Championship
Fixture: Coventry 1-0 Birmingham
Venue: Ricoh Arena (Coventry City home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: While Birmingham continue to pick up points, they continue to surprise most football experts who constantly see a side bereft of any ideas, with a manager who has little idea of English football, was brought in to manage a Premiership club and looks completely out of place in the Championship. Their lofty status is based solely on the fact that they have the most expensive squad which could probably win this league by accident. However, cracks are beginning to open enough for others to see the trouble Birmingham are really in. A 2-0 win against struggling Nottingham Forest is their first win in six, a fact that won't be lost on a Coventry manager Chris Coleman, who has oodles of experience at this level, marshals an efficient side with a gameplan and will be quick to remind them how important a win against local rivals will be to the fans.
Betting Advice: 2pts Coventry City to win at 19/10 (2.9 at Bet365)
Fixture: Reading 0-2 Bristol City
Venue: Madejski Stadium (Reading home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: To be a little fairer to Birmingham, they are just one part of what is turning out to be a massive earthquake-level wobble at the top of the Championship. The usually reliable Reading are also struggling to stamp their mark on games winning just twice in their last seven. However, that's as far as the similarity ends because Reading are the best team in the league by far. Part of their wobble can be put down to their opposition five out of the seven were against promotion rivals and part down to lack of fixtures - they've played just once this month. Bristol City are on form and will be no pushovers, but when you know a team is the best in the league you just have to go all in.
Betting Advice: 6pts Reading to win at 8/11 (1.73 generally)
League One
Fixture: Hereford 0-1 Peterborough
Venue: Edgar Street (Hereford home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: I am prepared to put the Posh's loss last week down to freak conditions it certainly won't put me off backing one of the most fluid teams in the lower leagues. Hereford got a cracking result themselves last week when they beat Leeds, but everyone raises their game against Leeds. I suspect their relegation form will be back on the agenda this week.
Betting Advice: 4pts Peterborough to win at 5/4 (2.25 generally)
League Two
Fixture: Barnet 4-1 Bradford
Venue: Valley Parade (Bradford home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: A failure to beat Grimsby at home and a defeat to hit-and-miss Notts County almost confirms that Barnet could be the first team without a points deduction to slip into the relegation spots this season. Bradford are back on form and know they need three points to continue their rally back into the automatic positions.
Betting Advice: 2pts Bradford to win at 23/20 (2.15 at extrabet)
