The 2016-17 season continues with the latest round of games this weekend. This will see us among those involved with three points of course the aim.
Previous results
Monday 2nd January 2017 – Sky Bet Championship
Birmingham City 1-3 Brentford 15:00
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Newcastle United 15:00
Bristol City 2-3 Reading 15:00
Burton Albion 0-1 Preston North End 15:00
Cardiff City 1-0 Aston Villa 15:00
Fulham 1-2 Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00
Leeds United 3-0 Rotherham United 15:00
Norwich City 3-0 Derby County 15:00
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Barnsley 15:00
Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Ipswich Town 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday 0-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00
Wigan Athletic 0-1 Huddersfield Town 15:00
What will happen in this one though? Cast your vote so we know if you think it’ll be all smiles or disappointment come the full time whistle.
Fixtures
Thursday 12th January 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP
Reading v Queens Park Rangers 19:45
Friday 13th January 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP
Leeds United v Derby County 19:45
Saturday 14th January 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP
Bristol City v Cardiff City 12:00
Birmingham City v Nottingham Forest 15:00
Burton Albion v Wigan Athletic 15:00
Fulham v Barnsley 15:00
Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers 15:00
Preston North End v Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00
Rotherham United v Norwich City 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield Town 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Aston Villa 17:30
Monday 16th January 2017 – CHAMPIONSHIP
Brentford v Newcastle United 19:45
Once again we’ll see an extended weekend schedule when it all gets underway at Reading on Thursday night. The Royals – who have lost only twice and won eight of the last 10 – bid for a fourth straight league win that would take them to within three points of 2nd placed Newcastle. Visiting QPR are seeking a third straight Championship win though having lost the previous six.
Friday will see a big meeting between promotion rivals Leeds and Derby. The Whites know whatever the result at Elland Road they’ll retain a top 6 place but a fifth win in a six game unbeaten run will be the aim. The Rams – having lost for the first time in 10 – will seek a reaction to defeat in the last outing to move back into a play-off place, albeit temporarily perhaps.
Championship leaders Brighton – who also have a game in hand – will have the chance to extend their lead over Newcastle – who don’t play until Monday – to five points if they can win at Deepdale. Preston have only lost twice in their last 10 league games though and bid to make it three unbeaten to remain in contention for a potential play-off place.
The derby between Bristol City and Cardiff is all the more important this time round in the lunchtime kick off on Saturday to get things underway. The Robins have lost nine of their last 10 to slip towards a relegation battle. The Bluebirds – a place behind in 19th on goal difference – look to make it three unbeaten at Ashton Gate with a win seeing Neil Warnock’s side leapfrog Lee Johnson’s team.
Having drawn in the FA Cup with Newcastle Gianfranco Zola will hope to guide Birmingham to a first league win under his leadership. The Blues welcome Nottingham Forest – who have lost five of their last six – to St Andrew’s with Forest just two points off the drop zone.
Should Burton manage to beat relegation rivals Wigan at the Pirelli Stadium there’s a good chance they’ll move above near neighbours Nottingham Forest, who could even end the day in the relegation zone? The Latics haven’t won in six – losing five – and are currently six points adrift of safety.
Defeat for Fulham in their last league outing was a first in six. The Cottagers are at Craven Cottage when they look for a reaction against in-form Barnsley. But the Tykes are just four points off the play-offs in 8th place and have won three of the last four.
The recent Ipswich form – if it continued – would suggest they would win at Portman Road on Saturday. However, Blackburn beat Newcastle – to record the double over the Magpies – to boost their survival hopes in the last league game. Rovers also beat QPR in the FA Cup last weekend.
It looks bleak for Rotherham as the Millers go into this game at the New York Stadium bottom of the league and some 12 points from safety. Having recorded an emphatic win last time round Norwich will look for another victory to get a play-off push back on track.
A big Yorkshire derby between Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield will see the promotion chasing duo meet at Hillsborough. The Owls hold the fourth and final play off place – and are unbeaten in five – with Town aiming to – at least – keep 4th place and make it eight unbeaten.
The action on Saturday will be concluded when Wolves play host to Aston Villa in a Midlands derby. Wolves’ form has improved recently with them beaten just once in the last four under Paul Lambert. The former Villa boss will see his old side – under Steve Bruce now and bidding to react to a defeat in the last game – come to Molineux in the evening kick off.
Monday night will see the action rounded off as Brentford – unbeaten in three in the league – play host to title chasing Newcastle. The Magpies will head to Griffin Park knowing Brighton might have extended their lead at the top with Reading, Huddersfield and Leeds potentially closing in on them too!
It goes without saying the expectation; most definitely the hope at least, will be for a positive result. But will this happen? We’ll find out soon enough.
Ahead of the game we’re looking for your views on what way you think it will go, which requires you to vote in the latest poll in one of the options you have been given.
However, don’t just look also have a say. We don’t just want your vote, which you can do to the right, we also want some thoughts and views ahead of the game as well so share these below.
