Championship Preview: Leaders Middlesbrough visit second-placed Burnley, whilst Brighton host QPR

There is a full fixture list on Tuesday night in the Championship, where the thrilling automatic promotion chase intensifies with just four games remaining of the season.

The pick of the action tonight is at Turf Moor, where leaders Middlesbrough take on second-placed Burnley, with the visitors hoping to increase their current two-point advantage at the summit.

Boro’s slender 2-1 victory over already relegated Bolton Wanderers was their sixth successive win as they look to seal promotion to the Premier League, whilst the Clarets kept pace with a similar 2-1 win over Birmingham on Saturday – a second successive taste of victory.

Aitor Karanka’s Middlesbrough sit top of the Championship by two points after six successive league wins – Photo: Marc Atkins/Offside.

Elsewhere; third-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, who currently lie just a further two points adrift of the top two, welcome Queens Park Rangers at the Amex Stadium.

Chris Hughton’s side, who hammered Fulham 5-0 on Friday night, will be confident of picking up all three points against the London outfit, with their opponents enduring mid-table obscurity in 11th spot during the end of the season phase.

Meanwhile Hull City will look to preserve their faint automatic promotion chances when Steve Bruce’s men travel to Reading.

The Tigers; who trail the top two by ten points, but with five games left of their season, face another must-win game at the Madejski Stadium, against a Royals side who have lost three in a row under boss Brian McDermott.

At the opposite end of the table; second-bottom Charlton Athletic must collect all three points on their trip to already League One bound Bolton, otherwise the Addicks will be destined to join the Trotters in the third-tier of English football next term.

Plus; third-bottom Milton Keynes Dons, who currently trail Championship survival by nine points with a possible 12 on offer, will require a first win in eight outings when they visit Sheffield Wednesday to keep their faint chances of staying up alive.

Meanwhile Rotherham United could take another huge step towards survival with a seventh win in ten matches when they welcome Huddersfield Town to the New York Stadium.

Neil Warnock’s side are unbeaten in their last nine fixtures and now find themselves nine points clear of the drop zone in 21st spot, although the visiting Terriers defeated Blackburn 2-0 away from home on Saturday.

Derby County, who have won their last three league games on the trot, will strengthen their play-off place if they can snatch all three points during Tuesday night’s trip to Bristol City – who can preserve their Championship status for another year with a win, or if other results go their way in the bottom half of the table.

Cardiff City will continue their late play-off push when they take on Brentford at Griffin Park, with the Bluebirds five points adrift of the top six before kick-off.

The other fixtures see ninth-placed Birmingham City play tenth-placed Preston North End, play-off outsiders Ipswich Town host recently thrashed Fulham at Portman Road and Leeds United entertain Wolverhampton Wanderers at Elland Road.

The final encounter sees Nottingham Forest; who are not mathematically safe from the drop, still nine points above the bottom three, take on Blackburn Rovers at the City Ground – with both outfits locked on 47 points.