In what looks set to be a mouth-watering midlands derby West Brom will be hoping to continue their pressure on Blackburn at the summit of The Championship table. The Baggies have lost the craft of Koumas in midfield, but have added exciting young prospects to their impressive line up.
Aston Villa have had a disappointing start, but will be hoping the intense atmosphere of a derby can bring the best out of their under-performing stars. Gareth Barry already looks like a big loss for the Villans, and has placed huge amounts of pressure on the younger players, such as Gabriel Agbonlahor, and Luke Young to step up and perform.
Key Man Watch;
Aston Villa = Gabriel Agbonlahor: The young speedster has been the liveliest Villa player by far this season, and represents the biggest danger to a solid West Brom defence.
West Brom = Leroy Lita: The young striker looked impressive on debut in the cup on Monday, and Baggies fans will be hoping he can provide the winning edge in this derby clash.
Verdict: 1-2, I am backing Villa to push West Brom at home, but for the Baggies to pull through.
Southampton V Watford
Two of the promoted teams meet at St Marys this week as Jamie Walker takes his promotion chasing hornets to meet Southampton. The Saints have suitably impressed so far in their return to second tier of English football, but come up against a Watford side who have shown that their domination of League One last term was no fluke, as they look set to push West Brom and Blackburn all the way.
Southampton have waste little time in adjusting to The Championship and have picked up impressive results which leaves them three points clear of those below them. I expect them to come back into play-off contention once they come through their tough run of fixtures and will test a good Watford side.
Watford will be confident of having enough to see off the challenge of the Saints however. Expect to see Chevanton and Gareth Barry return after sitting out Watfords cup fixture midweek, with Tamas Prisken and Mancosu likely to make way.
Key man watch;
Southampton = Teemu Tainio: The ex-Spurs craftsman has his work cut out against a Watford team who suffocate their opposition of the ball. Tainio must use what possession he gets incisively if Southampton are to get anything out of the fixture.
Watford = Hameur Bouazza: The young marksman has provided the finishing touches to Watfords possession football this season and his goals will win many a match this season.
Verdict: 1-2, I dont see Southampton getting enough of the ball to trouble Watford. The hornets to take the points back home.
Norwich City V Reading
In an early season 6-pointer the Royals travel east to take on fellow strugglers Norwich in what promises to be an intense affair. Pressure has been mounting on both Chris Ratcliff and Courtney Medlicott as their early season form has seen both sides struggle for points.
Norwich will hope to build on an away point at Charlton and look set to name an unchanged line-up. Matty Fryatt is still searching for his first goal for the Canaries, and will look to develop his relationship with David Healy once again this weekend.
Reading pushed promotion favourites West Brom all the way last week and subsequently look set to employ the same system. A five man midfield will look to suffocate Norwich while Mista and Heskey form a powerful front line.
Key Man Watch:
Norwich = David Healy; The Northern Irishman has been a menace all season, even while those around him have shirked responsibility and will keep the Royals brittle back four busy.
Reading = Emile Heskey; The powerhouse caused West Brom trouble last week and has convinced Mr Medlicott he is a first team regular. He must do the same this week if his team are to take all three points back to Reading.
Verdict: 1-1, Both teams have struggled for goals this season and I dont see that changing here. Heskey and Healy to provide the firepower.
Coventry City V Middlesbrough
Seperated only by goal difference in The Championship table Coventry entertain an exciting Boro team at The Ricoh arena in what promises to be a high scoring affair. Both teams have scored freely of late, while conceding almost as freely.
Adewade Wahab looks set to make his debut in the Coventry midfield, while Mingo could come back in for Zapotocny in defence following a poor showing midweek against Everton from the Czech defender. Coventrys strength is their effective passing game and will for space in an attack minded Boro midfield.
Middlesbrough will stick with the same team which incisively beat Southampton 3-0 last outing and will hope their striker force can repeat that cutting edge. A Boro win would put pressure on Watford above them and lift the Riverside club into automatic promotion contention.
Key Man Watch:
Coventry City = Joey Barton; Scored a good brace midweek against Everton and is making the The Sky Blues team tick at the moment.
Middlesbrough = Yakubu; The Nigernian International has partnered Zalyeta up front this season with devastating effect and will look to continue his fine goalscoring form to help Boro to three points.
Verdict: 2-2, Boro will be hoping to claim all three points from newly promoted Coventry, but The Sky Blues showed great resilience drawing at Bolton and I am tipping an exciting score draw.
Cardiff City V Charlton Athletic
In a relegation double header the second 6-pointer in the championship will be played out at Ninian Park as under pressure JD Jaques entertains Brian McGuigan and his ageing Charlton outfit.
Cardiff City will be hoping that there £14million signing Hugo Viana starts to pay back some of the cash and faith which the Cardiff boss has shown in him after a disappointing first couple of weeks with the Bluebirds. Juan Albin looks likely to miss out again, and rumours are circulating that the Spaniard is refusing to play under Jaques.
Charltons defensive midfielder Claude Makelele looks set to miss out through back problems, so Rurik Gislason will step back into the Addicks midfield. Speedster Dennis Rommedahl, and powerful striker Brian McBride are set to make their debuts as Charlton seek to increase Cardiffs woes.
Key Man Watch:
Cardiff City; Rafaelle Palladino = The Italian front man has failed to live up to last seasons performances so far and Bluebirds fans are expectant of their man to move them away from trouble.
Charlton Athletic; Dennis Rommedahl = The Danish Flyer is back for a second stint at the Addicks and will add some much needed pace to the Charlton attack.
Verdict: 1-1, Cardiffs confidence looks brittle and Charlton have the resources to take something back to London.
Blackburn Rovers V Bolton Wanderers
In a tasty Lancashire derby Bolton visit Ewood Park looking to upset the so far dominant Rovers. Bolton struggled at home to Coventry last outing, but looked lively upfront and trotters fans will be quietly optimistic of taking something back to Bolton.
Ewood Park looks set to be full in support of their team as new manager Amilcar Vasquez imprints his identity on the promotion hopefuls. Shabani Nonda may come in for James Vaughen in attack, but otherwise Rovers will remain unchanged from the team which beat Cardiff last week.
Bolton have no injury worries after resting several key members from their cup exploits midweek and expect Christian Poulson, Ludovic Guily and Daniel Conti all to make the Trotters eleven. Niko Kranjcar continues up-front alone as Bolton will look to stifle Rovers in midfield.
Key Man Watch:
Blackburn Rovers = Morten Gamst Pedersen; the midfielder has shown he is too good for Championship football by tearing through defences regularly so far this season. With 6 goals and 3 assist already Bolton will have their hands full stopping the Norwegian winger.
Bolton Wanderers = Niko Kranjcar = The Croatian international has provided the bulk of the goals for his team this year. Plying a loan role up top, Kranjcar keeps defenders busy and can be relied upon for a goal.
Verdict: 2-2, Many will see this as a win for Blackburn but I can see Bolton frustrating Rovers. Kranjcar is on fire at the moment and can fire Bolton to a good away point.
