Wales

This was always going to be a vital match for Wales as they look to develop under new boss Coleman and a clash with their Celtic rivals will show just how they are progressing.

A 2-0 home defeat to Belgium and a 6-1 thrashing away to Serbia was not the ideal start but those two nations are arguably the strongest in a tough group and may well qualify for the finals in Brazil.

Scotland have not exactly been pulling up any trees themselves and, with two draws from their opening two games, will also have their work cut out to reach the South American showpiece.

A game between any of the home nations is always a feisty affair and this one should be no different, with vital points and bragging rights on offer.

It could be argued that the Welsh have nothing to lose as they are not expected to make it out of the group and victory over the Scots and Macedonia might be as good as it could get for the Principality outfit, with Croatia completing a formidable looking group (Belgium 6/4fav – Group A Winner).

Wales have clearly got problems in front of goal and a return of just one from their last five games must be a worry for the management.

Assistant coach John Hartson has played down the fact that their last goal in open play came nearly a year ago, suggesting that he would be more worried if they were not creating chances.

But the game is about putting the ball in the back of the net and unless they can find someone to do it on a regular basis, Wales are always going to struggle.

The men in red do have one ace in the pack in Tottenham’s Gareth Bale and reports claim that the left winger will shake off a heel problem to take his place in the starting line-up, while full-back Adam Matthews has also been tipped to recover in time to play.

But Coleman does have a number of absentees to deal with as Craig Bellamy, Neil Taylor, James Collins and Jack Collison are all missing.

A football nation the size of Wales can ill-afford to have too many of its best players absent and they will be up against it on Friday.

But they do have a decent record in this fixture as Scotland’s victory in the Carling Nations Cup in Dublin back in May 2011 was the first time they had triumphed over the Welsh since February 1984.

Of the two mangers on show, Craig Levein is possibly under the greater pressure as expectation north of the border is always huge despite the resources available to the coach.

Wales goalkeeper Jason Brown alluded to the fact that Levein’s decision to recall Steven Fletcher proves the stress that he is under to get results – and he has a valid point.

Fletcher had been in the international wilderness for 18 months, after making himself unavailable for a match with Northern Ireland in early 2011, but will be back in the starting line-up in Cardiff on Friday as Levein knows he can bring goals to the party.

And the Scots certainly need his goalscoring prowess in the side as they have found the net just once in their first two qualification games.

Levein will also have to cope with a few missing stars after Jordan Rhodes and Robert Snodgrass were forced to withdraw through injury, while Grant Hanley pulled out on Monday.

Celtic winger Kris Commons has been called up to the squad having not played for the national side for more than a year, while striker Steven Naismith will miss the match and Tuesday’s clash with Belgium because of suspension.

Having been placed in such a strong group, it always looked likely that the British sides would have to play out of their skin to qualify for the World Cup, but victory over one of the great rivals would at least give both Scotland and Wales something to cheer about.

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The battle at the Cardiff City Stadium is bound to throw up some incidents and there should be plenty of goals in a match between two attacking sides.

Cardiff have been the stand-out performers in the Championship so far and are on a five-game winning streak in the league which includes a 4-0 hammering of Leeds United at Elland Road.

Whilst the Bluebirds have shown some excellent attacking football  they can be suspect at the back having recorded only one clean sheet in their last five games so Swansea have a good chance of getting on the scoresheet in this one.

Swansea have quietly worked their way up the table and welcome back experienced midfielder Mark Gower as the player has recovered from a torn hamstring.

The Swans are unbeaten in their last six Championship games and look like they could challenge for a play-off spot this season.

Swansea (14/5 to beat Cardiff)  have a good chance of getting something out of this game and will be boosted by the fact that Cardiff are without the league’s top goalscorer – Jay Bothroyd – through suspension.

Down at the bottom of the league Middlesbrough face Crystal Palace in a crucial game for both sides, even at this early stage in the season.

Newly-appointed Boro boss Tony Mowbray did not get off to the best of starts as he saw his side lose 2-1 at home to Bristol City in his first game in charge at the Riverside.

Middlesbrough have not won in their last seven Championship games and will be desperate for all three points on Saturday.

Palace have also had a miserable start to the campaign after narrowly avoiding relegation last season.

The Eagles are leaking goals having conceded seven in their last two games.

Mowbray will be pleased by the fact that his side have not failed to score at home this season, and with Kris Boyd (6/5 to score anytime) starting to adapt to the league, they have a good chance of winning the battle at the bottom.

Two clubs in and around the play-off places are Coventry City and Leeds United and the two meet at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday.

Leeds fans are suffering an up-and-down season; after shocking home performances against Preston and Cardiff they produced an accomplished display at Scunthorpe.

The Whites side seem more comfortable away from the big crowds at Elland Road having picked up more points on the road this season and have won more points from coming back from a goal down than any other side in the league (Leeds 11/1 to win from behind).

The Sky Blues sit in fourth and have had a strong start under manager Aidy Boothroyd.

This should be an interesting contest which has been boosted by the fact that in-form striker Gary McSheffrey will face the side who decided to not keep hold of him last season.

The former Birmingham striker has criticised Whites boss Simon Grayson which will add extra spice to this one.

With Leeds playing well on the road they are in a good position to win the clash on Saturday.

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