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Match Previews

Sky Bet Championship: Matchday 8 preview

17 September 2015

After a riveting round of midweek action that saw 24 goals, the Sky Bet Championship is back with 12 fixtures that stretch across four days this weekend.

Brighton & Hove Albion - who boast a five-point cushion at the summit of the division - are now the only unbeaten side, following defeats for Birmingham City, Cardiff City and Leeds United on Tuesday.

Here is the full schedule for Matchday 8 Sky Bet Championship matches (kick-off is 3pm unless stated):

Friday 18th September

Ipswich Town v Birmingham City (7.45pm - live on Sky Sports)

Saturday 19th September

Blackburn Rovers v Charlton Athletic
Brentford v Preston North End
Bristol City v Reading
Huddersfield Town v Bolton Wanderers
Hull City v Queens Park Rangers
Milton Keynes Dons v Leeds United
Rotherham United v Cardiff City
Nottingham Forest v Middlesbrough (12:30 - live on Sky Sports)
Sheffield Wednesday v Fulham
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Brighton & Hove Albion

Monday 21st September

Derby County v Burnley (7.45pm - live on Sky Sports)

Brighton's undefeated streak this term will be put to the test on the road at Wolverhampton Wanderers, following back-to-back home fixtures at the Amex Stadium.

Read more: The unbeaten teams in The Football League

Chris Hughton's men have picked up the maximum six points in the last week - with wins over Hull City and Rotherham United - and visit a Wolves side who fell to Bolton Wanderers last Saturday.

With results going their way in midweek, Middlesbrough are now Brighton's closest challengers, and they kick-off the Saturday action in their lunchtime meeting with the in-form Nottingham Forest.

Boro have registered victory in their last three encounters, while Forest have posted successive triumphs for the first time this season in the last seven days, with wins at Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham.

There's also a top-six clash between Hull and Queens Park Rangers,  who lock horns for the first time since they were relegated from the Premier League last season.

Birmingham and Cardiff's bids to return to winning ways begin at Ipswich Town and Rotherham United respectively, with the former the first of three games live on Sky Sports this weekend.

Read more: Live on Sky Sports: Ipswich Town v Birmingham City

Leeds United's chance to bounce back from their first League loss of the campaign comes at Milton Keynes Dons, an encounter that they have taken three points from on the last three occasions.

Blackburn Rovers are the only other side alongside Rotherham in the Sky Bet Championship yet to pick up victory this season. They came close on Wednesday after leading twice against QPR, but were forced to settle for a point in a 2-2 draw. Their latest opportunity to get off the mark comes against Charlton Athletic, who also dropped points in the week, in a 2-1 loss to Huddersfield Town.

Read more: Four Football League sides still in search of first win

It was a bittersweet moment for ex-Addicks player and manager Chris Powell, and they host a Bolton Wanderers side unbeaten in four this time around.

Two sides with a solitary win to their name this season are Brentford and Preston North End, who face off at Griffin Park on Saturday. They're joined in the bottom six by Bristol City, who also have just the one victory, and the Robins play Reading at Ashton Gate.

Elsewhere, Sheffield Wednesday welcome Fulham to Hillsborough and Derby County host Burnley in the Monday night's live Sky Sports game at the iPro Stadium.

Match official appointments

The officials appointed to this weekend's Football League matches were announced earlier this week.

Click here to see which officials are on duty in the Sky Bet Championship this weekend.

Don't miss it!

We will be providing match updates from all the weekend's Championship action on Twitter, via @SkyBetChamp.



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