We look ahead to the weekend action in the Sky Bet Championship.
KICKING ONRotherham United v Ipswich Town
Two sides chasing causes at opposite ends of the table are Rotherham United and Ipswich Town, who meet this Saturday at the New York Stadium.
The Millers have taken four points from their last six available thanks to a 4-2 triumph over Bolton Wanderers and a 1-1 draw away to Charlton Athletic.
The win against Bolton gave them some breathing space above the Sky Bet Championship drop zone, but they’re now back within three points of the relegation places after Millwall beat Nottingham Forest last week.
Ipswich, meanwhile, are chasing the automatic promotion spaces, and could be occupying them had they not dropped points to bottom- half sides Brighton & Hove Albion and Wigan Athletic in their last two showings.
Despite taking just one point from a possible six, Mick McCarthy’s men are still just one victory away from the top, and should results go their way this weekend they could draw level with Bournemouth and Derby County.
Ploughing on: Ipswich have won all of their last five meetings with Rotherham, and the Tractor Boys have amassed a 13-5 goal aggregate scoreline in that time.
FRESH HOPE
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have followed Brighton's footsteps with a mid-season managerial change and Dougie Freedman's first match in charge of Forest is at the Amex Stadium against the Seagulls.
Brighton appointed Chris Hughton at the beginning of January and have endured a mixed start under his reign in the league, posting two wins and two losses, with one of the latter coming at the hands of Blackpool last time out.
That defeat pulled them back to within two points of the first relegation place, and they could find themselves back there for the first time since December with unfavourable results on Saturday.
Freedman's reign as Forest boss began at the start of the week after they parted company with Stuart Pearce on Sunday following a 1-0 loss to Millwall.
The former Bolton boss' first task will be arresting Forest's poor run of just one win in 11 in all competitions, starting on the south coast against the Seagulls.
Home improvements: The home side has not won in this fixture in six meetings, since Brighton triumphed 1-0 at the Amex back in 2011.
NEW BLOOD
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City
Sheffield Wednesday and Cardiff City lock horns this weekend with both clubs sitting amongst the Sky Bet Championship’s mid-table battle, but deadline day activity from the pair could see their fortunes change.
Wednesday recruited defender Marnick Vermijl from Manchester United, CSKA Sofia striker Sergiu Bus, Portuguese midfielder Filipe Joaquim Melo Silva, and Lewis McGugan on loan from Watford for the second time this season, in a busy final 24 hours of the transfer window.
Cardiff also saw several new faces arrive at the entrance door, the biggest of which was front man Eoin Doyle from Chesterfield, who has already scored 25 goals this term. Everton duo Matthew Kennedy and Conor McAleny were also drafted in by manager Russell Slade, and all are in contention for the match against the Owls, who the Bluebirds trail by only four points.
AROUND THE GROUNDS
Sky Bet Championship leaders Bournemouth travel to the struggling Wigan Athletic this weekend with a chance of recording consecutive victories for the first time since December.
The Cherries overcame Watford 2-0 at the Goldsands Stadium last time out, while opponents Wigan drew a blank with Ipswich Town. The Latics are yet to win in front of their home fans in seven attempts under boss Malky Mackay.
Derby County kept the pressure on pace-setters Bournemouth with a 2-0 win at Cardiff last week, and they take on Bolton Wanderers at the iPro Stadium.
The Rams have emerged victorious in five of their last six league games, while Bolton haven’t won in any of their last four in all competitions, which includes the midweek defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup.
Middlesbrough welcome Charlton Athletic to the Riverside Stadium fresh from their 1-0 triumph over fellow Play-Off challengers Brentford.
The win saw Boro go within a point of top spot, while visitors Charlton have endured contrasting fortunes recently, having failed to record a victory in any of their last 10 league showings.
Unwanted record: If Charlton fail to register a win this week, they’ll set a season-high Championship record of 12 games without three points.
Following a strong start under new manager Alex Neil, Norwich City have seen their form stutter of late with just one point being taken from their last two, and they host bottom- of- the- table Blackpool at Carrow Road.
The Tangerines registered just their fourth win of the campaign last weekend when they beat Brighton 1-0, reducing the gap to Championship safety to nine points.
Wolverhampton Wanderers take on Reading having cut the deficit to the Play-Off spaces to two points, and they could finish the weekend in the top six should Watford slip up at home to Blackburn Rovers.
Elsewhere, Fulham and Birmingham City meet at Craven Cottage, while Leeds United could record their third victory on the spin when they take on Brentford at Elland Road.
The entertainers: Brentford are currently on a league-high run of 15 games without a draw - a result they’ve posted just four times this term.
Millwall face Huddersfield Town having given their quest for Championship safety a boost last Saturday by beating Nottingham Forest, while the travelling Terriers fell to 2-1 at home to Leeds.
SKY BET CHAMPIONSHIP WEEKEND FIXTURES
Saturday 7th February 2015
Brighton & Hove Albion v Nottingham Forest
Derby County v Bolton Wanderers
Fulham v Birmingham City
Leeds United v Brentford
Middlesbrough v Charlton Athletic
Millwall v Huddersfield Town
Norwich City v Blackpool
Rotherham United v Ipswich Town
Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City
Watford v Blackburn Rovers
Wigan Athletic v Bournemouth
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Reading