NATIONWIDE PREVIEWS: First Division
West Brom v Coventry City With Norwich inactive, this game provides West Brom with a chance to go level, on points at least, with the Canaries at the top of the table.
Gary Megson's side were shocked last Saturday when struggling Rotherham came to the Hawthorns and stole all three points so the Albion won't want to allow Norwich two games in hand with a three-point advantage if they lose to Eric Black's side. But the team would have received a massive boost by going to Carrow Road in midweek and taking a point off the leaders.
Coventry went to Ninian Park in the week and beat Cardiff so they will be hoping for a repeat in this second away game in a week.
West Brom will be grateful that Darren Moore has recovered from the groin strain that kept him out of the Norwich game and Gary Megson has no further injury problems. The Albion boss will have to decide if James Chambers keeps his place after a polished performance at Carrow Road.
Eric Black will be without Youssef Safri who has a groin strain but Steve Staunton, who came through the Cardiff game with no ill-effects to his suspect hamstring, is set to continue and goalkeeper Scott Shearer has shaken off a thigh strain.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: The fact that this is a 'derby' game may affect the quality of football and with the teams having such similar recent records it promises to be very tight but I take Albion, maybe by the odd goal.
Burnley v Preston North End
This one is going to be one hell of a Lancashire derby with the added spice that the three points are required for totally different reasons. Burnley are dangerously close to the relegation zone, despite their midweek draw with West Ham and Preston are just four points away from the play-offs.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: David Healy is on fire at present so I go for an away win.
Crystal Palace v Reading A real play-off six-pointer this one with Palace just a win away from the top six and Reading smarting from their midweek loss to Preston, two points ahead of The Eagles. Neil Shipperley is suspended so Dougie Freedman will deputise if he passes a late fitness test on an injured ankle, Tommy Black is standing by. Palace will be without a sub keeper after Iain Dowie was prevented from bringing in a loan player. Graham Murty has not recovered from an ankle injury so Reading midfielder Andy Hughes is likely to drop back and deputise at full back.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: A home win for me.
Gillingham v Nottingham Forest
The home side will not want Forest to extend their unbeaten run to five games since Joe Kinnear took over. Being just above the drop-zone The Gills will need to draw on a home record that has only seen one draw, the rest of their Priestfield games have either been wins or defeats for the three points.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: I think this will be draw number two.
Rotherham v Bradford City It will be tin hats at Millmoor for this Yorkshire derby relegation six-pointer. Despite Rotherham being 15th they are just four points above the last safe spot currently occupied by Gillingham but not as desperate for points as the visitors. If Bradford, nine points from safety, don't win then it's a search for route maps to Division Two grounds.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: Honours even.
Stoke v Watford
Such has been Stoke's impact on Division One this season, they beat high-flying Ipswich on Tuesday, that this goes down as a home win. The Potters are just three points away from the safety mark of 50 points. At 4.45pm on Saturday I expect them to have reached that total.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: Stoke to continue their impressive run.
West Ham v Walsall
With just three away wins all season I doubt Walsall will get anything out of this game against a West Ham side that has crept up the table under Alan Pardew into the play-off zone. The Hammers boss will have to make one change as Matthew Etherington is suspended, Jon Harley is the likely deputy, for the game against the side that beat Pardew's Reading side in the Second Division play-off final three years ago.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: Home win, no doubt.
Wigan v Crewe On paper this is a home banker, thank goodness we don't play on paper. Crewe arrested their recent losing streak with a midweek draw at Derby and are just the kind of enigmatic team that could either win at third-placed Wigan or get thrashed. I fear the latter as the notoriously fragile Alex defence could be pounded into submission by messrs Ellington and Roberts or they could outplay an inconsistent Latics and steal a win.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: A bit of a shock on the cards.
Wimbledon v Sunderland
There are 30 points between bottom-club Wimbledon and Sunderland but the Black Cats don't travel well, just five away wins. Having said that the Dons are hardly invincible at their Milton Keynes domicile, just two wins all season. Which way to go? It's difficult but if Sunderland don't win this one they don't deserve promotion.
BEARDO'S VERDICT: Away win.
