Championship Tenner - Preview: Southampton's Revenge, Barnsley's Leeds Double And Billy Sharp To Move?

TheHardTackle takes a look at 10 things you should be looking out for in the next 7 days of NPower Championship action:-

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1. A flurry of fixtures

As the year 2011 ends and 2012 begins, the NPower Championship sees a busy few days.Ai??Friday night pits leaders Southampton at home to Bristol City, whilst Saturday sees the remaining 22 sides all play.

Only 2 days later, the first fixtures of the New Year will be played with 11 matches scheduled, whilst Bristol City face Millwall on Tuesday evening. And, due to Birminghamai??i??s earlier involvement in the Europa league, Millwall travel to St. Andrews on Wednesday night for a rescheduled game, meaning both sides play their third game in only 5 days!

2. Will Saints gain revenge?

The first set of fixtures pits Southampton against Bristol City, a side that beat the leaders only last month.

Goals from Albert Adomah and Nicky Maynard gave the Robins a 2-0 victory over the Saints at Ashton Gate. But, at home, the Saints are a different proposition having won 11 games and drawn the other at the St Maryai??i??s Stadium so far this season.Ai??TheHardTackle expects the leaders to make it 12 wins and consolidate their spot at the top of the table.

3. South London Derby

Saturday sees the South London derby between Millwall and Crystal Palace.

Separated by six miles, both clubs claim to have greater rivals (Brighton for Palace, West Ham for Millwall), but there is still a fierce rivalry between the two sets of supporters. The rivalry dates back to the early 1900ai??i??s when Millwall and Palace met in the Southern Football League, with both sides joining the Football League in the 1920-21 season.

Last time the two sides met, the honours were shared in a goalless draw at Selhurst Park. This weekendai??i??s clash at the New Den is sure to be just as tight an affair. So far, there have been 129 games played, with Millwall just edging it 50 wins to 44.

With home advantage, TheHardTackle expects the Lions to take the honours this weekend.

4. Tykes to do the double over Yorkshire Rivals?

Novemberai??i??s 2-1 win over Leeds United at Elland Road gave Barnsley their first victory over their Yorkshire rivals for 22 years. On Saturday, the Tykes have the chance to complete a league double over their more illustrious enemies when the two sides meet again at Oakwell.

Both sides go into the game on the back of poor recent form. After a run of 4 wins on the spin, Barnsley have lost their last 3 games, whilst Leedsai??i?? have lost the last two, only winning 2 out of the last 6.

What there is sure to be though is goals, with both sides possessing forward lines who can score. For the Tykes, Craig Davies and former Bolton Wanderers striker Ricardo Vaz Te, have netted 15 goals between them, whilst Leeds pair Ross McCormack and Robert Snodgrass have amassed 19 goals.

Itai??i??s sure to be an exciting Yorkshire derby, with TheHardTackle sitting on the fence and predicting a draw.

5. A change of fortune for Forest?

Since Marcus Tudgay netted an injury time winner against Ipswich Town on 19th November, Nottingham Forest have failed to hit the back of the net.

Six games without a goal has heralded just 1 point, leaving Steve Cotterillai??i??s side third from bottom. Over the next seven days, the former two-time European Cup winners have two massive games, where they need to pick up some points or risk facing a relegation battle in the second half of the season.

First up are Cardiff City at home. The Bluebirds triumphed 1-0 against Forest last month, but are currently on a run of only one win in four league games. However, bad news for Forest is that one of Cardiffai??i??s main strengths is their defence, with the likes of keeper David Marshall, Kevin McNaughton and Anthony Gerrard all having impressed recently when the club went four games without conceding.

On Monday, Forest make the trip to Ipswich, the side against whom they last scored against. However, since that loss, Paul Jewellai??i??s side have improved, winning 7 points out of their last 3 games.

The return to fitness of key striker Dexter Blackstock should help Forest finally hit the net, but TheHardTackle expects Forest to gain no more than a point from these two tough-looking fixtures.

6. Sky Blues to build on victory?

After a torrid first half of the season, Coventry City finally had something to cheer when they beat Bristol City 1-0 on Boxing Day.

It was only their 3rd win of a season which sees them bottom of the table, three points adrift of 23rd place Doncaster Rovers and 5 points off safety.

But the win over the Robins should give Andy Thornai??i??s side renewed optimism that they can escape the drop, even though history shows that only one side in 12 seasons have avoided relegation from the Championship having been bottom at Christmas.

Much will depend on the form of striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, who despite the clubai??i??s poor form, has still managed to net a respectable 8 league goals. The Sky Blues will be hoping that financial problems donai??i??t mean they have to sell their hitman in the January transfer window.

Over the next 7 days, City face Brighton at home, followed by a trip to West Ham United. Whilst the visit to 2nd place Hammers is a tough-looking game, the home game against an out-of-form Brighton side represents a perfect opportunity for the Sky blues to build on their Boxing Day victory.

7. Two tough games for in-form Burnley

After losing 4 games on the bounce in November, Burnley have dramatically turned things around and are currently, along with Reading, the Championshipai??i??s form team having won 5 out of 6 games.

The run has seen Eddie Howeai??i??s men move into 9th place, just 3 points off a play-off place as the Clarets look for a return to the Premier League.

Over the next few days, the merits of Burnleyai??i??s promotion aspirations will be tested as they face two play-off rivals. On Saturday they host Nick Barmbyai??i??s Hull City, whose own fine form has seen them climb to fifth in the table. Then on Monday, Burnley travel to face Leeds United at Elland Road, a side who currently sit one place and two points above them.

With striker Martin Paterson having made a goalscoring return to the team after injury in the Boxing Day win over Doncaster, Howe has plenty of striking options with Jay Rodriguez, Charlie Austin and on-loan Wolves striker Sam Vokes all having found the net on a consistent basis this term.

With the firepower at their disposal, TheHardTackle believe Burnley are capable of mounting a serious push for the play-offs in the second half of the season.

8. Another South Coast Derby

Monday sees yet another derby as Southampton visit South Coast neighbours Brighton.

The Saints ran out convincing 3-0 winners when the sides met in November, but after a tight opening, Brighton fell apart once the referee incorrectly gave the home side a penalty for an infringement which clearly took place outside of the penalty area. Veteran defender Mauricio Taricco was sent-off for disputing the penalty and Saints went on to win at a canter, with star striker Rickie Lambert grabbing a hat-trick.

So, the Seagulls will be out to gain revenge when the two sides meet at the Amex Stadium on Monday. Brighton go into the game on the back of three straight defeats, whilst the Saints will be full of confidence as they sit proudly on top of the table.

But, with it being a derby, the old adage ai???Form goes out of the windowai??i?? comes into play, and we at TheHardTackle think Gus Poyetai??i??s men will raise their game and win at least a point.

9. Sharp on the move?

The turn of the year also sees the opening of the January transfer window. There is sure to be plenty of activity, with clubs looking to strengthen in readiness for a promotion push or relegation dogfight.

One player sure to be on the move is Doncaster Rovers striker Billy Sharp. Rovers have already stated that he can go if a club bids A?3.25million, so there is sure to be some takers for the prolific striker. But where will he go? Leaders Southampton are sure to be back in for the striker whom they nearly signed in the summer, whilst there are rumours Leeds United are also sniffing around.

But such is Sharpai??i??s qualities, TheHardTackle wouldnai??i??t rule out a move to a Premier League club, with a host of clubs at the bottom desperate for goals.

10. Will Posh return to their entertaining best?

In recent weeks, the Championship Entertainers Peterborough United have had a change of philosophy.

Two weeks ago, Posh kept their first clean sheet of the season in a 1-0 win over bottom club Coventry City. Last weekend, they repeated the trick with George Boydai??i??s fantastic curling effort the only goal in a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Manager Darren Ferguson and the London Road faithful will be delighted with the two victories which have moved Peterborough into a respectable mid-table position, only 5 points off a play-off place. But from a purely selfish point of view, we at TheHardTackle prefer Posh at their most entertaining, when they are scoring goal after goal and leaking as many at the other end!

Their two games over the New Year period see them travel to Middlesbrough, who themselves like to keep the game tight, and then host Birmingham on Monday. Ferguson will hope they continue their recent form, whilst we hope we see a return of goals galore!

So, how many goals will we see in the Peterborough matches this week?

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Tags: NPower Championship