Championship preview

Saints host Clarets; Blues tackle Tykes

Last Updated: February 11, 2012 11:45am

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Chris Hughton: Birmingham are flying and could clamber into the top two this weekend

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In-form Birmingham are setting their sights on an automatic promotion spot after West Ham's match against Peterborough was called off.

Elsewhere, Neil Redfearn will take in his first home game as caretaker boss of Leeds and Blackpool will look to push Portsmouth deeper into the mire in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

West Ham hold a four-point lead at the top of the table but will not have the chance to at least preserve that advantage after their clash with Peterborough was called off due to a frozen pitch at London Road.

Click below for individual match previews and stats:

Barnsley v Birmingham
Crystal Palace P-P Doncaster
Hull City v Bristol City
Ipswich v Middlesbrough
Leeds v Brighton
Leicester v Cardiff
Millwall v Derby
Nottm Forest v Watford
Peterborough P-P West Ham
Reading v Coventry
Southampton v Burnley
Blackpool v Portsmouth

One win in six has seen Southampton slip from the summit and they will be desperate to get back on track in a home date with play-off chasers Burnley.

Another slip-up from the Saints would open the top-two door to Birmingham, with the Blues set to travel to Barnsley this weekend on the back of a nine-match unbeaten run that has brought seven wins.

Fourth-placed Cardiff suffered a rare defeat last time out and will be looking to respond positively to that setback when they travel to inconsistent Leicester.

Middlesbrough are without a win in six and could tumble out of the top six should they come unstuck at Ipswich - who have won their last two.

High-flying Blackpool, who have won their last three, entertain financially-troubled Portsmouth live on Sky Sports HD2.

Play-off chasing

Hull City find themselves on the fringes of the play-off places and will be looking to re-join the promotion-chasing pack when they play host to lowly Bristol City.

Reading also have eyes on the top six and will fancy their chances of taking three points off rock-bottom Coventry - who have yet to win on the road this season.

Leeds made the perfect start to life after Simon Grayson last weekend and Redfearn will further enhance his claims to the vacant managerial post at Elland Road if the Whites can see off Brighton.

Millwall have suffered five defeats in six to slip into relegation trouble and will be hoping that Derby suffer another wobble when they arrive at The Den.

Nottingham Forest continue to toil inside the second tier relegation zone, with a run of nine defeats in 11 offering their weekend opponents Watford cause for optimism ahead of their trip to the City Ground.

Crystal Palace's match against Doncaster has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.