Championship preview

18 August 2009 14:55
A busy night of midweek action in the Championship offers the opportunity to build some momentum. Early season rustiness should have been shaken off during the opening two games of the season and the 22 teams on show on Tuesday will now be looking to kick on. That statement certainly applies to Coventry City and Swansea, who currently occupy standings at opposing ends of the table. Coventry are the only side in the second tier still to boast a 100 per cent record and they go in search of a third consecutive success at Doncaster. Swansea, in contrast, have yet to get off the mark and they will be hoping for a reversal in fortune at home to Reading. Cardiff have made a positive start to the new campaign under Dave Jones' guidance and put their unbeaten record on the line at Plymouth. Middlesbrough appear to have shaken off any relegation hangover they may have suffered, taking four points so far, and they will remain among the frontrunners with a positive result away at Scunthorpe. Sheffield United and Leicester have yet to taste defeat in the 2009/10 campaign and they go head-to-head at Bramall Lane. West Brom, another of the sides to have slipped out of the Premier League last term, travel to Peterborough to take on a Posh side still getting to grips with life at this level. Bristol City claimed their first win of the season in controversial circumstances on Saturday and will be keen to put the events of their meeting with Crystal Palace firmly behind them when they entertain Queens Park Rangers. Talking of Crystal Palace, they must be careful not to let the disappointment of the weekend setback at Ashton Gate distract them when they head to Roy Keane's Ipswich. Preston have made a steady opening to their campaign, claiming back-to-back draws, but will be hoping to ignite away at Barnsley. Blackpool are another side standing on two points from as many games and they play host to Derby in midweek. The Rams' East Midland rivals Nottingham Forest will count themselves unfortunate to only have one point to show from their efforts so far, but they know victory at home to Watford is crucial.

Source: SKY_Sports