Saturday Championship Tips: Wearsiders to maintain top six spot

• Black Cats to triumph at the SOL

• R's to battle their way to a precious point

• Robins to test the Champions

Mowbray's men to cement their top six status

Sunderland 1.9420/21 v Watford 4.47/2; The Draw 3.6553/20

Sunderland have seemingly timed their unbeaten run to perfection. The Black Cats are undefeated since mid-March and have won three of their last four and as a result, they have put themselves firmly back into the play-off equation.

The Wearsiders have had their fair share of injuries this season and despite playing a large chunk of the campaign without their talisman Ross Stewart, they have still managed to find the net in every single home match since the World Cup break.

Although they've been better away from home this season, their recent record at the Stadium of Light has been excellent and they've scored seven times across their last three games here.

The season cannot end soon enough for Watford fans. The Hornets have endured a dreadful campaign and currently find themselves in the bottom half of the table. It remains to be seen whether Chris Wilder stays at the club next season with the Yorkshireman clearly exasperated at the lack of commitment within his squad.

The Hertfordshire outfit have won just one of their last seven matches and have picked up just a single point on the road since Valentine's Day.

Entertaining Midlands meeting

Coventry 1.564/7 v Birmingham 76/1; The Draw 4.47/2

Coventry are remarkably consistent and incredibly tough to beat. Mark Robins' side have lost just a single match since the beginning of February and remain firmly entrenched in the play-off mix.

The Sky Blues are likely to be popular this weekend, despite their relatively short price, however, with the home side having failed to win three of their last five encounters, coupled with the fact that the Blues seem to enjoy playing on the road, it might be best to look towards the goals markets.

Coventry have netted 2+ goals in three of their last four matches and should find a way past Birmingham's defence.

The Blues slipped up against Blackpool last weekend, although John Eustace's side did create some decent opportunities. They are perfectly safe and have very little to play for, yet they are unlikely to make it easy for the play-off chasers. They've avoided defeat in four of their last six away games and have found the net in nine of their last ten on the road.

Battling R's to take a step closer to survival

Stoke 2.021/1 v QPR 43/1; The Draw 3.55/2

Stoke's season came to a conclusion several weeks ago and the Potters have been simply treading water ever since. Having presided over a mini-resurgence, fans of the Staffordshire club were able to enjoy some rare moments of joy, however, the club has reverted to type over the last few weeks and they are now winless in five.

They've struggled to put the ball in the back of the net and having managed just four shots against Cardiff last weekend, they are very much ambling their way into the summer break.

QPR's victory over Burnley last weekend may have been fairly fortuitous, yet it has given them some much-needed breathing space at the bottom of the table. Gareth Ainsworth was full of praise for his side's effort and endeavour and we could see another full-blooded performance on Saturday. The visitors lack quality, yet they should have enough to grind their way to at least a point at the 365.

Latics to avoid defeat in Berkshire

Reading 2.727/4 v Wigan 2.8415/8; The Draw 3.39/4

Reading's defeat at Coventry last weekend was particularly damaging as many of the sides around them in the table managed to pick up vitally important points. Noel Hunt has made the Royals much harder to beat, yet they still lack quality in the final third and even the presence of the classy Lucas Joao cannot drag them out of the relegation mire.

The hosts are stronger at home, yet they have failed to win any of their last six at this venue and have failed to score in 50% of those matches. Nevertheless, they aren't easily breached here and haven't conceded more than a single goal in a game here since the beginning of February despite hosting Sheffield United, Burnley and Millwall.

Wigan have given themselves a slim chance of survival and many fans have been left wondering why the hierarchy didn't appoint Shaun Maloney sooner. The Scot has made his side much tougher to beat and having avoided defeat in five of their last eight, they should be able to take something from this tie. They've conceded just seven times across their last eight matches and won't go down without a fight.

BTTS at Ashton Gate

Bristol City 3.814/5 v Burnley 2.0811/10; The Draw 3.6553/20

Despite their perfectly stable mid-table position, Bristol City are still giving 100% and produced a decent performance against Rotherham last weekend. They almost took maximum points against Middlesbrough here over Easter and haven't draw a blank here since Boxing Day.

Nigel Pearson's side have been a little inconsistent this season, yet there have been plenty of high points and with another crop of talented players having worked their way into the squad this year, the future is bright at Ashton Gate.

Burnley were confirmed as champions in midweek as they edged past local rivals Blackburn at Ewood Park. Vincent Kompany's side cannot surpass Reading's record points haul and that leaves them with very little to play for here. Nevertheless, they did create plenty of chances last weekend and are unlikely to roll over and simply let the hosts dominate.

Tigers and Swans to share the points

Hull 3.6553/20 v Swansea 2.0811/10; The Draw 3.7511/4

Under Liam Rosenior, Hull have become a nuisance to play against. The Tigers had very few efforts on goal last weekend, yet still found a way to collect three points and keep a clean sheet against Watford. Although motivation levels could be questioned ahead of this fixture, the former defender is unlikely to let standards drop in their final home game of the season.

Champions Burnley are the only team to have left this ground with maximum points since November, with play-off chasers Millwall, West Brom and Sunderland all having to settle for a point or less in their recent trips to the MKM.

Swansea are making a late dash for the play-offs and Russell Martin's side come into this game as the division's in-form team. They eased to victory against a hapless Norwich side last weekend, however, this is likely to be much tougher.

Carnival atmosphere at Bramall Lane

Sheffield United 1.875/6 v Preston 4.3100/30; The Draw 4.216/5

Sheffield United clinched promotion back to the Premier League on Wednesday night with a deserved 2-0 victory over West Brom. The Blades' exceptionally strong defence has enabled them to keep a number of clean sheets this season and despite suffering an astonishing number of injuries and being slapped with a transfer embargo, Paul Heckingbottom has managed to guide the Blades back to the Promised Land.

Having won six of their last seven matches, they have ended the season strongly and having suffered just two home defeats since the beginning of November, they should be able to put on a party for the jubilant home supporters.

Preston have been excellent on the road this season, yet they've lost three of their last four away from home and have taken just a single point from their last three outings.