Championship
Fixture: Middlesbrough 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Venue: Riverside Stadium (Boro home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Despite a poor run of form, I'll take Middlesbrough to win this one. Their run of poor form is a mystery to anyone who has watched them this season because they have dominated matches for long periods only to fail to finish teams off. The arrival of striker Dave Kitson on loan from Stoke will go a long towards eradicating that lack of goals. Stoke's top scorer is in Middlesbrough on a two-month loan, which is being questioned by Stoke fans. Nomatter. Forest will be no pushovers, which is reflected in the price and the fact that they remain unbeaten in eight, but three draws in three suggest they are misfiring a little.
Betting Advice: 4pts Middlesbrough to win at Evens (2.0 generally)
League One
Fixture: Southampton 2-2 Norwich
Venue: St Mary's Stadium (Boro home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: Norwich are back in the kind of form that will take them up at the first go, it is very difficult not to see League One now as a three-horse race for two places. Obviously Leeds must be included in that equation, and I have Norwich along with Huddersfield who have rightly understood that have a wealth of attacking experience will get you where you need to be. Southampton continue to be patchy, and may find themselves outfought and undone for the second time in a week at home after Brighton took them apart last Sunday.
Betting Advice: 2pts Norwich to win at 2/1 (3.0 at Victor Chandler)
League Two
Fixture: Lincoln 0-0 Grimsby
Venue: Sincil Bank (Grimsby home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: A 2-0 kicking by (very) non-league Bath City in the FA Cup led one disgruntled Mariners fan to right a poison pen letter to the club labelling them t! he worst team in the history of the world. A little harshy, bu! t not to tally inaccurate. They face Lincoln away in a Lincolnshire derby that could be feisty. New Lincoln boss Chris Sutton got sent to the stands minutes after one of his own players saw red.
However, the former Blackburn Rovers striker has got the Imps playing again, and they were unlucky not to win last week. They should have the beating of the worst team in the world.
Betting Advice: 3pts Lincoln to win at 6/5 (2.2 at Sportingbet)
Fixture: Northampton 2-2 Crewe
Venue: Sixfields (Northampton home)
Kick-off: 3pm GMT
Verdict: This could be a season-defining match for both clubs. These two have both struggled since they were relegated together from League One last season. Crewe have had to turn to legend Dario Gradi to get them out of what looks like a severe hole.
He's certainly got them scoring, but their defence is absolute shocking. However, they have had some like away from home, as their attacking style can shock a studied h! ome side.
Which is exactly what Northampton are. The Cobblers failed to break down Grimsby last time out, which is a bad sign against a side that has scored more goals away from than every team in the league, apart from Rochdale who also have 15. Could be a tough day for the Cobblers.
Betting Advice: 1pt Crewe to win at 12/5 (3.4 generally)
