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Usually around this time of the season things are very much up in the air with teams still coming up with their best line-ups and managers taking a look at their side's deciding what changes need rushing through before the transfer window.
A full weekend of fixtures beckons this weekend with every side involved in domestic action on Saturday after a hectic week of cup action, so let's take a look at what exactly might happen.
Barnsley Vs Derby
Derby got another cup win in midweek but it looks like they have forgotten how to get three points. This could be the weekend their luck changes however against a struggling Tykes side who will still battle hard at home and will want to get off the mark in terms of points. Verdict: Jewell won't get many more chances to get a win but his side should finally get going this weekend, I back the rams to win 2-0.
Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers
City will be looking to bounce back from a poor midweek performance though it's hardly likely that Gary Johnson will be ringing the changes to get three points. QPR come into this game in teriffic form though I can't help but get the feeling there is still some instability between the manager and his rich chairmen. On the pitch though Rangers are flying and they will be looking to keep pace with Birmingham. Verdict: Sad to say but I can see an away win here, don't expect Bristol to go down without a fight though, 1-3 Rangers.
Burnley v Plymouth Argyle
A battle of two sides looking to their their first win and two sides hoping to bounce into some form after a poor start. Burnely were tonked by Wednesday on the opening day but have improved since then to gain a creditable point against Palace. A 3-0 cup win will have helped their confidence. Down on the south coast, Paul Sturrock has to get his team fired up after they surrendered to Swansea last weekend. Having lost to Reading after being knocked out of the Carling Cup by Luton, they've had a full week to think about what they need to do. Verdict: Could be another tough one for PA as the battle to push themselves away from the bottom at these early stages, Burnley should be inspired by the home crowd and will most likely prove their not as bad as -6 goal difference suggests. Burnley to take it in a scrappy 1-0.
Doncaster Rovers v Coventry
Donny's Championship bubble may have burst after being comprehensively beaten by QPR last week but they can take spirit from a well deserved draw with Cardiff and proved at Pride Park on the opening day that they can beat even the 'top' sides. Sitting in mid-table at present will suit them and the pressure will be off this weekend as they return home to play Coventry. The sky blues were comprehensively beaten by City last weekend and will be looking to offer the same fight and spirit which got them to the top before their 3-0 reverse at the Ricoh. They came so-near but yet-so-far against Newcastle, but will take heart from the way they battled a Premiership side. Verdict: Returning to their home ground, Rovers will be hoping to get three points while Coventry may be lacking some guidence with Coleman banned from the touchline. Expect a close game with the home side coming out by the odd goal, 2-1.
Norwich City v Birmingham City
The cannaries form from last season seems to be affecting them this, but they can take confidence after coming back from 2-0 down against Cardiff at Ninian Park in their last game. Having been beaten by MK Dons in the Carling Cup and draw 1-1 with Blackpool at home, Roeder will be expecting a lot more from his team. Brum on the other hand have started with a real determination to get promotion at the first attempt. They are 3-out-of-3 and their performances have been exactly what McLeish will have been looking for. They have the firepower to beat anyone at this level and in Kevin Phillips they have an experienced campaigner who is in tremendous form. Verdict: As much as Norwich need a win, Birmingham need it more to get back in the Premiership where they belong, I can't see it being anything other than a B'ham victory, 3-1.
Preston v Charlton
Deepdale sees two sides who are rejuvenated in 2008/09 coming together in a battle to show exactly how far they have come. A great away win at 'fortress' Ipswich in the opening game showed exactly how Alan Irvine has changed Preston's fortunes but they will have been disappointed by largely being outplayed at Hillsbrough last week though they showed their fighting spirit by coming back to claim an undeserved point. Charlton had a hell of a game with Reading at the Valley last weekend and look to have rediscovered the spark which deserted them midway through last season when they slipped off the pace. Last Saturday's win will have brought Pardew's men some confidence and even going into a tough away game they will fancy their chances. Verdict: This could be one of the tightest games of the weekend with two rapidly improving sides, a high scoring draw could be in order 2-2.
Reading v Crystal Palace
Two sides were so near but yet so far last season - at opposite ends of the table in different divisions. It also sees a reuniting of old friends Wally Downes and Neil Warnock so expect the touchline to be as entertaining at the game itself if past encounters are anything to go by. On the pitch however, these two challengers have started much slower than they would have liked. Reading, unluckily relegated last year would have backed themselves to be keeping pace with Birmingham but a draw with Forest and a defeat against Charlton last weekend may have dented their confidence. Steve Coppell is the type of man who will expect a reaction and the atmosphere is sure to be firey. Last season's form side Palace seem to be suffering from a familiar plight of the team who loses in the playoff semi final. They were lucky to get anything from last week against Burnley and were spanked 4-0 by Leeds in the Carling Cup so their outspoken manager will be doing his best to 'stick one up' the critics who have already written off his teams chances this season. Verdict: Palace will show fighting spirit but could be undone by the class of Reading who have the firepower to improve significantly.
Sheff Utd v Cardiff City
Having just missed out on the playoffs last season, both of these sides will be looking to go one better this time around - and they have started the season showing that they are capable of mounting a challenge. United have significantly improved since losing their first league game and dispatched QPR in simple fashion a couple of weeks ago. Their midweek cup comeback will inspire them to produce in front of the home crowd who are eager to get back in the Premiership. Cardiff, on the other hand, will have to go a long way to beat last season's achievements of reaching the FA Cup final but will hope to mount a serious challenge at the playoff places. They will have been disappointed with the way Norwich came back on them last week but beat the plucky MK Dons in the cup and have added the striker prowess of Eddie Johnson to their squad which could be crucial. Verdict: Sheffield United should have enough to dispatch Cardiff though it won't be easy 2-0.
Southampton v Blackpool
Both of these costal sides will be looking to do significantly better than last year having escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign. Southampton, with most likely the youngest side in the country, impressed with their display against Birmingham last week, a game in which they look the lead, but eventually succumed to the midlands side's quality. At home again they will be looking to repeat their defeat of the Championship leaders in midweek and will need to win thier home games if they want to avoid relegation troubles this time around. Blackpool have only a point for their troubles this season and were beaten by City and Sheffield United on their own ground so will be hoping to pick up some points on the road. Their solitary point came in a creditable draw with Norwich at Carrow Road and they will have to fight extremely hard to get anything from their hosts. Verdict: Southampton impressed in midweek with their young side and look to be sewing the seeds to the future, I can see them winning by the narrowest of margins, 1-0.
Swansea City v Sheff Wed
Swansea look to have taken to the Championship very well in their first season at this level since re-branding and having beaten Hull in midweek, Phil Brown looks to have correctly described them as a 'serious threat' to the divisions other side's. Having won their last two games, one home and one away, they demonstrated they have picked up exactly what playing at this level is about and at the Liberty Stadium will be a match for any team as Nottingham Forest discovered in their defeat two weeks ago. Sheffield Wednesday have been the ultimate mixed bag this season. They demolished Burnely in their first game before capitulating against Wolves in their second. Their other league game was a domination of Preston which ended 1-1 and their cup game against Rotherham was the exact opposite in which they were largely second best but ended up losing on penalties. Verdict: It's hard to predict which Wednesday team will turn up but they usually struggle to hold their own away from home. Heading into a fericious Welsh atmosphere I expect Swansea to get three points her in a 3-1 win.
Watford v Ipswich
Another two sides in the Championship who have yet to settle down into a real rhythm met at Vicarage Road which could go a long was to deciding exactly what the season holds for these two. The hosts had an awful run of games last season in the south and will be hoping their home form picks up significantly if they are to make the playoffs yet again. Last week's defeat against Watford demonstrated their ability to be all-too-easily broken down by intricate play by the opposition, something Aidy Boothroyd will be looking to repair. Ipswich, whose home ground was a fortress last year, have so far failed to get anything at home in the Championship but impressively dispatched Burnley away from home. Having been beaten by Wolves last week, Jim Magilton will be looking for his side to rebound. Verdict: In a battle of two teams struggling for form it is hardly likely that the supporters will be the winner, expect this to be a draw, 1-1.
Wolverhampton v Nottm Forest
Two sides meet at Molynuex with complately differing ambitions this season. Having settled back into their usual unpredictable form, Wolves have so far provided their supporters with some consistency and look like genuine contenders for playoffs if they continue the way they have been going. Missing out on a top six finish last year, the pressure, as usual, is piled on Mick McCarthy whose side have demonstrated in a 2-0 win at Ipswich and a 4-1 win over Wednesday that they have enough quality to be a match for anyone. Forest, after 'escaping' from the Championship are looking to consolidate their position in this division and avoid being sucked into a relegation dogfight with teams they are capable of beating on paper. They showed last weekend in their defeat of Watford that they can trouble anyone at home and having been beaten by Swansea it could be away from home where their problems lie. Verdict: Forest look signifantly weaker than Wolves on paper but on the pitch it could be a different story, I back Wolves to win 2-1 however.