Saturday, September 20

Birmingham (2) v Blackpool (17)
Blues right-back Stuart Parnaby is out with ankle trouble and is replaced by Stephen Kelly. Midfielder Kemy Agustien and striker Garry O'Connor (both groin) have been passed fit but Mehdi Nafti is suspended.

Steve Kabba (calf and thigh) will have a fitness test but fellow striker Daniel Nardiello (hamstring) is struggling. Midfielder Alan Gow is short of fitness and Jermaine Wright (Achilles) could again miss out.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Birmingham W W D W W; Blackpool D L W W L

Top scorers: Cameron Jerome and Kevin Phillips (Birmingham) 3; Ben Burgess and Steve Kabba (Blackpool) 2

Match odds: H 2-5 A 6-1 D 11-4

Referee: Mike Russell (Hertfordshire)


Bristol City (7) v Doncaster (16)
Goalkeeper Adriano Basso (calf) may be available and midfielder Marvin Elliott could be on the bench again for City, while Brian Wilson will resume training next week after his shin splints problem.

Darren Byfield, Jason Price, Stuart Elliott and Paul Heffernan are all vying to replace striker Gareth Taylor (hamstring). Defensive duo Sean McDaid (knee) and Gordon Greer (hip) are both unlikely to feature.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Bristol City D W D D L; Doncaster D L W L L

Top scorers: Steve Brooker (Bristol City) 3; Lewis Guy (Doncaster) 2

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5

Referee: Jarnail Singh (Middlesex)


Coventry (11) v QPR (4)
Leon McKenzie sustained a knock against Sheffield United in midweek but is expected to be fit while Guillaume Beuzelin has recovered from a calf injury. However, Michael Doyle and Aron Gunnarsson are set to keep their places in midfield in what could be an unchanged side.

QPR defender Matthew Connolly is suspended - fellow centre-half Fitz Hall could make a timely return from a groin injury, although Kaspars Gorkss performed well in midweek and may get the nod. Damiano Tommasi is short of match fitness while striker Rowan Vine continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg.

Last season: Coventry 0 QPR 0, QPR 1 Coventry 2

Last five league matches: Coventry W L L D D; QPR L W D W W

Top scorers: Clinton Morrison and Robbie Simpson (Coventry) 2; Dexter Blackstock (QPR) 5

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10

Referee: Dean Whitestone (Northamptonshire)


Crystal Palace (19) v Plymouth (20)
Striker Alan Lee (hamstring) is close to making his full Palace debut but fellow forward James Scowcroft (hamstring) is out and Calvin Andrew (knee) is struggling. Midfielder Neil Danns (groin) is still missing.

Left-back Jim Paterson has a thigh injury and will have a late test, while recalled goalkeeper Romain Larrieu is expected to keep his place. Left-back Gary Sawyer (hamstring) and right-back David McNamee (calf) are still injured.

Last season: Crystal Palace 2 Plymouth 1, Plymouth 1 Crystal Palace 0

Last five league matches: Crystal Palace L D L W L; Plymouth L L D L W

Top scorers: Nick Carle (Crystal Palace) 3; Karl Duguid, Rory Fallon, Paul Gallagher, Marcel Seip and Luke Summerfield 1

Match odds: H 7-10 A 10-3 D 23-10

Referee: Neil Swarbrick (Lancashire)


Derby (21) v Cardiff (6)
Kris Commons (hamstring) and Rob Hulse (dead leg) will have fitness tests after missing Derby's midweek draw against Swansea. Midfielder Giles Barnes (knee) is expected to return to fitness next month.

Bluebirds defender Miguel Comminges (head) and goalkeeper Tom Heaton (chin) should be fit after picking up injuries in midweek. Midfielder Darcy Blake needs to get the all clear from an eye specialist before being given permission to play and Mark Kennedy (hamstring) remains doubtful.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Derby D L L W D; Cardiff D D D D W

Top scorers: Nathan Ellington (Derby) 3; Ross McCormack (Cardiff) 4

Match odds: H 6-5 A 9-5 D 11-5

Referee: Mark Haywood (W Yorkshire)


Norwich (18) v Sheffield United (9)
A late decision will be taken on defender John Kennedy (ankle) but midfielder Sammy Clingan is out for a month with a shoulder injury. David Bell (ankle) could be in the squad for the first time since his summer move from Luton but Adam Drury (fracture cheekbone) is unavailable.

Defender Sun Jihai is banned so Derek Geary, Greg Halford and Kyle Naughton may play. Striker Billy Sharp (calf) should be fit but Blades midfielder Matthew Spring (ankle) and Darius Henderson (knee) are out.

Last season: Sheff Utd 2 Norwich 0, Norwich 1 Sheff Utd 0

Last five league matches: Norwich D D D W L; Sheff Utd W W D L D

Top scorers: Arturo Lupoli (Norwich) 3; Billy Sharp (Sheff Utd) 4

Match odds: H 5-4 A 7-4 D 11-5

Referee: Paul Taylor (Hertfordshire)


Nottingham Forest (23) v Charlton (8)
Striker Nathan Tyson is pushing Andy Cole for a place in Forest's starting line-up. Defender Julian Bennett (calf), midfielder Lewis McGugan (thigh), wingers Arron Davies (calf) and Paul Anderson (thigh) and striker Joe Garner (knee) are all expected to miss out.

Svetoslav Todorov could be added to the squad after a series of injuries, but midfielder Zheng Zhi is still out with a foot problem and on-loan defender Linvoy Primus has returned to Portsmouth for treatment on a knee.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Nottm Forest L W L L L; Charlton L W L L W

Top scorers: Robert Earnshaw (Nottm Forest) 5; Andy Gray (Charlton) 4

Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10

Referee: Karl Evans (Greater Manchester)


Preston (3) v Wolves (1)
Full-back Callum Davidson (knee) and Richard Chaplow (hamstring) will have their fitness tested. Striker Chris Brown (sciatica) is likely to remain sidelined with goalkeeper Wayne Henderson (back) and defenders Liam Chilvers (Achilles) and Neal Trotman (hernia).

Striker Chris Iwelumo is expected to have recovered from a groin injury and winger Matt Jarvis is also likely to be fit after a similar problem. Central midfielder David Jones (back) may be left out the starting line-up.

Last season: Preston 2 Wolves 1, Wolves 1 Preston 0

Last five league matches: Preston W D W D W; Wolves W W W W W

Top scorers: Neil Mellor (Preston) 4; Chris Iwelumo (Wolves) 5

Match odds: H 11-8 A 13-8 D 21-10

Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire)


Sheffield Wednesday (13) v Ipswich (14)
Steve Watson returns after sitting out the midweek defeat at Reading with Mark Beevers (hamstring) due to have a fitness test. Peter Gilbert will make way should Beevers be deemed ready.

Defenders Ben Thatcher and Gareth McAuley missed Town's draw with Southampton because of dead legs but may return. Midfielder Alan Quinn played against Saints and showed no ill effects after hamstring trouble.

Last season: Sheff Wed 1 Ipswich 2, Ipswich 4 Sheff Wed 1

Last five league matches: Sheff Wed L D D W L; Ipswich W L L W D

Top scorers: Etienne Esajas and Marcus Tudgay (Sheff Wed) 3; Kevin Lisbie (Ipswich) 3

Match odds: H 6-4 A 6-4 D 21-10

Referee: Michael Jones (Cheshire)


Southampton (22) v Barnsley (24)
Captain Michael Svensson could return to the Saints defence after being given the all-clear following knee trouble. Fellow centre-half Ollie Lancashire is banned, knee injuries keep out defender Wayne Thomas and winger Lee Holmes, while midfielder Jason Euell is a long-term absentee with a shoulder problem.

Anderson De Silva (knee) is expected to return for Barnsley after a long absence with Martin Devaney back after illness. Kayode Odejayi is a doubt with a knee injury

Last season: Barnsley 2 Southampton 2, Southampton 2 Barnsley 3

Last five league matches: Southampton L W L L D; Barnsley L L W L L

Top scorers: David McGoldrick (Southampton) 4; Iain Hume (Barnsley) 2

Match odds: H 5-6 A 11-4 D 11-5

Referee: Andy D'Urso (Essex)


Swansea (10) v Burnley (12)
Swansea boss Roberto Martinez has a full squad and may rest a handful of senior players. With the Carling Cup tie against Cardiff looming, the likes of Gorka Pintado, Febian Brandy and Jordi Gomez may get starts.

Clarets winger Chris Eagles is still suspended so Burnley may name an unchanged side. Remco van der Schaaf and Christian Kalvenes continue to work their way back from injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Swansea W W D L D; Burnley L D D W W

Top scorers: Ferrie Bodde, Shaun MacDonald and Gorka Pintado (Swansea) 2; Martin Paterson (Burnley) 6

Match odds: H 1-1 A 11-5 D 11-5

Referee: Andy Hall (W Midlands)


Watford (15) v Reading (5)
Hornets right-back Lloyd Doyley and striker Tamas Priskin are both unavailable with hamstring injuries so Adrian Mariappa is set for a rare start in defence with Will Hoskins playing up front. Grzegorz Rasiak (shoulder) and left-back Mat Sadler (knee) are still a month away from fitness.

Royals defender Ivar Ingimarsson (illness) may return after missing out in midweek. Captain Graeme Murty (calf) will not be fit until next month and midfielder Kalifa Cisse is out with a toe injury.

Last season: No corresponding fixture

Last five league matches: Watford W L W L L; Reading W L W L W

Top scorers: Tommy Smith & John-Joe O'Toole (Watford) 3; Kevin Doyle (Reading) 6

Match odds: H 9-5 A 6-5 D 11-5

Referee: Stuart Attwell (Warwickshire)