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Championship preview

Image: Malky Mackay: Takes his high-flying Bluebirds to Blackpool

Championship leaders Cardiff travel to Blackpool on Saturday, while bottom side Bristol City face the daunting trip to Leeds.

Cardiff travel to Seasiders, Robins fly to Leeds

Championship leaders Cardiff travel to Blackpool on Saturday, while bottom side Bristol City face the daunting trip to Leeds. Malky Mackay's Cardiff take on managerless Blackpool in Saturday's evening kick-off in front of the Sky Sports 2 HD cameras. The Welsh side currently have an eight-point advantage at the top of the table, which could be reduced earlier in the day if second-placed Hull City can get a result at Peterborough. But it will be tough as Posh have undergone a recent revival under Darren Ferguson, winning four of their last six league games. Third-placed Leicester City take on promotion rivals Middlesbrough in Friday's game, live on Sky Sports 1 HD. Both sides can temporarily jump into the automatic promotion berths with a victory. Back to the action on Saturday, there's sure to be an interesting welcome for Dougie Freedman as he takes his Bolton Wanderers side back to former club Crystal Palace, who are flying high in fourth. Watford occupy the last play-off berth and Gianfranco Zola's side next take on a struggling Huddersfield side aiming to post their first league win in 12 attempts.

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If the Hornets lose, seventh-placed Millwall could jump into the play-off spots with a win over Burnley. Eighth-placed Brighton currently sit three points off the play-offs and will be looking to close the gap against lowly Birmingham, who have taken just one point from their last three league games to sit in 20th. Alex McLeish takes his ninth-placed Nottingham Forest side to Derby County for a sell-out East Midlands derby. Down at the bottom, Bristol City's newly-appointed head coach Sean O'Driscoll - the former boss at Forest - faces a tough trip to Leeds. Second-from-bottom Barnsley take on Ipswich in David Flitcroft's first game as their new manager after the 38-year-old guided the Tykes to two wins in three matches after taking charge on a caretaker basis. Sheffield Wednesday sit three points outside the drop zone and next take on a Wolves side looking to build on their 1-1 draw with Blackburn last time in Dean Saunders' first game in charge. Blackburn had Michael Appleton watching from the stands for that clash and the new Rovers boss will be in the dug-out for the first time for his new side when they welcome Charlton to Ewood Park.

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