Preview: Championship

Brighton, who hold the only unbeaten record in the Football League, are one point clear at the top of the Championship despite their 2-2 draw with Bolton last weekend making it two games without a victory.

This weekend, Albion welcome Cardiff to the Amex stadium, who recovered from their blip last weekend by beating Charlton 2-1 in South Wales.

Brighton will be without forward Jamie Murphy after their appeal against his red card picked up last week failed.

At the opposite end of the table, Bristol City supporters will be hoping that their current five game winless streak comes to an end this weekend when they take on MK Dons at Ashton Gate.

Steve Cotterill, Bristol City boss.

Both sides have had less than ideal starts to life in the Championship achieving promotion at the end of last year, with the Dons only a point better off than City.

The Robins drew 2-2 with Ipswich last time out, whereas Dons also lost their fifth straight league game, losing 3-1 to Derby.

Reading play host to Middlesbrough this weekend in a top of the table clash knowing that a win will take them to within three points of their visitors.

Boro’s last defeat was to Bristol City in mid-August – and the Teessiders have won all of their games since, showing the form of genuine title contenders.

The Royals won 2-1 away at fellow high-flyers Burnley last weekend, whereas Boro got a huge helping hand from visitors Leeds United in a 3-0 victory.

Sheffield Wednesday sit just three points from the top-six going into this weekend’s fixtures – yet lie in 12th place, such is the competitive nature of the Championship.

Sheffield Wednesday boss, Carlos Carvalhal.

They won 2-1 at Brentford last time out, which will give them confidence of pulling off a similar result at home to another struggling side, Preston, this time out.

The Lilywhites haven’t won since just the second match of the season, and are badly in need of a victory after their 1-1 draw with Wolves last week made it just one win from nine games.

After looking like real contenders after the opening month of the season, Charlton have recently experienced a terrible run of form. Four defeats in five for Guy Luzon’s Reds has seen them slump to 17th in the table, meaning that their meeting with Fulham at the Valley on Sunday has extra relevance.

Both sides lost their last match; Charlton defeated 2-1 at Cardiff and Fulham – three points ahead of their opponents – losing 3-0 at home to Wolves.

On Friday, Rotherham United lost their first match since the departure of boss Steve Evans as they fell to a 2-1 defeat at home to Burnley.

Grant Ward had cancelled out Andre Gray’s opener but Sam Vokes’ goal nine minutes from time sees the Clarets move up to third in the table.

Matches:
Wolves v Huddersfield
Blackburn v Ipswich
Brighton v Cardiff
Bristol City v MK Dons
Derby v Brentford
Leeds v Birmingham
Nottm Forest v Hull
QPR v Bolton
Reading v Middlesbrough
Sheff Wed v Preston
Charlton v Fulham (Sun)