Championship Preview: The leaders Hull travel to lowly Bristol City

The Championship returns this weekend, and leaders Hull will be looking to pick up where they left off when they travel to Bristol City on Saturday.

The Tigers are currently the division’s form side, having only conceded two goals in their last eight league games. Last time out, they swept aside promotion rivals Middlesbrough 3-0 at the KC Stadium, whereas City drew a blank against Bolton away from home.

Brighton will be hoping to continue their astounding unbeaten Championship record this Saturday when they travel to Lancashire to face Burnley in a battle between the sides in second and third. The South Coast club defeated MK Dons at the Amex Stadium in their last game – picking up their ninth win of the season in the process.

Brighton will be looking to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.

Burnley boast the league’s top scorer amongst their ranks – Andre Gray – who has 10 goals to his name so far this term. Despite this, the Clarets drew 0-0 at Wolves in their last game, leaving them two points behind their visitors this weekend – and a full nine goals off league leaders’ Hull’s goal difference.

The Championship’s bottom side, Rotherham, travel to Leeds this Saturday knowing that wins will need to start coming soon if they are to claw themselves out of the bottom three. Neil Redfearn’s side lost 5-2 to Ipswich a fortnight ago leaving them five points from safety – which was their fourth straight defeat.

Leeds are having somewhat of a resurgence under new manager Steve Evans, having won two and drawn two of their five games with the ex-Rotherham man at the helm. They won a fourth consecutive West Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield 3-0 last time out, giving their fans real cause for optimism ahead of their clash with the bottom club.

Neil Warnock feels he has only got two games left in temporary charge of QPR after taking charge of the club on November 4 following the sacking of Chris Ramsey – and his side take on fourth placed Middlesbrough at the Riverside this Friday. Warnock oversaw a 0-0 home draw to Preston in his first game back in charge, leaving the side eight points from the play-off places.

Boro were beaten 3-0 by table-toppers Hull a fortnight ago, but they still remain fourth in the table and just four points off the top. Aitor Karanka’s side have kept five clean sheets in their last six games at the Riverside, and the R’s have lost four consecutive away games going into this weekend, meaning there could be plenty of action this Friday night.

Boro boss Aitor Karanka.

After a blistering start to the season, Charlton suffered a terrible run of form leaving them in the bottom three. They travel to Birmingham this weekend following a somewhat surprising 3-1 win over ninth-placed Sheffield Wednesday last time out – they know a win could be enough to steer themselves out of the relegation places.

City defeated Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage last weekend to banish any worries that their supporters may have been having over their form after previously going winless in three. They sit six points off top spot, meaning a home win would burst Charlton’s bubble and keep the pressure on the other teams at the top.

Bolton take on Reading at the Madjeski Stadium this Saturday, however boss Neil Lennon revealed this week that Wanderers do not have enough money to bring in any loan players. The club are currently £172m in debt, and sit 23rd in the standings after their 0-0 draw with Bristol City, meaning that it is down to the players they already have if they are to build on their one win so far this term.

Reading have not won in five, but the Berkshire outfit were boosted by the news that their manager Steve Clarke rejected the chance to take over at Fulham this week. The Royals sit four points off the play-offs after a 2-0 defeat to Cardiff a fortnight ago.

Friday

Middlesbrough vs QPR (7:45pm)

Saturday (3:00pm unless stated)

Bristol City vs Hull (12:30pm)
Birmingham vs Charlton
Brentford vs Nottm Forest
Derby vs Cardiff
Ipswich vs Wolves
Leeds vs Rotherham
MK Dons vs Fulham
Preston vs Blackburn
Reading vs Bolton
Sheff Wed vs Huddersfield

Sunday

Burnley vs Brighton (1:15pm)