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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Spurs could have a busy campaign if the club manage to qualify for the group stages of the Champions League and a big and competitive squad will be key to his team’s chances of success this term.

Redknapp has had attempts to sign West Ham United captain Scott Parker and former Chelsea playmaker Joe Cole fail in this transfer window.

The former Hammers manager believes that he could pick up a couple of good players from City this summer.

The Eastlands club continue to be the big spenders in the Premier League as they push for Champions League qualification themselves having been beaten to fourth spot in the top flight by Spurs last season.

With a growing squad the Blues (9/2 to win the Premier League) will be looking to offload player no longer required at the Manchester club and Redknapp will be looking to capitalise on this.

He said in The People: “One or two walk through the door and it gives everybody a lift. I hoped Joe Cole would have done that if he’d come here but I think there are one or two out there who would do the same – maybe from Manchester City.

“I reckon there’s two or three players out there where you don’t have to spend any real money on. I think there will be a lot of loans about, because teams are going to loan people out just to get them off the wage bill.

“City look like they might have to do that with one or two because they’ve got a big squad so it will be interesting,” he added.

Stephen Ireland could be one of those player who will be service to requirements at Eastland but Redknapp believes that players valuation of around £11m is too much for Spurs to spend on that kind of player.

The manager at White Hart Lane is dealing with problems in the club’s defensive personnel with Ledley King and Jonathan Woodgate both dealing with long term injury issues.

He said: “At the moment Jonathan Woodgate is struggling, Ledley’s come back but his knee’s not great, so we’ve got to be careful.”

Spurs will begin their Premier League campaign against City at White Hart Lane on August 14 in one of the big matches from the opening day of the season.

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Manchester City

City boss Roberto Mancini has been linked to a myriad of players already this summer and looks set to be handed a blank cheque book to ensure the Eastlands outfit do not miss out on at least a top-four Champions League place next term. And reports suggest that Gerrard could be his top target with a big-money offer and fellow midfielder Steven Ireland set to be included as part of a deal to take the England skipper the short journey across the North-West.

The main problem for City is that new Real Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is also thought to be plotting a move to take Gerrard to the Spanish Primera Liga having just missed out on his signature when in charge at Chelsea.

Mourinho, who won an historic treble with Italian giants Inter Milan last season, appears to see Gerrard as the missing link at the Bernabeu as he looks to lead them to domestic and European success in his first campaign at the helm.

Therefore a scramble looks like ensuing as soon as Gerrard’s involvement in England’s bid for World Cup glory (England 8/1 Outright Winner) in South Africa comes to an end.

It is not known if Liverpool would cash in on Gerrard or if the player will express a desire to quit Anfield following a disappointing season in which they missed out on Champions League football and then Rafael Benitez’s subsequent departure.

The Reds are still searching for a replacement for Benitez and Fulham boss Roy Hodgson was one of the favourites to take the job. However Cottagers owner Mohamed Al Fayed remains confident he will stay put following a successful past season at Craven Cottage.

He said: “I don’t think he’ll leave me.

“I’m sure he’ll have lots of approaches from other clubs, but I give him anything he wants to reach results and we have a very good relationship.”

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