Wednesday 15 October 2008

Weekend Championship Preview, Game 11

Hard not to be absorbed by news of a pending takeover by ambitious and capable new owners, but on Saturday we are playing again and the team go to Cardiff looking to build on the Ipswich win and move closer to the play-off positions. With all Championship sides playing in midweek as well, this really could be the shot in the arm that several weeks have already promised so far this season and failed to deliver.

Norwich have been picking up of late but are still struggling to score goals. The Robins meanwhile have dropped points recently which they won last year. I think this will be close but will go for City to edge it.
Prediction; 2-1

Burnley v Birmingham City 
Burnley are recovering well from a poor start and have notched three wins at Turf Moor. owen Coyle will have them out for this one although Brum have yet to taste defeat on the road.
Prediction; 1-1

How will all this weeks speculation affect Alan Pardew and the boys? Cardiff will be indifferent to it and Dave Jones will probably send them out with the words that this might be their last chance to beat us for a while! City are proving a hard side to overcome this season and every game they play is close in terms of the score. Six draws from ten is what's holding them back in 7th place. A draw is probably the best we can expect and I'll go for that bearing in mind Cardiff's habits to date. News of completion of a successful takeover by wealthy investors could be the fillip we need to go one better than the draw....
Prediction; 0-0

Palace have put a couple of wins together and should see off a lowly Barnsley who look like occupying the drop zone for much of the season.
Prediction; 2-0

Both of these sides have been winning of late. Derby have finally woken up and look like they are determined to make up lost ground and re-join the hunt. Currently level with us points, I think they will continue to rise the table this week.
Prediction; 2-1

Doncaster Rovers v Blackpool
Rovers are on a dreadful losing sequence and scoring is the problem. Blackpool have not hit the heights of last year but are winning unpredictably. I'll take them here to do it again.
Prediction; 1-2

Swansea are an all or nothing side so far this season and that points to nothing at Portman Road. Town will be looking to bounce back after capitulating in the second-half at the Valley last time out.
Prediction; 2-0

I expected PNE to struggle this season, so was surprised by their winning start. Things appear to be levelling out with four defeats in quick succession and on Saturday they face the wrong team at the wrong time. Reading are on a run and should continue it at Preston.
Prediction; 0-2

QPR are imitating us at the moment with their inconsistency. Forest are rock-bottom having lost five straight away games. Hard to see them arresting the slide here despite QPR's occasional fragility. Iain Dowie to limp on.
Prediction; 2-0

A big match of yester-year, these two are struggling financially, especially Watford who are threatened with the dreaded Administration. Can't see either side winning.
Prediction; 0-0

Wanderers have stumbled of late just as Coventry have managed to put some points together. Midlands pride is at stake and I can see City getting a point at least. Chris Iwelumo will be desperate to score if he gets on to move on from Saturday's Hampden Howler and Freddie Eastwood will also need no words of encouragement to score at Molineux, something he did very rarely while wearing the Old Gold.
Prediction; 1-1

Sunday
Spicy derby in prospect, where Wednesday will be seeking to maintain their unbeaten home start. Kevin Beattie has found his scoring boots however and is a man for the big occasion. I'll stick my neck out and go for the Blades to be lording it on Sunday.
Prediction; 1-2

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