Championship Preview: Ian Holloway desperate to regain momentum at Crystal Palace

Watford are the top scorers and the in-form team in the Championship going in to tonight’s match with Crystal Palace. Therefore it may not be the easiest game for the Eagles to try and improve their form which has dipped recently.

We look ahead to the this match, the other standout games and the players to watch this week in the Championship…

Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway

MATCH OF THE WEEK

Watford v Crystal Palace

Watford have won four of their last five Championship games which has meant they have moved up to fourth place and are now only a point outside the automatic promotion places.

They are lethal going forward thanks to the goal-scoring prowess of Matej Vydra and Troy Deeney, who have scored 19 and 12 goals respectively this season in the league.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace are just one point behind Watford, but have only won once in their last four Championship games.

They always pose problems for their opposition thanks to the pace of Wilfried Zaha and Yannick Bolasie and the goals of Glenn Murray.

This will be a crucial match for the Eagles who are looking to build momentum after a good victory against London rivals Charlton.

ANOTHER NOTABLE MATCH

Brighton v Hull City – Brighton are without a win in their last three league games and come off the back of a disappointing loss to Sheffield Wednesday. They are currently five points outside the play-offs. Meanwhile, Hull are level on points with Leicester who occupy the final automatic promotion place, after they secured an impressive victory against Millwall last time out.

MANAGER TO WATCH

Sean O’Driscoll

O’Driscoll will this weekend face his former employers Nottingham Forest as they visit Ashton Gate.

He was sacked in December despite Forest being just one point outside the play-offs at that time, a far better position they currently find themselves in. They are currently six points behind Middlesbrough who occupy sixth place.

He will be desperate to show that that decision was wrong and to try to get his new club out of the trouble they are in.

PLAYER TO WATCH

Michael Antonio

The 22-year-old Sheffield Wednesday winger has been crucial to Sheffield Wednesday’s recent good form, having scored twice in his last five games.

He has scored seven times in all competitions this season for the Owls as well as providing seven assists for his team-mates.

In Wednesday’s last game against Brighton he caused plenty of problems for the opposition defence as well as getting his name on the score sheet.

The Owls face Derby at home before an away trip to Birmingham. Antonio will look to continue providing width and pace for Wednesday and push them further away from the relegation places.

FIXTURES

Friday 8th February 2013

Watford v Crystal Palace 7.45pm

Saturday  9th February 2013

Blackburn v Ipswich 3pm

Blackpool v Millwall 3pm

Bolton v Burnley 3pm

Bristol City v Nottingham Forest 3pm

Charlton v Birmingham 3pm

Huddersfield v Cardiff 3pm

Middlesbrough v Barnsley 3pm

Peterborough v Leicester 3pm

Sheff Wed v Derby 3pm

Wolves v Leeds United 3pm

Brighton v Hull City 5.20pm

Tuesday 12th February 2013

Brighton v Blackburn 7.45pm

Hull City v Derby 7.45pm

Middlesbrough v Leeds United 7.45pm

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