Saturday

12.30p

Coventry v Leicester – Ricoh Arena

Paulo Sousa isn’t a one bird man…his indecisiveness is spilling into his striker selection too: D.J. Campbell was going to stay, but then he went…and now he’s not so sure about Matty Fryatt…at least he has the spunk to admit he couldn’t go on without a bit of Martyn Waghorn…Aidy Boothroyd has the home side embarking on a positive ascent…Chris Coleman did too this time last year, and that didn’t end on the best of terms…Coventry 1-1 Leicester

1.00p

Derby v Sheffield United – Pride Park

Great bit of business by the Rams, eh? Boro were willing to part with upwards of £4m last summer for hulking forward Rob Hulse…instead they dug their heels in and stood firm, aided by the fact Hulse wasn’t interested in a move to the northeast…QPR snapped him up for £1m before the close of the transfer window, leaving a considerable gap in attack…Gary Speed seeks another win to herald a good start to an overdue managerial career…Derby 1-1 Sheffield United

3.00p

Cardiff v Hull – Cardiff City Stadium

Massive…huge…epic…landmark…Anthony Gerrard returns to Cardiff City Stadium! Frankly we’re tired of talking up Craig Bellamy, and we can’t work in a smart Goldie Lookin Chain reference…here’s hoping Nigel Pearson is back to rude health after a hospital scare…Cardiff 2-0 Hull

Leeds United v Swansea – Elland Road

Amdy Faye has been drafted in to add grit and muscle to the Leeds midfield…a shrewd acquisition that further bolsters an already formidable spine…Swansea are right in the early thick of it, but the away form has to improve if they’re to make a real go…another proven goalscorer couldn’t hurt too…maybe a cheeky call to his mate in Madrid to see if Gonzalo Higuain might be available on loan? Leeds United 2-1 Swansea

Norwich v Barnsley – Carrow Road

Mark Robins may have a true gem on his hands in Adam Hammill…a chic pick for prosperity, the Tykes look to build on the success that followed an underwhelming start…Norwich don’t look like they’re going anywhere, in a good way…they’ll hang and claw and scratch, and occasionally gouge…Norwich 3-1 Barnsley

The Trees v Millwall – Trees Home Ground

This is for you smogonthetynenowinnunthorpe…an exorcism of the Garibaldi Reds, distilling them down to a generic parochial, arboreal outfit…chief thicko Steve Morison looks to maintain his torrid form…Kenny Jackett immediately distancing himself from the Wales vacancy can’t hurt the continued cohesion either…The Trees 0-1 Millwall

Portsmouth v Ipswich – Fratton Park

If nothing else, Dave Kitson will give great quote to the journos on the south coast…he and Liam Lawrence certainly appear a considerable upgrade over what they surrendered in Marc Wilson and Tommy Smith…no word if Roy is to go ahead with his coaching duties after this tragic news…goodnight, sweet prince…Portsmouth 1-0 Ipswich

QPR – Middlesbrough – Loftus Road

Things are going swimmingly at the Bush…and Neil Warnock has never lost to Boro, anywhere…of course we had never won at their place either, before the 5-1 thrashing way that signaled Gordo’s first win last December…a real litmus test for the visitors, especially with a national media set to cast a beady eye on our assembly of expensive talent…QPR 2-2 Boro

Reading v Crystal Palace – Madejski Stadium

Palace secured the scrawl of James Vaughan on loan to key the attack…Reading matches them with their own tyro, former Royal Simon Cox is in from West Brom…will Reading go the way of the Sugarcubes after their charismatic focal point Gylfi Sigurdsson has gone? Reading 2-0 Crystal Palace

Scunthorpe v Bristol City – Glanford Park

Such class…Nigel Adkins won’t give Southampton the time of day unless they consider compensating the Iron…a lesson in devotion and professional integrity for all in these morally bankrupt times…Keith Millen gets a starlet in Tottenham’s Danny Rose…the young whippet should be keen to impress that he does indeed have the goods…Scunthorpe 2-1 Bristol City

Watford v Doncaster – Vicarage Road

The loan window recently opened, and no doubt Watford will be on edge as they see if they can snatch anymore big-time Prem-nurtured talent to abet a quest to avoid expected tough times in the league…Doncaster don’t have to wait for the Arsenal whelps, for they play they’re own brand of pass-it-into-the-net stuff…Watford 2-2 Doncaster

5.15p

Burnley v Preston – Turf Moor

Great stuff from Paul Fletcher this week, chronicling the financial re-tooling of a club almost taken to the HMRC wall…Little Ferg is on board with the austerity plan, though not without his own nepotistic loan captures…Turf Moor is a fortress, just ask Big Ferg…Burnley 2-0 Preston

Nickname(s): QPR, Rangers, The Hoops

Ground: Loftus Road

From Boro: down London Way – Shepherd’s Bush to be exact…250 miles south

Kit: Lotto doesn’t kit too many English clubs, but full credit for this effort

Famous Supporters: full intentional offense meant to Jamie Oliver and Phil Collins, there is but one royal supporter: Mick Jones – the man fused electronic and rock at least 20 years before it became fashionable

Managerial Turnover: extremely high – since Flavio Briatore became chairman in Sep 2006 there have been 7 managers, including caretakers…he goes through gaffers like he does birds (he pulled her); Jim Magilton won appointment to the role this off-season after failing his way out of Ipswich…an incredulous choice, surely this will end well