Todays Championship Rivals Preview

Luton Town 24th

Saturdays 2-0 defeat by Southampton left The Hatters five points adrift of safety and staring the trap door right in the face. They face a trip to London today and a clash with a QPR team who seem to be hauling themselves away from the relegation battle following a battling 1-0 win at Coventry on Saturday. Luton face tough games against Derby and Sunderland in the next few weeks and with points at a premium, defeat today could seal their fate. QPR’s third win in four games has come at a good time for the club and they know that three points today would go a long way to securing their Championship safety, but they have a hellish run in with games against Sunderland, Cardiff, Wolves and Stoke.

Vital Prediction. These are tough times for Luton and i fear they will almost certainly be condemmed today. QPR to win 2-1

Southend 23rd

Losing 3-0 at home to Colchester on Friday was a major body blow for The Shrimpers and a trip to Preston is hardly going to fill them with much confidence. Southend’s defence has sprung a major leak lately, conceeding seven goals in two matches and Preston striker Dave Nugent will be chomping at the bit. Having said that though, Preston seem to be making it as difficult as possible for themselves to reach the play offs, with succesive defeats at Leeds, QPR and Crystal Palace in their last three games, although all were away from home.

Vital Prediction. Preston have been much stronger at home and i fear that Southend will be on the wrong side of a defeat. 2-0 to Preston.

Barnsley 22nd

Saturday’s 5-1 defeat at Ipswich has left the South Yorkshiremen in the relegation zone and today they host high flying Birmingham City. Tykes boss Simon Davey will probably be targeting their forthcoming games against Southend, Crystal Palace and Leicester as potential point getters and anything today will be a bonus. Birmingham boss Steve Bruce admited that after Saturdays 1-0 defeat to Burnley his side werent at the races and he will be expecting a much better performance form his Premiership chasing squad today.

Vital Prediction. Tough one for Birmingham as Barnsley will fight them all the way and i fancy both teams to come away with a point. 1-1

Leeds Utd 21st

Leeds boss Dennis Wise could be masterminding a great escape at the moment, with Saturdays 2-1 win against Plymouth extending the Elland Road sides unbeaten run to five matches and dragging them out of the relegation zone. They face a tricky trip to Layer Road today and a game against a Colchester side still harbouring feint hopes of a play off place. The U’s 3-0 win at Southend on Saturday extended their winning run to three games and with only one defeat in their last seventeen home matches Layer Road is becoming a fortress for them.

Vital Prediction. The Leeds bubble has to burst soon and today could be the day. Colchester look solid on home ground and i take them to win 1-0.

The Tigers 20th

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QPR 19th

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Leicester City 18th

Though six points clear of the drop zone the Walkers Stadium team aren’t totally safe yet and Staurdays 1-1 home draw with Derby could be seen as two points dropped. They travel to the South Coast today to take on a Plymouth side who seem to have settled for a safe midtable finish after suffering three straight defeats aginst Ipswich Burnley and Leeds. Leicester have failed to win in their last seven league games and boss Rob Kelly knows that today’s result could go a long way to leaving his side pretty much safe for the season.

Vital Prediction. With Leicester having a bit more to play for than a lacklustre Plymouth side i fancy them to take the points today. 2-0 to Leicester.

Burnley 17th

The Clarets surprise 1-0 win against Birmingham on Saturday has all but secured their Championship status for another year and takes them to 49 points for the season which should be enough to stay up on. They entertain a Cardiff side today who are seeing the play off places slip out of their grasp following Saturdays 2-1 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday which was their third loss on the bounce.

Vital Prediction. Two teams who are on opposite sides of the form fence at the moment. Burnley to sneak it 1-0

Predicted Scores

QPR 2-1 Luton

Preston 2-0 Southend

Barnsley 1-1 Birmingham

Colchester 1-0 Leeds Utd

Wolves 1-1 The Tigers

Plymouth 0-2 Leicester

Burnley 1-0 Cardiff

Predicted Table

17th Burnley 51pts

18th Leicester 50pts

19th QPR 49pts

20th The Tigers 45pts

21st Leeds Utd 42pts

22nd Barnsley 42pts

23rd Southend 39pts

24th Luton 37pts