Saturday Championship Tips: Well-rested Swans to outgun weary Blues

• Blues' poor form to continue

• Another entertaining 90 mins at the Madejski

• Robins to leave Deepdale with at least a point

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Swans to make it three unbeaten

Swansea 1.9210/11 v Birmingham 4.77/2; The Draw 3.711/4

Swansea fans were left a little frustrated by their team's lack of business on deadline day with a loan move for Karlan Grant reportedly falling through on Tuesday evening. Nevertheless, Russell Martin's men are playing relatively well and have lost just one of their last four Championship fixtures.

The hosts have a relatively strong home record this season with only three teams; Burnley, Sheffield United and Norwich, having beaten them here since the end of August. They've also been producing decent xG numbers throughout January and although they are a relatively short price to take all three points, it's hard to see them slipping up.

The Swans have undoubtedly improved as the season has progressed. They've conceded 16 times at home so far, although seven of those goals were shipped in their first three matches. They've won five of their last eight contests at the Swansea City Stadium and having been knocked out of the FA Cup ten days ago, they will surely have benefitted from having a weekend off and a little more time to prepare for this game.

Birmingham have played over 200 minutes against Blackburn in the last seven days and although Krystian Bielik looks set to return to the XI, their small squad could be tested by this increasingly hectic schedule. John Eustace has been struggling to get a tune out of his squad over the last few weeks and they are conceding far too many goals.

The Blues have averaged just 0.92 goals per game on the road this season and have failed to score in two of their last three on their travels. They've conceded seven of their 17 away goals across their last two fixtures and have picked up just two away wins since mid-September.

Low key affair in Humberside

Hull 2.265/4 v Cardiff 3.5551/20; The Draw 3.412/5

Although they are far from the finished article, Hull have significantly improved since the appointment of Liam Rosenior. The former defender has a 4-5-2 record since arriving at the MKM and although his side haven't been prolific in front of goal, they have significantly tightened up and have conceded just nine times during that period.

Rosenior appears to have found a way to unlock Aaron Connolly's potential and the arrival of Karl Darlow also looks to be a sensible addition.

One of the biggest frustrations of the Rosenior tenure has been Hull's lack of penetration on home turf, nevertheless, Tigers fans will have been pleased to see their side stick three past QPR last weekend.

Sabri Lamouchi was appointed as the new Cardiff manager last week and the Frenchman's first game in charge ended in a chaotic 1-0 defeat to Luton on Tuesday night. The former Nottingham Forest boss is able to frustrate the opposition and his teams tend to be difficult to beat. However, the Bluebirds' issues have been at the other end of the field as they've failed to score in five of their last six outings.

The visitors are unlikely to offer much going forward, yet they will look to keep the hosts at arm's length. This may not be a classic.

BTTS in Berkshire

Reading 2.942/1 v Watford 2.747/4; The Draw 3.3512/5

Reading emerged from their FA Cup defeat to Manchester United with plenty of credit, and Paul Ince's side can hold their heads up high coming into this weekend's fixture. Their home form has been strong with only three sides leaving the Madjeski with maximum points so far this season.

Despite their solid form at this venue, the Royals have managed just two clean sheets since mid-August and threw away a two-goal lead against QPR in their previous outing here. Despite possessing a limited squad, the hosts don't tend to struggle to stick the ball in the back of the net and they've scored eight times across their last five outings.

Watford have bolstered their squad during the January transfer window and Slaven Bilic will be hoping that the new additions can enable to the Hornets to get their promotion hopes back on track.

The Hertfordshire side are incredibly inconsistent, with injuries preventing them from putting a steady string of results together. Goals have been at a premium in recent weeks with the visitors failing to find the net in three of their last five. Nevertheless, they have added some firepower to their squad and should be able to find a way past Reading's questionable defence.

Middlesbrough to edge past McCarthy's men

Middlesbrough 1.574/7 v Blackpool 76/1; The Draw 4.47/2

Middlesbrough are leading the charge when it comes to closing the gap between the top two and the chasing pack. Michael Carrick's side have been superb so far in 2023 and their recent record at the Riverside Stadium has been close to flawless. Only Millwall have conceded fewer home goals than the Teessiders this campaign and with five clean sheets in their last nine at this venue, they'll be confident of keeping the low-scoring Seasiders off the scoresheet.

Carrick's men have made some fantastic signings during the window with Aaron Ramsey and Dan Barlaser joining the club, alongside Cameron Archer. With Chuba Akpom enjoying a purple patch and Marcus Forss finding form on the right hand side, they have ample firepower and should be able to capitalise on the visitor's mistakes.

Mick McCarthy was pleased with his side's FA Cup display against Southampton last weekend, however, his priority will be to keep the Seasiders in the second tier. They've added sensibly throughout January, however, McCarthy is likely to be prioritising upcoming matches against both Rotherham and Huddersfield.

Blackpool will be harder to beat under the new management, yet this is an incredibly tough first game in charge for the Yorkshireman.

PNE's home woes to continue

Preston 2.546/4 v Bristol City 3.185/40; The Draw 3.412/5

Ryan Lowe has struggled to put his finger on his side's poor home form this season. Despite possessing a terrific record on the road, PNE have struggled to pick up points at Deepdale and the natives have become fairly restless over the last few weeks.

They've been defeated in seven of their last 11 matches at this venue, and have lost four consecutive outings in Lancashire. 11 of the 18 goals that they've conceded have been shipped during that recent run and they could struggle to keep a confident Bristol City outfit at arm's length on Saturday afternoon.

Lowe will be hoping that his new-look strikeforce can form a potent partnership and although he may not go straight into the XI, Josh Onomah is an interesting signing.

Bristol City are four unbeaten on their travels and although they lost Antoine Semenyo during the transfer window, they have made some terrific additions with both Harry Cornick and Anis Mehmeti likely to add some much-needed endeavour and craft to the squad.

The Robins have taken at least a point from recent visits to the Den, the CBS Arena and the Riverside Stadium, and they will have nothing to fear coming into this tie.

Tough Terriers to take at least a point

Huddersfield 3.3512/5 v QPR 2.486/4; The Draw 3.39/4

Despite their fairly perilous position in the Championship table, Huddersfield's home form isn't too bad. They have largely kept things tight and having been breached on just 14 occasions in West Yorkshire, they will be tough to beat once again on Saturday afternoon.

Mark Fotheringham's men weren't particularly good last weekend at the CBS Arena, however, they will be expected to take something from this tie. The Terriers weren't overly active in the transfer window, however, they have added some much-needed experience to their squad with players such as Matt Lowton and Anthony Knockaert bringing some nous and know-how to the XI.

QPR fans remain sceptical of their latest managerial appointment with Neil Critchley having failed to win over the fans in West London so far. The R's are struggling for form, and with Lyndon Dykes absent for the foreseeable, a reshuffle in the final third may be required. The addition of Jamal Lowe has been one of the few positives so far in 2023, and they will be hoping that the former Swansea man can continue his excellent form.

The visitors have avoided defeat in three of their last four away outings, however, they were exceptionally poor last weekend and are unlikely to leave the John Smith's Stadium with all three points.

Entertaining contest at Kenilworth

Luton 2.427/5 v Stoke 3.4549/20; The Draw 3.39/4

Luton have made some eye-catching additions in January and although they are still a relative outsider for the top six, Rob Edwards' side are playing well enough to be considered for a play-off spot. They edged past Cardiff in midweek, making it five wins from their last six outings in the second tier.

Elijah Adebayo has found form under the new management and although he missed a penalty in midweek, he still managed to pop up and score the winner for his side.

Although the Hatters have kept back-to-back clean sheets, this should be much tougher. With just two shutouts in eight home fixtures, another blank is far from assured.

Stoke remain wildly unpredictable, however, they appear to be playing with plenty of confidence. They hit four past Reading at the 365, shortly before easing past Stevenage in the FA Cup. They've found the net in each of their last three away games and having lost Harry Souttar on Tuesday evening, they could be susceptible at the back.

Points shared at the Den

Millwall 2.166/5 v Sunderland 3.953/1; The Draw 3.412/5

Millwall have been breached on just eight occasions at the Den this season as Gary Rowett's side continue to keep things tight at the back. The Lions have added some firepower during the transfer window, although it remains to be seen whether the arrivals of Duncan Watmore and Oli Burke can increase the club's output in the final third.

With just one goal conceded across their last five outings, the Bermondsey side will be characteristically tough to breach on their own patch. Only QPR and Reading have left this venue with maximum points and although Sunderland possess one of the best records on the road, they may have to settle for point.

The Black Cats are unbeaten on the road since October 16th, although they've drawn three of their last six. They've conceded just five times during that run of games and won't be easily swept aside. The injury to Ross Stewart is a sizeable blow for the Wearsiders, however, they appear to have enough cover following the arrival of Joe Gelhardt.