
Reading are unbeaten in three going into this fixture, winning two of them, but did suffer a 2-0 reverse against Watford before the streak started and will have their work cut out.
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