LFW looks ahead and previews this weekends action from the Coca Cola Championship.
Welcome back to LFW look at the weekend's Championship fixtures as we await the first game under Paulo Sousa, away at Watford - LFW Preview of the game will be online soon...
The action starts from the Liberty Stadium on Friday night as Swansea take on 2nd placed Birmingham. Has the makings of a good game this one, as Swansea's excellent, unbeaten home form, have helped guide them to 7th place and just a point off the play off positions. Where as Birmingham have only been beaten once on their travels. The Blues have started losing touch with leaders Wolves and are now being closely caught by Reading in third place.
Elsewhere and the early kick off looks a goodun as Plymouth take on 6th placed Cardiff at Home Park. Earlier in the year, Plymouth literally sneaked into the top six almost unnoticed, that after being bottom of the pile at one point. Their form has stuttered a bit recently but sit in 9th place following an excellent 1-0 win at Coventry last week. Cardiff however are great travellers and have lost just once on the road, a couple of weeks ago at Loftus Road.
For the evening kick off, Sky have selected Nottingham Forest v Norwich. Although unbeaten in four games, Forest are still in the bottom three. Norwich are not too far ahead of them in 19th and are not good travellers, losing their last four away from Carrow Road.
Also hovering close to the bottom three are Charlton and it remains to be seen just how long it will be before Alan Pardew becomes the latest Championship managerial casualty. The Addicks are seven games now without a win and things get no easier for Pardews men as they have a tricky home game with 5th placed Sheffield United. It gets no easier also for bottom club Doncaster, as they travel to Turf Moor to take on one of the in form sides of the division, Burnley.
Runaway leaders Wolves have what looks like a home banker against Blackpool, as do Reading who take on Southampton at the Madjeski Stadium. In saying that, three of the Saints four league wins this season have come away from St Mary's.
Friday 21st November, 2008
Swansea City v Birmingham City
Saturday, 22 November, 2008
Burnley v Doncaster Rovers
Charlton Athletic v Sheffield United
Crystal Palace v Bristol City
Ipswich Town v Derby County
Nottingham Forest v Norwich City 17:20
Plymouth Argyle v Cardiff City 12:45
Preston North End v Barnsley
Reading v Southampton
Sheffield Wednesday v Coventry City
Watford v Queens Park Rangers
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Blackpool