Gabriel's Championship Predictions: 29th March

This weekend, the key game comes in the lunchtime kick-off at Turf Moor. Both Burnley and Leicester are running away with promotion, but they will be looking to cap off an excellent season by clinching top spot, and a victory on Saturday would help them on their way. At the opposite end of the table, Yeovil host Barnsley, as the two teams engage in what will be seen as a must-win game. A resurgent Charlton will be hopeful of getting a result at out-of-form Derby, who can be sure of their play-off place, and there is rivals clash taking place in South Lancashire, between Bolton and Wigan.

Burnley vs. Leicester

Junior Stanislas

Both teams’ promotion to the Premier League is looking inevitable. The main incentive in this game, therefore, is which team can put the icing on the cake of their season, and win the Championship title. Another clinical performance from Burnley on Tuesday night saw off Doncaster. Junior Stanislas scored in that game, he earned the man of the match award, and it will be interesting to see whether Stanislas starts again, ahead of Michael Kightly. Stanislas has arguably put in better performances of late, but Kightly may offer more of a defensive contribution, up against Leicester’s attacking right-back, Ritchie De Laet. Leicester managed to extend their unbeaten run to eighteen games, with a stoppage-time equalizer against Yeovil on Tuesday. Similarly, Burnley are unbeaten in sixteen, and I could see both records still be in tact after Saturday’s lunch-time kick-off. 1-1.

Birmingham vs. Bournemouth

Birmingham went eight points clear of the drop zone on Tuesday thanks to a 3-2 win at Millwall, with Nikola Zigic scoring for the first time since New Years’ Day. In a feisty game at the Den, Blues held on for an eighth away win of the season, despite being put under pressure at times. If Bournemouth win this match, they will have picked up a remarkable nineteen points from March. After a 4-1 win against Leeds on Tuesday, they seem to have got things right in all areas of the pitch, as Yann Kermorgant returned from injury to net a brace. Birmingham struggle to take any points when they play at home, and Bournemouth’s away form is improving. 1-2.

Jack Collison

Bolton vs. Wigan

Bolton are in impressive form, having lost just one of their previous eight games. The Trotters ground out a 1-0 win over Blackpool on Tuesday, with a fourth clean sheet in seven, and defensively they have looked a lot more organised in recent weeks. Wigan lost 1-0 at QPR on Tuesday, with the consensus being that they should have taken more out of the match. They've also brought in Jack Collinson recently, which will will give Uwe Rosler more options in midfield. Wigan came out 3-2 victors in this South Lancashire derby back in December, Rosler’s first league game in charge. I would predict a draw this time around. 1-1.

Brighton vs. Middlesbrough

Two weeks ago, Middlesbrough fans were making their long journey south to watch a 0-0 draw at Bournemouth. Now, Boro have another lengthy trip, down to Brighton. The Seagulls have failed to score in their last two matches, and ended up conceding costly goals in the second half. The Seagulls created plenty of chances in both of those games, but lacked finishing quality, and Will Buckley has not quite built on his brace at Bolton a couple of weeks ago. Under Aitor Karanka, Middlesbrough have been best on the counter-attack, with the pace of Tuesday’s two goal hero Albert Adomah often being key. Brighton are not the sort of team to push bodies forward from midfield, though, so opportunities for the visitors could be limited. 1-0.

Derby vs. Charlton

Patrick Bamford

A priceless win and another clean sheet for Charlton under Jose Riga. His side came out 1-0 victors at Nottingham Forest, in a match they scored from their only shot on target, late on. The recent loan signing of Davide Petrucci from Man United could give the Addicks some quality going forward, too. Charlton now have a third trip to the East Midlands in the space of a month, as they travel to Pride Park. Derby’s result at Ipswich, a 2-1 loss - despite Patrick Bamford's opener in the first minute - does not change the fact that they will be in the play-offs come May. The main aim for them is to try to build momentum between now and the end of the season, and that defeat somewhat takes the gloss off their recent 5-0 win over Forest. Charlton will take a point. 1-1.

Ipswich vs. Nottingham Forest

As Nottingham Forest’s promotion chances have crumbled in the past week, Ipswich’s have risen. Despite the absence of top scorer David McGoldrick, the Tractor Boys completed back-to-back victories on Tuesday. They beat Derby 2-1 thanks to a late winner from Christophe Berra. That goal came from another set piece, a source of goals which Ipswich have hugely benefitted from this season, with five goals each from Berra, and fellow centre-back Tommy Smith. After Stuart Pearce has declared himself out of the job for family reasons, Nottingham Forest are still looking for a full-time manager. Academy boss Gary Brazil took charge of the 1-0 defeat to Charlton, but the club needs to bring someone in quickly if they want to get their season back on track. 2-0.

Leeds vs. Doncaster

Lucas Neill

The problems at Leeds United have continued, both on and off the field. The current owners are struggling to pay the wage bill, and there is ongoing drama as to whether Massimo Cellino will complete a takeover. If these problems persist until the summer, you would worry about the future of Ross McCormack, who has scored over half his team’s goals this season. Without him, where would Leeds be? Doncaster have brought in Lucas Neill on loan from Watford. If the Australian is match fit, that could be a shrewd signing from Paul Dickov, who is having to work without right-back Gabriel Tamas and centre-back Bongani Khumalo, so Neill’s versatility may come in useful. Doncaster do not win many away games, but I would back them to take advantage of the precarious situation at Elland Road. 1-2.

Millwall vs. Blackburn

Millwall have taken just one point from their last four games, and an immediate improvement in results is required if they want to stay up. Ian Holloway has, to some extent, panicked with the signing of 35-year-old winger Carlos Edwards, but he will suit Millwall’s style of play. Edwards does have a good delivery on him, so he may improve the service to tall strikers in Steve Morison and Stefan Maierhofer, as Millwall have lacked width at times this season. For Blackburn to score three goals away to a solid Watford team is a very good achievement, even if they did come away with just a point. This is a make-or-break time for Millwall. If the game is level towards the end, they will push men into the box, and that may leave them vulnerable at the back. 1-3.

QPR vs. Blackpool

Yossi Benayoun

The loan signings of Apostolos Vellios and Robert Earnshaw should boost a Blackpool side who have scored just nine times since the start of December. Ricardo Fuller has netted a winning goal for the Tangerines in recent games, but their lack of goals over such a long period suggests he cannot be solely relied upon. QPR’s goalscoring problems have improved in recent weeks, with seven goals from their last four. Yossi Benayoun has been a bit-part player for the Rs, and I’m not sure any other Championship club can say that about a player with his level of experience. The Israeli scored the winning goal against Wigan on Tuesday, before getting himself sent off in the closing stages. I’d fancy Vellios’s pace to cause problems for an aging QPR defence, and perhaps grab a debut goal, but QPR will take the points. 2-1.

Reading vs. Huddersfield

Reading’s home hoodoo continued on Tuesday, with a 3-1 defeat to Barnsley. In a table based on every team’s last six home games, Reading would be in the relegation places, with just five points. Huddersfield are now without a win in five, having surrendered their lead twice against Middlesbrough. They have conceded a lot of their goals lately due to sloppy play in midfield, and individual errors. In their match on Tuesday, Oliver Norwood and Oscar Gobern both grabbed an assist, but both also gave the ball away, leading to Middlesbrough’s goals. Reading to get a win at the Madjeski, for the first time since they beat Blackpool 5-1, at the end of January. 3-1.

Sheff Wed vs. Watford

Leon Best

This will be Sheffield Wednesday’s fifth home game this March, and that must good thing, because they have won all of them so far. The Owls beat Brighton 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Leon Best, who has now scored three goals in his last four, and seems to be relishing playing under Stuart Gray. Watford’s away form continues to be poor. They have still not won on the road under Giuseppe Sannino, and have lost their last three on the road. Watford are not positive enough when playing away from home, and this is one of the things they will need to change if they want to get back in the promotion mix next season. 2-0.

Yeovil vs. Barnsley

Both teams will need to take an attacking mentality in this one. Although these sides are just three points off safety, Charlton have games in hand, so Yeovil and Barnsley will be looking to catch the likes of Doncaster and Birmingham. Yeovil’s home form of late has been promising, with nine points from their last six at Huish Park. That total is more than half what they have taken from their home games this season overall. Stephen Dawson scored in Barnsley’s 3-1 win at Reading. The midfielder has perhaps been one of Barnsley’s poorer performers this season, and became less popular with the fans when he got involved in a heated exchange with supporters, after the 5-0 loss at Huddersfield. However, it was a well-taken goal which helped Barnsley on their way to a victory at the Madjeski, and only time will tell how important that win will be for the Tykes. 2-2.