Npower Championship Preview 010412

There is a strong line-up of Good Friday fixtures to kick-start the Npower Championship Easter weekend beginning with Reading vs. Leeds United which provides the first live action at 2pm.

After a stunning 2-4 success over automatic promotion rivals West Ham United at Upton Park, the Royals are now firmly in the driving seat for a return to the Barclays Premier League and can extend their four point buffer over the Hammers with a win against the Whites.

A result for the hosts would, albeit temporarily, take them above Southampton at the head of affairs and Brian McDermott’s men have to be fancied strongly as their excellent form is of major contrast to Leeds who continue to struggle for consistency.

United are quite conceivably better on the road having recorded a 0-1 success at Millwall in the middle of comprehensive losses to Nottingham Forest and Watford at Elland Road, however with the play-offs now a distant dream it is unlikely that Neil Warnock’s side will be able to live with a driven and talented Reading outfit pushing for the top flight.

Should Reading land the odds of around 4/6, West Ham will be virtually cut adrift by the time they make the trip to face Barnsley at 5pm for the second live Good Friday instalment.

But regardless of that outcome, Sam Allardyce’s troops should be well set to leave Oakwell with three points as Barnsley are woefully on the decline having won just one of their last six fixtures.

Watford and Blackpool lock horns at Vicarage Road with the visitors keen to consolidate a play-off place, whilst Brighton will aim to do the same on the road at Burnley who could put a dent in Gus Poyet’s plans following their recent 1-5 thrashing if Portsmouth at Fratton Park.

Debt ridden Pompey are away from home this week however they will not have to travel far with Southampton waiting in the wings for a hot South Coast derby clash at St Mary’s.

That fixture kicks off Saturday’s events at 1pm and may well be the most thrilling encounter of the whole weekend.

Naturally, table toppers Soton are red hot favourites to prevail at 1/2 but things may not be so straightforward as matches of this kind often thrown up surprises.

The bustling derby atmosphere will inevitably create another dimension to the highly anticipated contest and despite the disparity in both clubs’ league positions it will undoubtedly be a massive examination of the hosts’ title credentials.

Bottom club Doncaster Rovers will be hoping Portsmouth come away empty handed but such an occurrence could prove immaterial for the South Yorkshire club who will be up against it away at Leicester City.

Nigel Pearson’s charges have a glimmer of hope in terms of making the play-offs and are likely to be far too strong for their opponents who appear destined for a drop to Npower League One.

Meanwhile, promotion candidates Birmingham City will be solid bankers to beat Crystal Palace at home, whilst Middlesboro and Cardiff City do battle knowing that a defeat is likely to leave a top six finish in jeopardy.

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02/04/2012     © Frixo 2024