The Championship returns following a two-week international break with a new man at the helm of Nottingham Forest and a big game just across the East Midlands as third-placed Derby County entertain table-topping Southampton at Pride Park.
Derby v Southampton (3pm)
There is only one place to start when previewing the big games in the Championship as the Rams look to halt the Saints’ march and bounce back from the 4-0 drubbing at rivals Leicester last time out.
A win for Nigel Clough’s men will move them level on points with the visitors and, as only Burnley have picked up three points at Pride Park this term; they will hope to come out on top.
However, Nigel Adkins’ side have taken to life back in the Championship like a duck to water and they will be confident of defeating the Rams.
But looking at the Saints’ form, it is St Mary’s where they have secured most of their 22 points with no away win in the league – two defeats and a draw – since putting five past Ipswich on August 16.
It is set to be a tight game and it is difficult to see either coming out on top here.
Prediction: Draw @ 12/5
Value Bet: Derby/ Draw HT/FT @ 12/1.
Middlesbrough v Millwall (3pm)
Second-placed Boro remain unbeaten from their opening 10 league matches this season, albeit they have drawn their last three matches 0-0, which suggests that the efforts of their defence is not being reciprocated by the strikers.
However, Boro did face big-spending Ipswich and Leicester at the Riverside and travelled to Reading in those matches and should have at least come away with three points against the Royals.
Tony Mowbray picked up the manager of the month award for September for his impressive work on a shoe-string budget at Boro so he will hope the jinx does not strike when Kenny Jackett’s second-bottom Lions arrive on Saturday.
Millwall are stuck in a rut at the moment and arrive looking to prevent a fourth straight defeat.
It looks like a home banker on paper, especially as Millwall have only scored seven goals all season and they are up against the stingiest defence in the league, Boro, who have only let in five.
But Boro have only scored once in four matches and have only one win from five at the Riverside so far. And, with Patrick Agyemang arriving on loan from QPR to boost Millwall’s forward line, the outcome might not be a foregone conclusion.
Prediction: Draw @ 5/2
Value Bet: 1-1 Correct Score @ 6/1.
West Ham v Blackpool (3pm)
Sam Allardyce’s Hammers will be looking to get back to winning ways at Upton Park after a point from their last two games and they face a Blackpool side that dropped out of the Premier League with them at the end of last season.
It has not been plain-sailing for the Hammers on home soil as they have only managed two wins from five and suffered two defeats.
Ian Holloway’s Tangerines have not won on the road since the opening match of the season at Hull, but come into this one boosted by a 5-0 home win against Bristol City.
Another game between two decent sides and, again, it is hard to pick a winner but the Hammers should just have the edge.
Prediction: Home Win @ 5/6
Value Bet: Carew 1st Goal West Ham 2-1 Scorecast @ 28/1.
Brighton v Hull (5.30pm)
If this fixture had popped up just over a fortnight ago you would have put your hat on a home win for the Seagulls who were flying at their new Amex Stadium.
However, Gus Poyet’s men have since suffered a bout of stage fright in front of their own fans with Leeds snatching a last-gasp equaliser in a 3-3 thriller before rivals Crystal Palace romped to a 3-1 win a few days later.
They then lost 3-1 at Ipswich and the signs are that the wheels have come off Albion’s bandwagon which looked set to roll on in the Championship following promotion from League One.
Hull, on the other hand, are now level on points with Brighton in sixth spot after accruing 13 points from a six-match unbeaten run and Nigel Pearson’s men will look to make it a magnificent seven this weekend.
Prediction: Away Win @ 5/2
Value Bet: Draw/ Hull HT/FT @ 13/2.
Coventry v Nottingham Forest (3pm)
All eyes will be on the Ricoh Arena on Saturday as Steve Cotterill will take command of Nottingham Forest following his Friday morning defection from Championship rivals Portsmouth.
Cotterill replaces Steve McClaren after the former England boss? dismal spell at the City Ground ended after a 3-1 home defeat against Birmingham on October 2.
Forest conceded eight goals in two matches before the break and they have won just twice all season so Cotterill has his work cut out to turn things around.
Coventry are also struggling this season and sit one point and one place below Forest ahead of this game. With no wins in five, the Sky Blues have drawn most of their home games so far this season and it looks like a fourth stale-mate is on the cards on Saturday.
Prediction: Draw @ 9/4
Value Bet: Draw 2-2 Correct Score @ 14/10/11.
In Saturday’s other games, Cotterill’s former club Pompey host a Barnsley side that has yet to lose on the road so far this season.
However, it would not be a surprise if caretakers Stuart Gray and Guy Whittingham guide the south coast side to three points (Evens Home Win) in the 5.20pm kick-off.
Cardiff and Ipswich, who are just outside the play-off places at this moment in time, meet at the Cardiff City Stadium. The South Wales side are strong at home while Paul Jewell’s Tractor Boys have improved dramatically in recent weeks so expect a close-fought battle (12/5 Draw) in that one.
Burnley and Reading are stuck together in mid-table after inconsistent starts to the campaign and another draw (23/10) is on the cards at Turf Moor, while Watford, with new loan signing Michael Kightly on board, should just edge out (5/4 Home Win) a much-improved Crystal Palace side at Vicarage Road.
Finally, it would not be a surprise if managerless bottom club Bristol City, who sacked boss Keith Millen over the international break following a 5-0 defeat at Blackpool, pick up a first home win (6/4) of the season against Darren Ferguson’s Peterborough.
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