As the start of October looms, the Sky Bet Championship table is starting to shape up. With seven matches already played and only two more rounds of matches before the international break, this week serves as the last opportunity for clubs to pick up points ahead of the two-week break.
As always, in this piece we will highlight three matches we think you should be looking out for this midweek from the second tier, and let us know in the comments any other thoughts or predictions you may have ahead of the opening round of October fixtures.
1. The Farke Derby
Tuesday night will once again see the return of current Leeds United manager Daniel Farke to Carrow Road where he enjoyed fantastic times at The Canaries, winning the Sky Bet Championship on two occasions.
Following the capitulation that Norwich suffered at Elland Road in the semi-final of the playoffs against the same opposition last season, they will be desperate to get one over on The Whites, and come into this match off the back of two impressive wins against Watford and Derby County, the latter including a hat-trick for Spanish winger Borja Sainz.
Leeds United are yet to concede a goal on their travels this season and will be hoping to continue their unbeaten run on their travels when the two sides meet under the lights, in a match where if results go their way could see them enter the automatic promotion places.
2. Baggies Look To Bounce Back
Perhaps rather surprisingly, West Brom suffered their first defeat of the season on Saturday lunchtime against a fairly inconsistent Sheffield Wednesday side, and will be looking to bounce back against another promotion helpful on Tuesday night in Middlesbrough. Forward Josh Maja took his account for the season to seven goals in as many games, and will be looking to help his side bounce back with three points when they face Michael Carrick’s side at The Hawthorns.
The visitors currently sit 8th in the table after a mixed start to the season, including three wins, two draws and two defeats. Middlesbrough lost this fixture 4-2 at the start of last season, so will be desperate to better this scoreline by stifling the hosts’ free-flowing attacking football, similar to how Danny Rohl’s Sheffield Wednesday side did at the weekend.
Victory for West Brom could see them increase their lead at the top of the second tier to four points. With another winnable home match on Saturday when they host Millwall too, Carlos Corberan’s side will be doing all they can to make sure it is them that are top of the table heading into the international break.
3.
After Erol Bulut was relieved of his duties as Cardiff City boss after a very poor start to the season, the worst possible start to interim boss Omar Riza’s start came at Hull City on the weekend. Despite taking the lead through Callum Robinson on 18 minutes, The Bluebirds ended up getting comfortably beaten by four goals to one.
Cardiff sit rock bottom of the league and have the worst attack in the league, only finding the net on two occasions this term – they also have the worst defence in the league, having already conceded 17 goals in their opening 7 matches. Riza’s first home game sees Millwall visit Wales on Tuesday, a club who have had a mixed start to the season but may have turned a corner in terms of performances on the pitch, and come into this one following a routine 3-1 win over Preston North End last time out.
Visiting manager Neil Harris had been under pressure following the poor start his side had to the season, which included three defeats in their opening five matches in all competitions, including a shameful performance in the EFL cup against League One Leyton Orient. Still yet to register three points away from home this season, Millwall will be hoping that Tuesday will be the night to do so, against a Cardiff City side who are in dreadful form.
So there are our three matches that we believe have the most riding on them out of the midweek Championship fixtures. As always, let us know what matches you are looking out for and how you think your team will do in the comments!
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