Football: Championship Mid-Week Preview

Mikk · 11-28-2006, 08:18 AM

Tuesday 28th November:

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Barnsley vs Southend

Barnsley caretaker manager Simon Davey is hoping to name an unchanged starting line-up for his second match in charge. All four new loan signings should feature - Grant McCann, Ronnie Wallwork and Leon Knight are all expected to start, with Kyel Reid on the bench.
Southend's Kevin Maher is waiting on the outcome of an appeal against his red card at Colchester.
Mark Gower is banned, so Peter Clarke, Arnau Riera and Mitchell Cole are on standby and Lewis Hunt is fit again.

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Burnley vs Leeds

Frank Sinclair is available for Burnley after serving a one-match suspension. The defensive ranks are also boosted with John McGreal set to be included again after returning to the squad at the weekend after a knee injury.
Leeds manager Dennis Wise hopes to name an unchanged side, with Robbie Blake alongside Ian Moore up front.
Gary Kelly is still struggling with a back injury and Richard Cresswell has a knee problem. Skipper Kevin Nicholls will not be rushed back after surgery.

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Colchester vs Hull

John White or George White will come into the Colchester defence following Chris Barker's weekend sending-off. Midfielder Kevin Watson is pushing for a start after a good outing off the bench against Southend after injury.
Michael Bridges is still struggling with a back injury so Nick Forster is set to keep his Hull starting spot.
Although fellow frontman Steve McPhee is pushing for a place after 14 months out with a knee injury, while Jon Parkin and Sam Collins are injured.

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Norwich vs Leicester

Goalkeeper Lee Camp is set for his Norwich debut as Paul Gallacher will be out for two weeks with an ankle injury. Gallacher is just the latest in a long line of injured players, but on the plus side striker Ian Henderson could return from a knee ligament injury.
Leicester have no new injury worries but Gareth Williams, Andy Johnson and Darren Kenton all remain sidelined.
James Wesolowski is included in the travelling party despite having not yet fully recovered from his leg injury.

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Plymouth vs Luton

Plymouth will be without French central defender Mat Doumbe for three matches as he is sidelined with a knee injury. Skipper Paul Wotton has a facial injury but is expected to be fit, while Nick Chadwick, Luke Summerfield and Akos Buzsaky are all pushing for recalls.
Rowan Vine returns for struggling Luton after serving a one-match suspension.
Vine's fellow forward Adam Boyd has also been declared fit after a foot problem but Paul Underwood and Chris Coyne are still short of match fitness.

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Preston vs Coventry

Preston will be without left-back Matt Hill who has a hamstring problem. Danny Pugh will continue to cover for Callum Davidson while midfielder Adam Nowland, striker Neil Mellor and defender Youl Mawene remain sidelined.
Dele Adebola is likely to keep his spot in the Coventry attack alongside Leon McKenzie with Stern John injured.
The midfield could be boosted by the return of either Chris Birchall or Jay Tabb, while Elliott Ward showed no ill-effects after his weekend return.

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QPR vs Sunderland

QPR striker Dexter Blackstock has been passed fit after suffering a head injury last Saturday. Rangers have no new injury worries, but Martin Rowlands could replace youngster Stefan Bailey in central midfield.
Sunderland striker Chris Brown is again a major doubt with an ankle strain, and while fellow forward Daryl Murphy is training again he is short of fitness.
Defenders Kenny Cunningham and Stephen Wright and keeper Ben Alnwick are also out while Dwight Yorke could be rested.

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Sheffield Wednesday vs West Brom

Defender Madjid Bougherra is Sheffield Wednesday's main concern and Graham Coughlan is on stand-by to start. Kenny Lunt is available despite earning a fifth booking at the weekend, Chris Brunt is back from a ban and Wayne Andrews will deputise for Wade Small.
Hungarian winger Zoltan Gera will push for a starting place after proving his fitness after a calf niggle.
Long-term absentee Neil Clement (knee) remains sidelined, but hopes to feature within the month.

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Stoke vs Cardiff

Stoke have a few injury worries after Lee Hendrie, Andy Griffin and Danny Higginbotham picked up weekend knocks. But the trio are expected to be fit and Ricardo Fuller and Dave Brammer are both available again after suspensions.
Cardiff defender Glenn Loovens looks likely to miss his second game with a groin strain and Roger Johnson is set to deputise at centre-back again.
Midfielder Riccardo Scimeca is expected to shake off a minor leg injury to take his place in the starting XI.
Bluebirds captain Darren Purse believes the next half-dozen games will shape their destiny as they seek promotion to the Premiership.

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Wolves vs Crystal Palace

Winger Michael McIndoe is in line for his Wolves debut after joining on loan from Barnsley late on Friday. Rob Edwards is still suffering from a dead leg and remains a doubt and Jackie McNamara is still short of his return.
Crystal Palace are likely to name an unchanged team and stick to the 4-3-3 system used in the draw at Preston with Jobi McAnuff in an advanced role.
Centre-back Leon Cort is still out with a hamstring injury, while defender Rhoys Wiggins is a long-term casualty.

Wednesday 29th November:

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Derby vs Ipswich

Team News To Follow.

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Southampton vs Birmingham

Southampton manager George Burley will pick from an unchanged squad for the visit of Birmingham. Spanish playmaker Inigo Idiakez has yet to recover from the thigh strain which has kept him out for the past three games so Pele continues in midfield.
Birmingham team news to follow later.

I shall be attached to the radio tonight as hopefully Sunderland will beat QPR.

Also, Cardiff should beat Stoke fairly easily.

Tyler Durden · 11-28-2006, 08:25 AM

I don't really understand how McIndoe (who I rate) has ended up on loan at Wolves this week? He was at Barnsley just two or three weeks ago inspiring them to a 3-2 win at home to Leeds. Maybe they've bought him on the understanding the deal doesn't go through till the window opens

Mikk · 11-28-2006, 06:34 PM

Has he recently signed for Barnsley then or was he on a month to month loan deal with his previous club?

And woooo, Sunderland won.

I shall have a full review of the matches up after tomorrow nights games, same for the premiership.