Championship
Fixture: Birmingham 0-0 Swansea
Venue: St Andrews (Birmingham home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Despite two defeats in their last three I still maintain that Birmingham are good enough to go up in one of the automatic spots. The two teams they succumbed to are Reading and Preston no slouches themselves. Swansea at home should be a better chance to claw back some of the gap between themselves and Wolves. Indeed, it is a testament to their resilience that after being beaten by Reading at home, they bounce straight back and win a difficult game at Ipswich.
Betting Advice: 4pts Birmingham win at 8/11 (1.73 generally)
Fixture: QPR 0-0 Watford
Venue: Loftus Road (QPR home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Don't be too surprised if the team that has been described as the "second richest team in the world" and "moneybags" QPR don't go mad in the January transfer window. There are bound to be a few acquisitions: the long-fought battle for Palace's Ben Watson will reach a conclusion, and a striker is bound to arrive, as is maybe a right-back, but no Man City-esque extravagance will occur. The most significant acquisition this season has been manager Paulo Sousa who really looks the real deal a kind of attacking-minded Mourinho who actually played the game at the highest level. Watford continue to drift along aimlessly and I expect a turnaround to that freak result a month ago at Vicarage Road.
Betting Advice: 5pts QPR to win at 10/11 (1.91 at Bet365)
League One
Fixture: Cheltenham 3-6 Peterborough
Venue: Whaddon Road (Cheltenham home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: There has been an element of improvement in Cheltenham's results over the last month or so, but they have only had limited opposition put in front of them and even then only draws have ensued to the most part. This is their first real test since a 0-0 draw at home to Southend, who have since fallen away. Peterborough made amends for some poor defending away to Leicester before Christmas with a stirling win against Millwall on Boxing Day and can cement their play-off place here.
Betting Advice: 2pts Peterborough to win at 13/10 (2.3 BlueSq and 888sport)
League Two
Fixture: Bournemouth 0-2 Barnet
Venue: The Fitness First Stadium (Bournemouth home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Bournemouth can be given a 2-0 defeat away from home at highflying Brentford on Boxing Day, Barnet cdannot be forgiven for being royally stuffed at home by Aldershot who have lost more games away from home than anyone else in League Two. Barnet are poor and in danger of relegation. They would be all but down on any normal year, but three points deduction gave them a ghost of a chance. One that they are really making a mess of. A win for Bournemouth here puts them within four points of safety and six points of Barnet. With a long time to claw back the deficit.
Betting Advice: 2pts Bournemouth to win at 5/6 (1.83 generally)
