Huddersfield Town’s excellent 3-1 win over Championship leaders Brighton on Thursday has placed even greater significance on the upcoming weekend in the second tier.

Goals from Tommy Smith, Nakhi Wells, and Elias Kachunga secured a huge three points for David Wagner’s side at the John Smith’s Stadium, with the Terriers now consolidating fifth place in the division, and just seven points behind Newcastle United in second.

Chris Hughton’s Brighton remain top but missed the chance to go four points clear of the Magpies ahead of another integral weekend of action in the Championship.

Hughton’s men go to Brentford on Sunday, and could be down to second in the table by then should Newcastle get the better of sixth place Derby at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Third place Reading travel to struggling Ipswich, while there’s a Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield and Leeds at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday, with both sides hoping to close the gap between themselves and the top two.

At the bottom, Rotherham visit fellow strugglers Bristol City, while second bottom Blackburn host Ian Holloway’s QPR at Ewood Park.

So, in what is sure to be another vital weekend in the Championship, here are THREE huge clashes you must keep an eye on over the coming days…

Newcastle United vs Derby County

Rafa Benitez’s Newcastle conceded a last-minute goal to only draw 2-2 with Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night, and thus miss the chance to go top of the Championship.

And, with recent reports suggesting that manager Benitez is frustrated with the lack of transfer activity on deadline day, you just sense that they are beginning to feel the pressure in the battle for promotion.

However, they have a chance to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they host Derby County, who are under the stewardship of former Magpies boss Steve McClaren.

Many feel that the Rams boss was responsible for Newcastle’s relegation last season, yet he’s working wonders at the iPro Stadium, taking them from 20th in the league when he took over in October to the cusps of the play-off places.

Derby have won their last two league games and only lost two of their last 14, while Newcastle have won 14 of their last 19 league matches.

Thus, it will be a battle of two good sides at St James’ Park on Saturday.

Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa

Nottingham Forest remain without a manager following the departure of Philippe Montanier on January 14, but have since then won two of their three Championship games.

Forest got a crucial win over Bristol City in their first game under caretaker Alan Brazil, before going down 2-0 away at Leeds four days later.

However, they picked up a vital 2-0 success over basement side Rotherham on Tuesday to move up to 19th in the table and, more importantly, eight points clear of danger.

And they’ll be confident of recording a third straight win at the City Ground when Steve Bruce’s Aston Villa visit on Saturday evening, who seem to have stuttered in recent weeks.

The Villans were going well under Bruce, who replaced the sacked Roberto di Matteo in October, before the turn of the year, and were actually ninth in the table and five points off the play-offs heading into 2017.

However, three defeats in four and just one point from 12 has seen them slip to 14th and ten points off the top six, which makes it absolutely imperative that they pick up three points on Saturday.

Henri Lansbury’s move from Forest to Villa during the January window will give the occasion some extra spice, and given that both teams are in need of the points, it should be a fascinating encounter at the City Ground on Saturday.

Huddersfield Town vs Leeds United

Huddersfield excellent 3-1 win over leaders Brighton on Thursday will have given every side in the play-off positions renewed belief that they can catch the top two.

David Wagner’s Terriers moved to within seven points of second place Newcastle following a 16th win of the campaign, and they’ll hope to move up another place or two in the division this weekend when they host local rivals Leeds on Sunday.

Garry Monk’s side are fourth and two points better off than Huddersfield, and have won seven of their last nine games, with their only defeat in that time coming at the hands of another Yorkshire side in Barnsley two weeks ago.

The Whites know that victory on Sunday could take them above Reading into third, but more importantly, they could be within two points of Newcastle should they lose at home to Derby.

There’s a lot riding on Sunday’s game, as well as local bragging rights, and with Huddersfield having lost just one in their last ten league games, and Leeds with one loss in nine, something will surely have to give at the John Smith’s Stadium on Sunday.