15:00 Saturday

Swansea vs Southampton – Southampton 

Southampton are on the quest for a direct return to the Premier League, and their next challenge in the Championship involves a face-off with Swansea City.

Currently positioned third, Southampton are gearing up for the match against the 15th-placed hosts, Swansea. Swansea enter this game with lingering regrets from their previous match against Birmingham, where they conceded a late equaliser, resulting in a 2-2 draw despite leading twice. 

Swansea are also seeking redemption for their previous 5-0 defeat to Southampton. This loss is their sole setback in the last six encounters, and they are winless in four meetings with Southampton.

Southampton come into this match with confidence, boasting an unbeaten streak of 20 matches. Recent impressive goal-scoring performances, such as the 4-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday, mark the fourth instance in seven matches where they scored four or more goals. 

The Saints, currently three points behind second place, are aggressively pursuing automatic qualification and view this game as pivotal in that quest. 

We are backing Southampton to win on the road and put further pressure on the two teams above them. 

15:00 Saturday

Stoke vs Birmingham – Stoke 

Stoke are set to host Birmingham on Saturday, with only three points separating the two teams. Currently in 17th place, Stoke hold the advantage over 20th-placed Birmingham.

Stoke returned to the winning column with a 1-0 victory over Rotherham in their last outing, marking only their second win in 14 matches. Despite struggling this season with just eight wins in 27 league games, Stoke's emphatic 3-1 victory over Birmingham in the reverse fixture back in December boosts their confidence.

Birmingham are experiencing an upturn in form, coinciding with their recent managerial change. After Wayne Rooney's dismissal following a 3-0 loss to Leeds at the start of the year, Tony Mowbray took charge and has yet to experience defeat in the two games under his management. 

With aspirations for a league turnaround, Birmingham will be aiming to build on this momentum, starting with the trip to Stoke. 

We are backing Steve Schumacher and his side to win on this occasion in what is set to be a cold and windy day in the Potteries. 

15:00 Saturday

Norwich vs West Brom – West Brom

Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion are set to clash at Carrow Road this weekend as both teams vie for top-six playoff positions. 

Norwich enter this game after securing a 3-1 victory over Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup, marking their second consecutive win. 

The Canaries have been unable to secure a clean sheet in their last five meetings with West Brom, adding intrigue to the defensive dynamics of this match.

West Bromwich Albion arrive with momentum, boasting two consecutive wins and four victories in their last five matches. Their recent 4-1 triumph over Blackburn Rovers followed a similar result against Aldershot in the FA Cup. 

With 10 goals scored in their last five outings, West Brom enter the game with confidence. While their offensive output is slightly lower than Norwich's, they maintain a stronger defensive record, conceding 25 goals. 

However, West Brom need to address their away form to stay in contention for automatic qualification, currently sitting 13 points below second-placed Ipswich. 

We are backing the Baggies to secure the win on this occasion. 

15:00 Saturday

Sheffield Wednesday vs Coventry – Coventry 

Sheffield Wednesday host the in-form Coventry City in their latest Championship fixture, before which the Owls find themselves five points adrift of safety.

Xisco Munoz paid the price for the team's poor start and was sacked in October, paving the way for former Germany assistant coach Danny Rohl to take over.

Under Rohl's guidance, Sheffield Wednesday have shown improvement, securing notable wins over Rotherham, Blackburn Rovers, QPR, Preston and Hull City in the league, offering hope of escaping the relegation zone. 

In contrast, Mark Robins' Coventry City team have been enjoying excellent form lately. The Sky Blues are on an unbeaten streak in their last nine games, winning the last three. 

They currently sit in sixth place in the Championship, with the highlight being an impressive 3-1 victory over table-toppers Leicester City last weekend. 

The two teams previously met on Boxing Day at the Coventry Building Society Arena, where Coventry secured a comfortable 2-0 home win.

This matchup marks the beginning of a double-header between the two teams, as they are set to face each other in the FA Cup 4th round next weekend as well. We are backing Coventry to win this one and continue to climb the table.