Championship preview – Burnley vs. Oxford United – Tuesday, 7:45 PM

Burnley hosts Oxford United, which is the first championship preview at Turf Moor. They are looking to get back to winning ways after a frustrating run of goalless draws. Despite being one of the strongest defensive sides in the league, Burnley has struggled to convert chances into goals, something manager Vincent Kompany will be keen to fix as they push for automatic promotion.

Oxford United, on the other hand, are battling in the lower half of the table and need points to stay clear of the relegation zone. Their away form has been a concern, and facing a promotion contender like Burnley makes this a tough challenge. Expect Oxford to sit deep and try to frustrate the home side while looking for chances on the counter.

Burnley will be the favourites, especially at home, but if they don’t take their chances, Oxford could make this a tricky night. The last two meetings ended in a close contest, so this one could be tighter than expected. Player 45’s Pick is – Burnley 2-1 Oxford United.

Championshop Preview – Queens Park Rangers vs. Blackburn Rovers – Tuesday, 7:45 PM

QPR will be desperate to turn things around after back-to-back defeats dented their push for a top-six finish. Their defensive lapses have cost them recently, and manager Gareth Ainsworth will be demanding a much stronger performance in front of their home crowd.

Blackburn are coming into this game off a confidence-boosting win that ended their poor run of form. They’ve been inconsistent this season, but with a mix of talented young players and experienced heads, they are more than capable of hurting QPR, especially on the counter.

With both teams looking to climb the table, this should be a lively encounter. QPR’s home record suggests they have the edge, but Blackburn’s attacking quality could make this an open and exciting game.

We think that Blackburn’s best asset currently is Makhtar Gueye. Gueye has only recently established himself in the Blackburn starting 11 but he has made a big impact in recent weeks. 

Gueye scored as a substitute in the 3-0 home win over Portsmouth and had seven shots, five of them on target in last month’s defeat to improving Coventry.

In the 2-1 loss at Bristol City Gueye had one shot on target and a header against the post, which was turned in by Andreas Weimann, and he can expect decent service from Rovers’ talented array of attacking midfielders and wingers.

Player 45’s Pick is for both teams to score and Blackburn to win 2-1.

Championship Preview – Coventry City vs. Leeds United – Wednesday, 7:45 PM

Coventry face a big test against league leaders Leeds United, but under Frank Lampard, they’ve been strong at home. They haven’t lost at the Coventry Building Society Arena since his arrival, and they’ll need that form to continue if they want to get anything against a Leeds side full of confidence.

Leeds have been the best team in the league this season, playing fast and attacking football, which has overwhelmed most opponents. However, they’ve struggled away from home, particularly against teams that defend well and hit them on the break. This could be an area Coventry try to exploit, especially with their solid midfield dictating play.

The last time these sides met, it ended in a thrilling draw, and this one could be just as close. Leeds will want the win to stay top, while Coventry will see this as a chance to make a statement. Expect a competitive battle with both sides looking to play on the front foot.

Player 45’s Pick – Leeds United 3 – 0 Coventry City