Following another busy midweek schedule, the Sky Bet Championship takes centre stage this weekend with League One and League Two Clubs competing in Round One of the FA Cup.
Here are just some of the key games coming up this weekend…
Cardiff City v Bristol City
Severnside rivals Cardiff City and Bristol City will go head-to-head in this week's Friday night football, in what promises to be a fantastic match. The Bluebirds got back to winning ways in midweek but remain four points behind their next opponents, who themselves ended a five-game winless run last time out. A win for the hosts, therefore, would reduce the gap between the sides to just a point, while Bristol City could move into the top two ahead of Saturday's action if they pick up maximum points here.
Brentford v Middlesbrough
Last season's Play-Off Finalists Brentford are 10th in the table but just two points outside the Play-Offs going into their next match, against sixth-placed Middlesbrough. The Bees have the division's top scorer in their ranks in Ivan Toney, who is already into double figures for the season, and his task will be to break down a Boro defence that has conceded the fewest goals in the Championship to date in 2020/21. This will be the 30th competitive meeting between these sides.
Nottingham Forest v Wycombe Wanderers
Saturday will be a significant day for Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers, who will face off for the first time in league action, having only ever previously met in the League Cup. For the visitors, it represents a chance to win a third consecutive match and move out of the relegation zone, something that had looked unlikely just a week ago. They could even leapfrog Forest, who sit 20th but will be full of confidence after a late midweek win over Coventry City, their first home win in eight games.
Norwich City v Swansea City
There's no doubting that this is one of the weekend's standout games, as third-placed Norwich City host second-placed Swansea City in a battle between two promotion hopefuls. Both come into this one on the back of a midweek draw and having won five league games so far this season, and there was also little to separate them when they last met, with Norwich running out 1-0 winners at Carrow Road in March 2019. The incentive for Swansea is a potential place at the top of the table, while Norwich could leapfrog them into second with a win.
Rotherham United v Preston North End
Preston North End might have lost all of their home games so far in 2020/21, but their form on the road couldn't be more different. Alex Neil's men have won four in a row on their travels, and inflicted a first home defeat of the season on league leaders Reading last time out. Next, they head to Rotherham United, who have lost back-to-back games and will be hoping to get back to winning ways here. Another victory for Preston would leave them within touching distance of the Play-Off places.
