SkyBet Championship: Gameweek 7 Previews & Predictions

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Taylor Cornish
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Sunday 27th September

13:15 Middlesbrough vs Leeds

Team News

Middlesbrough;

  • Starting XI: Dimi, Kalas, Ayala, Amorebieta, Friend, Clayton, Leadbitter, Downing, Adomah, Stuani, Nugent.

Leeds;

  • Starting XI: Silvestri, Berardi, Bellusci, Bamba, Taylor, Adeyemi, Cook, Mowatt, Botaka, Dallas, Antenucci.

Stat Facts

  • Leeds have won in 3 of the previous 5 meetings with Middlesbrough.

  • Middlesbrough have only beaten Leeds once in the previous 10 meetings at The Riverside Stadium (4D 5L).

  • In all competitions, Boro have won 5 on the bounce, and are unbeaten in 6.

  • Boro have conceded an average of 0.4 goals per home league game in 2015.

  • Boro have won 81% of their league home games in 2015.

  • Leeds are unbeaten away from home this season, winning 2 league away games on the bounce.

  • In 2015, 80% of Leeds’ league away games have been decided by 1 goal or less.

  • Leeds average 1.5 goals per away league game in 2015.

Prediction: Middlesbrough 1-0 Leeds

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Saturday 26th September

12:30 MK Dons vs Derby

Team News

MK Dons;

  • Darren Potter (knee), Cody Cropper (knee), Matt Upson (calf), Dale Jennings (knee), Joe Walsh (knee) and Mark Randall (pelvis) all remain sidelined through injury.

  • Carl Baker, Dean Bowditch and Ben Reeves are doubtful.

  • Samir Carruthers is suspended.

  • Jake Forster-Caskey could make his club debut.

Derby;

  • Will Hughes and Craig Bryson are both still out with knee injuries.

  • Tom Ince and Chris Baird have returned to fitness and will feature in the squad.

Stat Facts

  • This will be the first ever meeting between the sides.

  • MK Dons have taken 1 point from the last 15 available, losing 4 on the bounce.

  • MK Dons have only 2 goals in 360 minutes of home football in the 2015/16 Championship.

  • Derby are unbeaten in the league away from home this season (2W 2D).

  • Derby have only conceded 2 goals away from home in the 2015/16 Championship (0.5 goals per game).

Prediction: MK Dons 0-2 Derby

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15:00 Birmingham vs Rotherham

Team News

Birmingham;

  • David Cotterill is doubtful with a heel injury.

  • Neal Eardley will miss out with a shoulder injury.

Rotherham;

  • Lee Frecklington has returned to fitness and is available for selection.

  • Kirk Broadfoot has finished serving his suspension and is likely to be named in the squad.

Stat Facts

  • Rotherham have failed to beat Birmingham in every meeting since 1989.

  • Rotherham haven’t won at St.Andrews since 1966.

  • Birmingham won both fixtures against Rotherham last season, winning this tie 2-1.

  • Birmingham’s have only lost twice at home in the league in 2015.

  • Birmingham average 1.4 league home goals per game in 2015.

  • Rotherham picked up their first win last weekend, but are winless away from home this season.

  • On the road this season, Rotherham average 1.25 goals per game whilst they concede 2.25 per game.

Prediction: Birmingham 2-0 Rotherham

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15:00 Bolton vs Brighton

Team News;

Bolton;

  • Darren Pratley and Dorian Dervite will both miss this game as they continue to recover from ankle injuries.

  • Zak Clough will undergo surgery on a shoulder injury so is unavailable.

  • David Wheater and Max Clayton played in an U21’s match in the week and are in contention for selection.

  • Derik Osede is suspended.

  • Emile Heskey is doubtful with a hamstring injury.

Brighton;

  • Uwe Huenemeier and Sam Baldock have both returned to fitness and are available.

  • Tomer Hemed is a doubt through hamstring trouble.

  • Connor Goldson could make his Brighton debut.

Stat Facts

  • Brighton have won 3 of the last 5 games in the head to head, Bolton the other 2.

  • Bolton won this fixture 1-0 in February.

  • Bolton have only won once this season (2-1 vs Wolves).

  • Bolton have failed to score in 6 of their 9 games this season (all competitions).

  • Bolton average 1.2 goals per home game in 2015.

  • Brighton are still unbeaten in the Championship this season, winning 6 of their 8 fixtures.

  • Brighton have average 1.5 goals per leage away game this season.

  • Brighton have conceded an average of 0.6 goals per game in the Championship this season.

Prediction: Bolton 1-1 Brighton

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15:00 Brentford vs Sheffield Wednesday

Team News

Brentford;

  • James Tarkowski could return from a calf problem.

  • Otherwise Brentford’s injury list is in double figures with Maxime Colin the latest long-term injury to join.

  • Bjelland and Jota are still missing.

Sheffield Wednesday;

  • Carlos Carvalhal has no injury concerns so should field a strong squad.

Stat Facts

  • Brentford have just 1 win in the last 5 head to head games, Sheffield Wednesday winning 2.

  • 10 of the previous 11 meetings have been decided by 1 goal or less.

  • Brentford have kept 3 clean sheets at home in 2015, all coming in the 2nd half of last season (vs Wigan, Blackpool and Rotherham).

  • Brentford only lost 5 of their 23 home games in the Championship last season.

  • Brentford have conceded 2.5 goals per home game in 2015/16 (all competitions).

  • Wednesday are winless away from home in the Championship this season (2D 2L).

  • Wednesday average 1 goal per away game in 2015/16 Championship.

Prediction: Brentford 2-2 Sheffield Wednesday

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15:00 Burnley vs Reading

Team News

Burnley;

  • Lukas Jutkiewicz, Ashley Barnes (both knee) and Daniel Lafferty (collarbone) are still sidelined for the long-term.

  • Andre Gray will face a late fitness test to determine whether he will play.

  • Fredrik Ulvestad played 90 minutes against Hartlepool in the week as he seeks full fitness following an ankle injury.

  • Joey Barton could be in contention after making the bench vs Derby and playing 90 minutes in the week.

  • Dean Marney and Kevin Long continue their rehabilitation from cruciate ligament injuries.

Reading;

  • Anton Ferdinand (thigh strain) is the only doubt for Reading.

  • Orlando Sa sits out the last of his 3 game ban.

Stat Facts

  • Reading have won 3 of the previous 5 meetings between the sides, Burnley winning just 1.

  • Although at Turf Moor, Burnley have won 3 of the last 5 head to head matches.

  • Burnley are unbeaten in 5 league matches, winning 4 of them.

  • Burnley are unbeaten at home since April.

  • Burnley have taken 10 points from a possible 12 at Turf Moor in 2015/16.

  • Burnley average 2 goals a game at home this season.

  • Reading are unbeaten in 5 away from home (all competitions).

  • Reading’s only loss this season was vs Birmingham where they missed an injury time penalty, as well as being denied a goal which crossed the line.

  • Reading average 1.75 goals per away game in 2015/16.

Prediction: Burnley 1-1 Reading

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15:00 Cardiff vs Charlton

Team News

Cardiff;

  • David Marshall sits out the first of his 2 match suspension.

  • Kenwyne Jones could return to the team.

Charlton;

  • Johnnie Jackson joins Franck Moussa, Stephen Henderson and Reza Ghoochannejhad on the injury list.

  • Alou Diarra is suspended.

Stat Facts

  • 3 of the last 5 head to head matches finished as draws whilst Charlton won the other 2.

  • Cardiff’s home to defeat to Hull was their first since early April.

  • Cardiff have won 3 of their 5 home games to nil in 2015/16 (all competitions).

  • Charlton are winless away from home in the league this season (2D 2L).

  • Charlton average 0.5 goals per away league game in 2015/16.

Prediction: Cardiff 2-1 Charlton

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15:00 Hull vs Blackburn

Team News

Hull;

  • Alex Bruce and Adama Diomande are unavailable through injury.

  • Jake Livermore is contention for a place in the team.

  • Robert Snodgrass is still on the long-term injury list.

Blackburn;

  • Tommy Spurr is fit to return.

  • Jason Lowe, Chris Brown and Chris Taylor are all sidelined for this game.

Stat Facts

  • Blackburn have won 3 of the previos 5 head to head matches, Hull winning just 1.

  • Hull are unbeaten at home this season, winning 5 of their 6 games (all competitions).

  • Hull have kept a clean sheet in 5 of their previous 7 home games (all competitions).

  • Hull have scored an average of 1.75 goals per home league game in 2015/16.

  • Blackburn picked up their first win of the season last weekend (3-0 vs Charlton), but are winless on the road.

  • Blackburn’s previous 7 away league games have been decided by 1 goal or less, 5 of them finishing as draws.

Prediction: Hull 1-0 Blackburn

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15:00 Ipswich vs Bristol City

Team News

Ipswich;

  • Teddy Bishop remains sidelined.

  • Mick McCarthy has a large number of players raring to go and will no doubt have a selection headache this week.

Bristol City;

  • Nathan Baker returns to the squad from injury.

  • Kory Smit is a major doubt.

Prediction: Ipswich 3-1 Bristol City

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15:00 Preston vs Wolves

Team News

Preston;

  • Paul Huntington and Paul Gallagher are both doubtful with injuries.

  • Joe Garner returns from a 1-match ban.

  • Jermaine Beckford begins rehabilitation following his surgery.

Wolves;

  • Danny Batth makes his return to the team after recovering from a foot fracture.

  • Dave Edwards is sidelined with a knee injury.

  • Nouha Dicko begins rehabilitation from a ruptured cruciate ligament.

  • Conor Coady is suspended.

Prediction: Preston 1-2 Wolves

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Friday 25th September

19:45 Fulham vs QPR

Team News

Fulham;

  • Fulham’s lengthy injury list consists of: Luke Garbutt, George Williams, Scott Parker, Jack Grimmer, Marcus Bettinelli and Matt Smith.

  • Likely line-up (4-4-2): Lonergan; Richards, Stearman, Ream, Husband; Cairney, Tunnicliffe, O’Hara, Pringle; Dembele, McCormack.

QPR;

  • Leroy Fer and Sandro could both make their return from injury after featuring for the U21’s in the week.

  • Yun Suk-Young and Armand Traore are sidelined through injury.

  • Likely line-up (4-2-3-1): Green, Perch, Onuoha, Angella, Konchesky, Henry, Faurlin, Phillips, Luongo, Chery, Austin.

Stat Facts

  • There is nothing between the sides in the head to head as they each share 13 wins and 5 draws in the history of the tie.

  • Fulham have won 6 of the previous 8 vs QPR, keeping a clean sheet in 6 of those games.

  • QPR haven’t won at Craven Cottage since 1980.

  • Fulham average 1.6 goals per league home game in 2015.

  • 86% of Fulham’s 2015 league home games have seen both teams score.

  • QPR are unbeaten in their last 4 away games, winning 3 of them.

  • QPR average 1.3 goals per away game in 2015, with 1.25 per away game in the 2015/16 Championship.

  • QPR striker Charlie Austin has scored 7 goals in the Championship this season, averaging a goal every 99 minutes.

Prediction: Fulham 2-1 QPR

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Thursday 24th September

19:45 Huddersfield vs Nottingham Forest

Teams News

Huddersfield;

Starting XI – De Vries, Lichaj, Wilson, Hobbs, Pinillos, Mancienne, Vaughan, Ward, Lansbury(C), Mendes, O’Grady .

Nottingham Forest;

Starting XI – Steer, Cranie, Ward, Lynch, Davidson, Scannell, Whitehead ©, Huws, Carayol, Bunn, Miller.

Stat Facts

  • Huddersfield have won the previous 2 meetings, but Forest have triumphed in 3 of the last 5.

  • 6 of the last 9 meetings between the sides at the John Smith’s Stadium have been decided by 1 goal or less.

  • The previous 12 meetings between the sides at the John Smith’s Stadium have seen at least 2 goals.

  • Huddersfield won this fixture 3-0 last season.

  • Huddersfield’s 4-1 victory over Bolton last weekend was only their 4th home win in 2015 (17 games).

  • Huddersfield’s home games feature on average 3 goals per game in 2015 (17 games).

  • Huddersfield average 1.6 goals per home league game in 2015.

  • Forest have won their 2 previous away games in the Championship.

  • Forest have scored at least 1 goal in 13 of their 15 away league matches in 2015.

  • Forest average 1.7 away goals per league game in 2015.

Prediction: Huddersfield 1-1 Nottingham Forest

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