Just ten points separate the teams currently occupying the crucial top-six places and the ball gets rolling at the Madejski Stadium with current leaders Queens Park Rangers making the trip to Reading.

READING v QPR (Friday)
Rangers have a five-point gap over Norwich in second spot although their humongous goal difference could well be worth another point on the day of reckoning in the second tier of English football.
Neil Warnock’s side have conceded fewer goals on their travels than at home this season but the Royals have lost just twice on their own patch so far and will be a tough nut to crack for the west Londoners.
Reading’s last home league defeat was back in October and they are bidding to avenge November’s 3-1 defeat at Loftus Road.
Prediction: Both Teams To Score @ 8/11

BURNLEY v NORWICH
Any QPR slip-up will allow Norwich to reel them in and while Burnley’s unbeaten run on home soil has now ground to something of a halt, the Clarets need something from the game to stay in the play-off place hunt.
The Canaries are one of only three sides to beat QPR this season, but that was at Carrow Road and they will need to be on their mettle to take all three points at Turf Moor.
Prediction: Draw @ 23/10

NOTTINGHAM FOREST v WATFORD
Forest are coming on strong after five straight wins in the Championship and if they win their games in hand would storm into the automatic promotion places.
The division’s form team entertain a Watford side who, like Norwich, have also beaten QPR – this time at Loftus Road – so a trip up the M1 is unlikely to faze the Hornets who have not won in three matches.
Prediction: Forest Half-time/Full-time @ 2/1

LEEDS v COVENTRY
Leeds occupy the final play-off place going into the weekend and one thing is guaranteed at Elland Road – goals, with 14 games producing 53 so far this term.
The Sky Blues’ form has been patchy at best over recent weeks while Leeds have drawn their last two league games 2-2 but this is a game Simon Grayson will know his men need to win.
Prediction: Leeds 2-1 @ 7/1

SWANSEA v CARDIFF (Sunday)
Cardiff briefly topped the table earlier in the season but after 28 games they find themselves in fifth spot and trailing arch-rivals Swansea, who are third, by two points.
The Swans were 1-0 winners at Cardiff City Stadium earlier in the season and are unbeaten in the last five on home soil against the Bluebirds.
Prediction: Swansea @ 6/5

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Queens Park Rangers v Portsmouth

Neil Warnock has revitalised the former Premier League club and they look destined to return to the top flight for the first time since 1996. But they have stumbled in recent times with just one win and six points from their past five games. Goals have been hard to come but they are still top of the standings by five points and take on Pompey outfit fighting for survival at the wrong end of the table. The south coast club have lost four of their last five and will surely return from Loftus Road empty handed on Tuesday evening.

Odds: QPR to win 8/13

Value bet: QPR to win 2-0 11/2

Norwich v Millwall

The Canaries sit in second place in the table having taken eight points from a possible 15 in recent times with a tricky clash against the Lions on the horizon. The south Londoners have taken 10 points from a possible 15 and are in decent nick at present, as they battle it out for a place in the play-offs. Norwich are looking to close the gap on leaders QPR but a draw is tipped for this one, with both clubs unlikely to give too much away at Carrow Road.

Odds: Draw 12/5

Value bet: 1-1 11/2

Cardiff v Reading

Cardiff are just one point behind Norwich with a game in hand and so every match is vital as they look to avoid having to go through the lottery of the play-offs. The Bluebirds’ form has been mixed of late and they have lost two of their past five encounters while winning two and drawing the other match. The Royals’ form has been similar but they also have the FA Cup to contend with having advanced to round five with victory over Stevenage at the weekend. This is a difficult match to call but, with home advantage, the Welshmen are tipped to shade a tight encounter at  Cardiff City Stadium.

Odds: Cardiff 21/20 to win

Value bet: Cardiff to win 2-1 7/1

Bristol City v Swansea

The Swans will need to bounce back from their FA Cup defeat to League One Leyton Orient but the loss may be a blessing in disguise with promotion to the Premier League the real goal this season. And they have shown decent form of late in the Championship with three wins,a draw and just one defeat from their previous five encounters. City are just five points above the drop zone and have one just one from five, with a disappointing 4-0 defeat at home to Middlesbrough just a couple of weeks ago. The west country outfit do have home advantage but Swansea should have enough ammunition to take the spoils here.

Odds: Swansea 6/5 to win

Value bet: Swansea to win 1-0 13/2

Coventry City v Nottingham Forest

Fifth-place Forest have been boosted by the loan signing of Liverpool defender Paul Konchesky and were already full of confidence having taken 13 points from a possible 15. Coventry have not won in eight games and, despite home advantage, will struggle to contain a Forest side who believe they can regain their Premier League status this term. Coventry are safely in mid-table at present and Billy Davies’ men have much more to play for in this fixture – and that could be crucial.

Odds: Forest 11/8 to win

Value bet: Forest to be winning at half and full time 3/1

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The 21-year-old has always looked a class act but propelled himself to the forefront of world football by making a very good Inter defence look like statues over the two legs.

Bale should feature in a Spurs side looking for their first Premier League victory since beating Fulham on October 16 and, with the youngster on fire, they look a good bet to take the points from a Bolton side who have only won once at home this season (Spurs 13/10 – 90 minutes betting v Bolton).

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti believes Nicolas Anelka is in the form of his career and who are we to argue, as the Frenchman bagged his fifth Champions League goal in four matches on Wednesday night.

Labelled ‘le sulk’ at various clubs, the former Arsenal star appears settled at Stamford Bridge and is combining well with Didier Drogba up front for the Blues.

The 31-year-old spent time on-loan at Liverpool and will be looking to add to his three Premier League goals this term when he faces his old side at Anfield.

Ancelotti says Anelka is happy at the club and that can only mean good things as he is undoubtedly one of the best strikers in the top-flight when his mood is right (Anelka 25/1 – Premier League goal-scorer).

Cesc Fabregas had the night off as Arsenal lost 2-1 to Shakhtar Donetsk on Wednesday but he should be fine for the visit of Newcastle on Sunday.

The Gunners skipper has only bagged on Premier League goal this season but scored 15 last term and it is high time the talented midfielder got back on the scoresheet.

Newcastle are in the habit of winning one then losing one and so, following last weeks 5-1 hammering of Sunderland, they will need to be wary of what the Londoners are capable of at home.

Fabregas was rested for the European tie as a precaution with a sore hamstring so expect him to be raring to go at the Emirates this weekend (Arsenal 2/7 – 90 minutes betting v Newcastle).

Darren Bent has a phenomenal scoring record for Sunderland, with 33 in 51 appearances for the Black Cats in all competitions, and six from 10 Premier League outings this term.

Boss Steve Bruce will demand an immediate response from his men following the 5-1 drubbing at Newcastle and Bent will be the man they look to to score the goals against a Stoke side who have lost their last three top-flight games.

This game may not whet the appetite as much others over the weekend but Bent’s goal-scoring prowess could be the difference in a low-scoring encounter at the Stadium of Light (Sunderland Evens – 90 minutes betting v Stoke).

Finally, Birmingham goalkeeper Ben Foster will probably not be the busiest man on Saturday as bottom-of-the-table West Ham travel to St Andrew’s (Birmingham 10/11 – 90 minutes betting v West Ham).

With no away wins and just two goals on their travels, the Hammers appear little threat away from Upton Park and Birmingham have only conceded three Premier League goals at home this season.

Foster has kept four clean sheets in the Premier League so far this campaign and surely will never get a better chance of making it five than against a side shorn of confidence and tipped for relegation.

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