Championship Tenner - Preview: Boro Meet West Ham, Maynard vs. Lambert And Barmby's Big Test

TheHardTackle takes a look at 10 things you should be on the lookout for in the next 7 days of action in the NPower Championship.

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1. Games coming thick and fast

An NPower Championship season sees teams play 46 games in what is a long and gruelling season. With so many games to fit in as well as domestic cup competitions (and in Birminghamai??i??s case, a European campaign), some rounds of games have to be played midweek.

The next seven days sees one such week, as Saturdayai??i??s 12 game line-up is quickly followed by a further 9 matches on Tuesday night.

2. Championship sides in Carling Cup

The reason for the shortened midweek fixture list, along with Birminghamai??i??s Europa League game away at Braga on Wednesday, The Championship still has two teams left in the last 8 of the Carling Cup.

After defeating Crawley Town, Wigan Athletic, Middlesbrough and most recently Southampton, Dougie Freedmanai??i??s Crystal Palace have been rewarded with a trip to Old Trafford to face Premier League Champions Manchester United. Although United will rightly start as favourites, they have fielded weakened sides so far in the competition, so combined with Palaceai??i??s good form so far this season, the Eagles will be quietly confident of pulling off a cup shock.

Cardiff City have taken the long route to the quarter-finals. Extra-time wins over Oxford United and Huddersfield Town, were followed by a penalty shoot-out victory over Leicester City. A 1-0 home win over Burnley in the last round set up a home tie with struggling Premier league side Blackburn Rovers. Backed by the Bluebirdsai??i?? faithful, you wouldnai??i??t bet against Cardiff making it to the semi-finals.

3. Clash of two star strikers

Not only does Saturdayai??i??s game between Bristol City and Southampton see a clash between two-of the divisionai??i??s in-form teams, the match also sees a battle between two of the divisionai??i??s top strikers.

Following his hat-trick last weekend against Brighton, Southamptonai??i??s Rickie Lambert is the current Championship top scorer with 12 goals. Brilliant in the air, equally adept on the floor and an expert penalty taker, Lambert has spent his career in the lower tiers of English football. His scoring form for Bristol Rovers tempted Southampton to sign the Liverpool-born hitman in August 2009 for over A?1 million. After scoring on his debut for the Saints, he ended his first season with an impressive 36 goals from 58 appearances. In 2010-11 he was just as instrumental, netting 21 times as Southampton gained promotion to The Championship. The 29-year old has coped admirably with the step up a division and is one of the main reasons why the Saints sit 5 points clear at the top.

The Robins have their own super striker, in the form of Nicky Maynard. The 24-year old started his career at Crewe Alexandra, where he netted 32 goals in 59 appearances, earning him a A?2.25 million move to Aston Gate. Maynardai??i??s pace and calmness in front of goal heralded a 1 in 3 goal ratio in his first 2 seasons at City, but injury ruled him out of most of last yearai??i??s campaign, restricting him to only 13 appearances, although he still managed 6 goals. After a summer of intense speculation linking him with a move to Leicester, Maynard stayed at City where he has scored 6 goals in 17 appearances. He will be a key figure as The Robins bid to move away from the relegation zone.

4. Free-falling Burnley need to get back to winning ways

Chris Burkeai??i??s last minute strike for Birmingham on Tuesday night condemned Burnley to their fourth straight loss. More worryingly for Eddie Howeai??i??s side, the Clarets now sit 21st, only one place and two points above the relegation zone.

Things could get worse before they get better though as nine-goal leading scorer Charlie Austin suffered a dislocated shoulder in Saturdayai??i??s defeat to Leeds United. This weekend, the Clarets have a tricky trip to the KC Stadium to face 6th placed Hull City, whilst, on Tuesday evening, they entertain Ipswich Town at Turf Moor. It is imperative that they get back to winning ways.

5. Possible returnAi??for Forest hitman

The next 7 days could see a return to first-team action for Nottingham Forest striker Dexter Blackstock, after a year out through injury.

The 25-year old has been out since suffering a cruciate ligament injury against Cardiff City in November 2010. Formerly of Southampton and Queens Park Rangers, Blackstock signed for Forest in 2009. A confident striker, he scored 14 goals in his first full season, then 5 in 2010 before his injury. Whilst he has been out injured, Forest have missed his goalscoring prowess.

Now, he is back on the comeback trail having completed three-quarters of a reserve game this week. With two games in the next week against Cardiff and Leeds United, Forest boss Steve Cotterill may be tempted to bring his star striker back in to the fold.

6. First big test for Boss Barmby

Having taking over as caretaker-manager of Hull City following Nigel Pearsonai??i??s move to Leicester City, Nick Barmby started his managerial career with a 2-0 success at Derby County.

This weekend, he takes charge of his first home game when Burnley visit the KC Stadium. Three days later, Barmby will face his sternest managerial task so far when he takes his side to league leaders Southampton. In 20 successive games at St Maryai??i??s stadium, Southampton have a 100% record. With goals coming from all areas of the Saints side, new boss Barmby will need to display plenty of tactical knowhow to stop Nigel Adkinsai??i?? side making it 21.

7. Watford chance to move away from bottom

Having won two of their last three games to move away from the bottom three, Watford have a chance to move further away from the drop zone over the next week.

On Saturday, Sean Dycheai??i??s men travel to bottom club Doncaster Rovers, where they will be expected to return with at least a point. Another six-pointer awaits on Tuesday evening, as third from bottom Bristol City visit Vicarage Road. Buoyed by last weekai??i??s solid 2-0 win over Portsmouth, in which on-loan Wolves star Michael Kightly and England Under-21 striker Marvin Sordell scored, confidence should be high amongst the Hornets. Currently sitting on 19 points, two good results against two of their rivals at the bottom would leave Watford sitting comfortably in mid-table.

8. Another Turbulent week at Pompey

The last few years at Portsmouth Football Club can only be described as turbulent. Following the FA Cup success in 2008, Pompey went into financial meltdown and have been on the brink of extinction on more than one occasion.

On the pitch, they lost their manager Harry Redknapp, lost their star players such as Jermain Defoe, Peter Crouch and Glenn Johnson, then in 2010, lost their Premier League status. Steve Cotterill came in as manager and steadied the ship, but with Pompey virtually bankrupt, there were times where they couldnai??i??t even name a full bench of substitutes!

Last month, Cotterill left for Nottingham Forest. A whole host of names were linked with the vacant post, but Pompey fans were left underwhelmed when Michael Appleton was named boss. His first game at Watford last weekend did nothing to help his cause as Pompey were soundly beaten 2-0. This weekend they face revitalised Leicester City at Fratton Park. A win is needed to get supporters on side.

And as this is Pompey, there is also drama off the field, with a Europe-wide arrest warrant issued for owner Vladimir Antonov, as part of an investigation into alleged asset stripping in Snoras Bank. It promises to be another turbulent week for Pompey!

9. Top of the table clash at the Riverside

On Tuesday evening, fourth placed Middlesbrough will entertain 2nd place West Ham United in the game of the night.

Both sides are flying high having only lost 3 games each this season. Defensively they are the two best sides in the division having conceded only 14 goals. With the likes of Scott MacDonald, Marvin Emnes, Sam Baldock and Carlton Cole in their ranks, both sides also contain plenty of attacking talent.

As both sides chase leaders Southampton, it is sure to be a close game. But with Middlesbrough only winning 3 out of 9 home games, the Hammers impressive away record of 6 wins from 9 means that Sam Allardyceai??i??s men look a good bet to take at least a point off their rivals.

10. Peter Whittingham

Cardiff City playmaker Peter Whittingham is in a rich vein of form having scored in each of his last 4 games.

A consistent performer over the last few seasons, Whittingham has started this season in much the same vein, scoring seven league goals and creating six assists as the Bluebirds have moved into the Top 3 of the Championship.

Normally played as a left winger, new boss Malky Mackay has moved Whittingham into a more central role, a position which has allowed him to see more of the ball. Possessing a great left-foot, a good range of passing and brilliant from set-pieces, Whittingham has attracted alot of admirers. He signed a three-year contract extension in August 2011, but such is his fine form, it would not be a surprise if a Premier League club showed interest in the former Aston Villa player when the transfer window opens in January.

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Tags: NPower Championship