CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND PREVIEW

Richard Shepherd looks at the division as a whole, ahead of the weekend games.

THREE NEW MANAGERS:Blackburn Rovers.
and Henning Berg at Ipswich Town Mick McCarthy at Burnley,Taking charge of their new clubs for the first time this Saturday are Sean Dyche at

. Last Saturday, Burnley failed to score for only the second time this season when they lost 4-0 to ourselves, and the League’s top scorer Charlie Austin failed to establish a new Burnley record, having scored in his previous eight games. Wolves have gained only one victory in their last five matches however, and have not won in their last three. Wolverhampton WanderersFormer Watford boss Dyche was appointed Burnley manager last Tuesday with the club occupying fourteenth place in the table, and on Saturday they will be at home to eighth-placed

. Ipswich are looking to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat, while Birmingham gained their first victory in five when they beat Leeds United at Elland Road last weekend. Birmingham CityThe other new manager in charge on Saturday is ex-Wolves boss Mick McCarthy who was named Ipswich manager last Wednesday. He will be assisted by his former Wolves No.2 Terry Connor. Ipswich are currently bottom of the table with just one win so far, and that was on August 21st at Watford; it is eleven matches without victory as they go into Saturday’s game at seventeenth-placed

unbeaten in ten matches (seven wins, three draws).-Crystal PalaceMeanwhile Blackburn Rovers, under former player Berg who was appointed Wednesday, are in fifth place after winning their last two matches. They face the side immediately above them by one point - managerless

FOXES HOPE TO RECOVER: Leicester City. Leicester are in second place, three points behind ourselves with just one win in their last three games which have brought them just three goals. As for Watford, it is now three defeats in their last four matches, and they will be looking to avoid a third consecutive reverse.Watfordwill look to bounce back from last Saturday’s surprise 2-1 home defeat against Palace when they go to sixteenth club

‘BORO ON WINNING RUN: Currently in third spot and level on points with Leicester, it is presently five League and Capital One Cup wins for ‘Boro including last Tuesday’s 1-0 Cup win at North-East neighbours Sunderland. Forward Scott McDonald returned to the ‘Boro line-up a month ago after injury had kept him out since before the start of the season and he has now scored four goals in five League and Cup appearances. Charlton have won just once in their last six matches but will be confident after holding Wolves to a 1-1 draw at Molineux last weekend.Charlton Athletic. who go to lowly MiddlesbroughHard on Leicester’s heels are

ROBINS STRUGGLING AGAIN: Bristol City who have come off the rails in their last two matches with defeats at Peterborough and Millwall.Huddersfield Townare in a relegation fight again. They are currently one from bottom, without a win in their last seven matches and have lost their last four. They have recently brought in two defenders on loan – Steve McManus from Middlesbrough and Matthew Briggs from Fulham, and on Saturday they travel to ninth-placed

TIGERS v. TYKES: who were well beaten 4-1 at Oakwell by Nottingham Forest last weekend.Barnsley with three wins in their last four matches. They have a useful away record – three wins and a draw from seven games, and on Saturday are at home to nineteenth club Hull CityCurrently in the last play-off position are

POOR RUN FOR BRIGHTON: who gained that 3-0 home win against Southampton in the Capital One Cup last Tuesday. Albion have not won in their last six games, during which time they have scored just two goals while Leeds look for their first League victory in a month since early-October.Leeds United, in tenth place, at home to mid-table Brighton & Hove AlbionThis Friday evening sees

21 v. 22: WEDNESDAY v. POSH: Sheffield Wednesdaygained their first win in ten matches last Saturday with that 3-0 win at Ipswich, two goals from on-loan midfielder Ross Barkley from Everton. Peterborough are one place above Wednesday and level on points, but it will be no easy task for the Owls as Posh have won their last two games – home to Huddersfield (3-1), home to Derby (3-0). . Currently in twenty-second place, Wednesday Peterborough Unitedhave a great opportunity of escaping the bottom three this Saturday when they are at home to

RAMS v. TANGERINES:
(12) at Pride Park on Saturday afternoon. Derby have won once in their last five and that 3-0 defeat at Peterborough last weekend was their heaviest so far this season. Meanwhile Blackpool have fallen right off the place with one win in their last seven. The big question, of course, is whether the seemingly Palace-bound Ian Holloway will be in the Seasiders' dugout. Blackpool (13) and Derby CountyIt is a mid-table battle between