Championship Preview: Hull face Derby as promotion contenders clash

This Friday night, the Championship sees one of the games of the weekend as leaders Hull City welcome Derby County to the KC Stadium.

Despite their 1-1 draw at Bristol City, the Tigers still sit at the summit, and while they are still scoring over 1.5 goals a game, it is hard to see past Steve Bruce’s side.

The hosts have won seven and lost none of their last 11 Championship matches, and have let in a league low of nine goals, meaning they are currently the side to beat.

Derby are not far behind their hosts though this season – County sit just two points behind City in fourth, highlighting just how tight the second-tier is.

Paul Clement’s Derby are right in the promotion mix

The Rams convincingly beat Cardiff 2-0 last weekend, and the fact that Hull and Derby sit first and second in the form table has not escaped the attention of Sky, who broadcast tonight’s game.

At the bottom of the division, there is a battle between two of the sides who are desperate to claw their way up the table as Rotherham welcome Bristol City to the New York Stadium.

Having secured a vital 1-0 win against Leeds last weekend, lifting them from the foot of the table, the Millers will be looking to make it back-to-back wins for the first time this season.

The Robins, after their draw with leaders Hull, are now just a point clear of the bottom-three. Two draws in their last two have left the them unbeaten in three, however their minus nine goal difference will still be of concern to Steve Cotterill.

The hosts stopped the rot last weekend, and have secured a longer loan for influential midfielder Harry Toffolo, meaning things are now looking up for the Yorkshire club.

Brighton’s unbelievable first half of the season continued last week with their 1-1 draw at Burnley, extending their unbeaten record to 17 games.

This weekend, they play host to Birmingham City, who are just seven points away from their hosts in sixth place, and know that a win would solidify their spot in the play-off positions.

An uncharacteristic 1-0 defeat to Charlton last weekend meant that City have only won three at home this term, but they have collected 17 points from a possible 24 away from home – the best in the division – and will give the Seagulls, who have signed James Wilson on loan from Manchester United, a tough test.

James Wilson could make his Brighton debut after signing on loan from Manchester United

Charlton, who have won their last two matches after 10 games without a win, will be looking to pull further away from the bottom-three when they host Ipswich in the early kick-off.

Interim boss Karel Fraeye, whose side sit one point above 22nd placed MK Dons, seems to have changed things around after losing his first two matches, but his side face a tough test against an Ipswich team unbeaten in five.

Mick McCarthy’s Tractor Boys are three points off the top-six and have scored nine goals in their last three matches.

Middlesbrough had to work hard for a 1-0 win over mid-table QPR last Friday night, and in doing so maintained their third position in the Championship.

This weekend, if results go their way, they can return to the top of the league with a win away at Huddersfield – who have not won since the October 20.

The Terriers lost 3-1 to Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday at Hillsborough in David Wagner’s first match in charge, however Boro and Town have not served up a goalless draw in the 14 times they have played each other since 1984.

Wednesday, who bounced back from defeat at Charlton with that win against Huddersfield, this week make the trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers.

Paul Lambert will take charge of his first home match in charge and confidence will be high after he led his side to a 2-1 victory at Preston on his debut in the Rovers dugout.

Paul Lambert takes charge of Blackburn at Ewood Park for the first time

Reading are certainly knocking on the door of the play-off places, and travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest this Saturday hoping to build on their 2-1 win over Bolton.

Where the Royals are now safe in the knowledge that Steve Clarke will remain their manager, Forest may not feel so easy about this fixture after Reading won 3-0 and 4-0 last season when the two sides met.

Last weekend, Forest’s patchy form continued, as the Reds lost 2-1 to Brentford, meaning they now sit just a point clear of the relegation zone.

All Championship Matches:

Hull vs Derby (Fri)
Charlton vs Ipswich (12.30pm)
Blackburn vs Sheff Wed
Brighton vs Birmingham
Cardiff vs Burnley
Fulham vs Preston
Huddersfield vs Middlesbrough
Nottm Forest vs Reading
QPR vs Leeds
Rotherham vs Bristol City
Wolves vs MK Dons
Bolton vs Brentford (Mon)