Brighton & Hove Albion have the chance to return to the top of the Sky Bet Championship on Friday night.
The Seagulls will move above Newcastle United with victory, but they face fellow promotion hopefuls Sheffield Wednesday in what it set to be an entertaining encounter live on Sky Sports.The TV cameras will focus on two derbies the following day, with west London rivals QPR and Fulham getting under way at lunchtime, before Barnsley and Leeds United complete the weekend action on Saturday evening.
Among the 3pm fixtures, it's top versus bottom when Newcastle United host Rotherham United, Derby County entertain Reading, and managerless Nottingham Forest take on Bristol City with both clubs on seven-match winless runs.
Sky Bet Championship: Matchday 27 fixtures (3pm kick-offs unless stated)
Friday 20th January 2017
Brighton & Hove Albion v Sheffield Wednesday (7:45pm - live on Sky Sports)
Saturday 21st January 2017
Aston Villa v Preston North End
Barnsley v Leeds United (5:30pm - live on Sky Sports)
Blackburn Rovers v Birmingham City
Cardiff City v Burton Albion
Derby County v Reading
Huddersfield Town v Ipswich Town
Newcastle United v Rotherham United
Norwich City v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest v Bristol City
Queens Park Rangers v Fulham (12:30pm - live on Sky Sports)
Wigan Athletic v Brentford
Referees: Click here to see the match officials on duty
Five facts
1. EFL founder members, Aston Villa and Preston, meet for the 100th time in league competition. The Villans lead the head-to-head 50-35, with 14 draws.
2. Birmingham's win in the reverse fixture against Blackburn brought the head-to-head record to 46 victories apiece in all competition, along with 30 draws – so bragging rights are at stake this weekend.
3. The hosts of a Derby versus Reading fixture have not emerged victorious in the EFL since the 2010/11 season. Five of the nine games since have been won by the visitors, with the spoils shared in four.
4. Bristol City have won the last four against Nottingham Forest, coming from behind to triumph in the previous two by 2-1 scorelines.
5. Brentford have won just once in 16 visits to Wigan. Their sole success was a 3-1 victory in 2001, which ended a streak of five straight away defeats to the Latics.
From the dugout
Social media
📸 Welcome to Blues, Emilio Nsue! 🔵 #BCFCpic.twitter.com/FdfA55hOpF
— Birmingham City FC (@BCFC) January 19, 2017
Birthday wishes to @Winnall19! #swfcpic.twitter.com/liAsShzyAm
— Sheffield Wednesday (@swfc) January 19, 2017
📰 A look back on the life of 'one of our own' - Baroness Rachael Heyhoe-Flint - https://t.co/krWl6T8yzF#WWFCpic.twitter.com/zbzIUiHcvv
— Wolves (@OfficialWolves) January 18, 2017
BREAKING NEWS | #itfc dealt a major injury blow with the news that @AdamWebster31 is ruled out for the season
— Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) January 19, 2017
➡️️ https://t.co/prEpdTDhBtpic.twitter.com/2hJyzuXi5C
#NFFC can confirm that the club have parted company with head coach Philippe Montanier. https://t.co/uWe14CZ5O2pic.twitter.com/lobMR5tX0D
— Nottingham Forest FC (@NFFC) January 14, 2017
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