Leeds v Southend
Dennis Wise has called upon the Leeds players to show some "nastiness' after being appointed the new boss at Elland Road earlier this week. The former Chelsea skipper takes over with the Yorkshire outfit only one place off the bottom of the Championship, having picked up just three points from their last eight league matches.
Wise has installed Kevin Nicholls as his new club captain, a man he sees in his own mould – "aggressive, booted me a couple of times when I played against him, has a cockiness about him and an 'orribleness' about him,' said the 39-yearold.
The next plan is to give supporters just that sort of commitment from all the players wearing the famous white shirt, starting against Southend tomorrow, just four days after the Shrimpers went to Elland Road and embarrassed Leeds 3-1 in the Carling Cup.
That result against Leeds earned Steve Tilsons men a glamour Fourth Round tie with Manchester United, but Tilson admitted he would swap Tuesdays win for a league victory tomorrow.
Shailys Verdict: There is no reason why Southend cant repeat that win of four days ago, but the arrival of the feisty Wise could be just what a demoralised Leeds squad needs right now – home win.
Ipswich v Luton (Sunday)
Jim Magiltons Ipswich halted a three-match slump by winning 3-1 at Southend last week, courtesy of goals from Billy Clarke, Sylvain Legwinski and Alan Lee. With the likes of Simon Walton, Darren Currie and Mark Noble all included in the squad, its hard to see the former Northern Ireland international ditching his attacking approach and three points for the home side could lift the Tractor Boys into the top half of the table.
Ipswich had beaten Sunderland, Southampton, Coventry and QPR, as well as drawing with Birmingham, in a four-week purple patch, before a 1-0 defeat to Colchester was followed by successive home losses against West Brom and Preston.
Luton have done remarkably well this season considering the summer departures of Kevin Nicholls and Steve Howard. Fifth place in the table is a great start for the Kenilworth Road outfit, although Mike Newell is concerned the 4-0 midweek Carling Cup humbling at Everton could affect the Hatters league form.
Shailys Verdict: Lutons energy-sapping midweek loss could open the door for Ipswich to take advantage.
Crystal Palace v Plymouth
Plymouth are one of the surprise packages in the Championship this term, with Ian Holloways men currently enjoying the lofty heights of seventh place in the table. Holloways infectious personality has certainly rubbed off on his squad and its his sides impressive away from that has stood out so far.
Argyle are usually tough to beat at Home Park, but 11 points from six road trips is an excellent return for the Devonshire club. Experienced striker Barry Hayles has formed a promising strike partnership with Sylvain Ebanks-Blake, however the former Fulham front-man will be absent through suspension tomorrow after picking up his fifth caution in the goalless draw with Burnley.
Despite spending £3million in the summer on strikers James Scowcroft and Shefki Kuqi, Palace are yet to convince they have the firepower to challenge for an automatic promotion spot - scoring just 15 goals from their first 13 games and conceding 16. Last weeks 1-1 draw at Leicester saw Peter Taylors men slip into the bottom half of the table, having won just two of their last 11 games.
Shailys Verdict: The absence of Hayles is a blow to the visitors but Holloways battlers can still snatch a share of the spoils against an out-of-sorts Eagles team.
