Monday 13 April 2009

Weekend Championship Preview, Game 43

D-Day for the Addicks today and whilst hopes will be high that we can get a result on the back of giving promotion chasing Birmingham a good game, Coventry will be under pressure to take all three points following their 4-0 skelping at Home Park. 

Barnsley v Swansea
Barnsley are limping to safety and the Swans probably know that they have too much to do to close the seven point gap on the last play-off place. In that scenario, I suspect Barnsley will be hard to beat today and will good for a point at least.
Prediction; 1-1

Birmingham City v Plymouth Argyle
Whilst I wasn't overly impressed with Birmingham on Saturday, they are very well organised and they have experience throughout their side. Marcus Bent and Campbell Jerome might not be top class strikers but James McFadden is and Kevin Phillips can still cut it in the Championship. Argyle went a long way to securing their Championship status on Saturday with their second successive win, so they might lack that extra yard today.
Prediction; 2-0

Blackpool v Reading
If Reading are going to go up this year, they will need to do it through the play-offs. Their end of season loss of form would make Alan Curbishley reminisce. They risk another loss here if they are not careful.
Prediction; 1-0

Bristol City v Ipswich Town
A nothing game here but both of these clubs will be looking forward to pressing on next year. Ipswich were surprisingly thumped at home by Doncaster on Saturday and I suspect they might not have recovered fully for today.
Prediction; 2-0

Cardiff City v Burnley
Big game in prospect here and Cardiff will have one eye on Birmingham City with their game in hand. I fully expect them to win here and put the pressure on.
Prediction; 2-0

Coventry City v Charlton Athletic
Ouch. I think we are more than capable of getting a result here at the moment but much will depend on how much City want this. You could take the view that their players went on holiday early at Plymouth but they have been stop-start all season and I suspect Chris Coleman will get a performance out of them today. If Coventry score first I think we will be relegated this afternoon.
Prediction; 1-0

Derby County v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves know a point here will keep them on course for the Championship championship and they are good enough to get that, with or without Iwelumo and Ebanks-Blake.
Prediction; 1-1

Doncaster Rovers v Preston NE
Preston have finally hit the buffers and this is a fixture they won't want. Rovers won at Portman Road on Saturday and this could be two-in-row as they pick-up on their good form since New Year.
Prediction; 1-0

Norwich City v Watford
Crunch time for Norwich City. They dropped onto the trap-door courtesy of QPR being allowed to loan Dexter Blackstock to Nottingham Forest as a late emergency loan. They need a win here against a safe Watford who might just play party-poopers.
Prediction; 1-1

QPR v Sheffield Wednesday
Gareth Ainsworth was pleased with QPR's 1-0 defeat at Burnley on Saturday. I don't think he'll be pleased with a loss here but I suspect that's what he might see.
Prediction; 0-2

Sheffield United v Nottingham Forest
Wrong time to be playing Sheffield United despite scoring three at home on Saturday. I suspect Forest will make a game of it but United are one of the form sides as the season finishes. 
Prediction; 2-1

Southampton v Crystal Palace
Like Norwich, this is a must-win game for the Saints having lost two on the spin and, just like Norwich, they face a side with nothing to play for. For once I won't mind if Palace get a result today because Southampton deserve to go down. However, it's hard to pick a winner here.
Prediction; 0-0

 

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