Monday 20 October 2008

Midweek Championship Preview, Game 12

No let up in the pace as Championship teams do battle again tomorrow in a full programmme. Maybe it will be our turn for some rub of the green? Again, Alan Pardew will want a good start or the Valley faithless could get on is back. Bristol City grabbed a 1-1 draw in a night game in the corresponding fixture last year and I can see the same again.

Barnsley v Sheff Wednesday
Barnsley went down without a fight at Selhurst on Saturday. Wednesday might be feeling tired as this game comes only 48 hours after the tiring Sheffield derby. Having said that, Wednesday won the bragging rights and putting south Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley in their place would be a further boost for Brian Laws and his boys.
Prediction; 0-1

Neil Warnock's long-ball game did for Barnsley on Saturday and surely it can't be long before Julian Speroni gets on the score-sheet from his own area. As long as Birmingham are ready for that, and I believe they will be, Alex McGleish's side can look forward to a rare comfortable home win.  
Prediction; 2-0

Derby won again on Saturday despite riding their luck at home to Plymouth. Paul Jewell has restored the confidence that was missing for so long. Derby to be kncoking on the play-off places.
Prediction; 1-2

Charlton AthleticBristol City
Once again we will need to start well and, hopefully, get the first goal if we are to have a hope of winning. City have won twice and drawn one of their five away games so far, so will make this a tough match. I think we can expect more against Burnley on Saturday if we avoid defeat here.
Prediction; 1-1

Coventry City v Burnley
Coventry were unlucky by all accounts to get nothing at Molineux on Saturday. Michaal Mifsud notched an early goal but they were undone late on by Sylvain Ebanks-Blake. Home advantage should be enough against Burnley.
Prediction; 2-0

Looks like an away banker but I think Norwich are better than their 21st placing suggests and I am assured by a work colleague that they are playing well enough. As we all know, this division is tight and there really is little between most of the sides. This would be my long-shot for the evening.
Prediction; 2-1

Forest have managed only one win so far this season and there is no prize for guessing who they beat that day. They have played well at home despite not getting the results but confidence will be low. Ipswich have a great chnace here for their second away win of the season but I think they might have to settle for a point.
Prediction; 1-1

Preston wrecked my coupon on saturday by coming back from behind to beat Reading. They will be breathing easy after stopping a four-game losing run but won't find the trip to Home Park easy. Plymouth have rallied in recent weeks and were unfortunate not to get something at Derby. Rob Hulse to fill his boots in this one.
Prediction; 3-1

Seems like very week Doncaster are playing the side you wouldn't want to. Reading have five straight home wins and this looks like the sixth. Hunt, Doyle and Co to rack up some more goals.
Prediction; 3-0

Sheffieled United are desperate for a win and they'll get one here. Southampton look to be in disarray and a 3-0 home defeat to Watford on Saturday will have Jan Poortvliet preparing to clear his desk. saints are at swansea on saturday and might well wake up on Sunday morning to find themselves with Forest and Doncaster in the relegation places.
Prediction; 3-0

Rangers are over-performing in my book by hanging around the play-off places. Their home form is what's keeping them there - their away form is poor. I expect them to lose tomorrow night as Swansea leap-frog them. They are at Reading on Saturday and then entertain Birmingham at home before travelling to Ipswich, so I can't see them getting too many points in the coming weeks.
Prediction; 2-0


Watford v Cardiff City
Beating a Charlton side with only ten or eleven players is no great shakes, as both of these sides will testfify having done it already this season. Cardiff are unbeaten away from home this season but I'll go for the Hornets for do them here. tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith score with the regularity we haven't seen from a Charlton pairing for years.
Prediction; 2-0

C'mon Charlton, please!

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