5 Championship Tips - 10/9/22

League leaders Sheffield United will be looking to stretch their advantage at the top of the table when Rotherham are the visitors to Bramall Lane on Saturday.

The Blades sit one point clear at the summit after eight games, having won four of their last five. The win away to Hull last weekend was their second consecutive win as Paul Heckingbottom’s side set their sights on returning to the Premier League.

Iliman Ndiaye is the top scorer for the South Yorkshire outfit so far with four goals and will be hopeful of adding to that this weekend against a Rotherham side that are sitting 13th in the table and winless in their last two league games.

QPR will want to heap more misery on Huddersfield this weekend when the teams meet at Loftus Road.

The West London side have had a mixed start to the season; picking up three wins, two draws and three defeats in their league campaign so far. Michael Beale’s side had won back-to-back wins, including a big win away to promotion candidates Watford, before losing away to Swansea last time out.

Huddersfield are sitting precariously in the bottom three, second from bottom, and four points from safety after a disappointing start. The defeat at home to Blackpool last weekend was the Terriers’ second consecutive defeat.

Middlesbrough will be full of confidence after a big derby win against Sunderland on Monday. Chris Wilder’s side travels to Blackpool on Saturday looking to continue their winning streak and maybe put a run together.

With Wilder at the helm for his first full season in charge, many predicted Boro would put up a good fight for promotion this season. Things didn’t start too well for the former Sheffield United boss though, with one win in their first six games. They did manage their first victory against Swansea two weeks ago, and after losing against Watford, returned to winning ways on Monday.

Blackpool are another side that have picked up some wins but struggled to put a run together so far this season. The Tangerines sit 11th in the table following the win over Huddersfield last time out.

Sixth and third face each other at Vicarage Road this weekend, as Watford and Reading go in search of a big win that would strengthen their promotion credentials.

Watford are sixth after eight games, two points adrift of their weekend opponents. Rob Edwards’ side started the season well and picked up big wins against the likes of Sheffield United and Burnley, before slipping to a run of three league games without a win. They managed a win over Middlesbrough last Tuesday before being held away to Rotherham last Saturday.

Reading sit in third spot and have a strange season so far which has seen them pick up five wins and three losses, which include heavy defeats to Rotherham and Sheffield United. Paul Ince’s side picked up a win against Stoke last weekend and have some good attacking talent but are hit and miss when it comes to form.

Blackburn will be looking to get their promotion push back on track this weekend when they travel to Wigan.

Rovers made a strong start to the season and were tipped by some to finally make a return to the top tier but have slipped down the table following four defeats in their last five. Blackburn still sit in seventh place though and can shoot up a few places with a win.

The best bit of business the Lancashire outfit did in the transfer window was, by far, retaining the services of Ben Brereton-Diaz despite rumours linking him away from the club. The Chilean international scored a consolation goal in the defeat to Bristol City last time out and will be eager to add to his tally against a Wigan side that are 15th in the table after two wins from their seven league games so far.