Championship / Andrew French / 27 November 2009 /

It's differing fortunes in the north east at present, with Newcastle United flying high and Middlesbrough struggling badly of late. Both can record wins this Saturday however says Andrew French.

Despite having let me down on a treble last weekend, I'm still prepared to give Middlesbrough another chance this week, especially as they face a team even more out of sorts than they are. Boro's away record is better than their home results, and it may just suit Gordon Strachan to be away from the gaze of the Riverside faithful as he seeks his first win since taking over. He certainly won't get closer to an open goal than a trip to Peterborough, who have lost three on the trot.

New boss Mark Cooper would not have been overly disappointed with a 1-0 defeat at Sheffield United in his first game in charge, and he'll want to make his mark in his first home game in charge. However, Boro - on paper at least - are a considerably better side than Posh and as both sides are having poor runs, I am taking Boro to be the better of two bad bunches and will back them at [2.3].

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Just up the road Newcastle are making a much better fist of returning to the Premier League. They have won four on the spin, including a couple of hard-fought away successes at Sheffield United and Preston. They are yet to lose at home, and I think that formidability at St James Park may well account for in-form Swansea on Saturday.

The Welsh side are flying: unbeaten in 11 and with back-to-back away wins. However, Newcastle on their own turf is about as difficult as it gets in the Championship and with the Toon now seemingly totally adjusted to what is required in this division, I suggest backing them at [1.9].

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I saw Scunthorpe lose at Watford last weekend, and their defence looked particularly suspect - that is underlined by the fact they have conceded 12 goals in losing their last four league games (and five more in a Carling Cup tie at Manchester City). This weekend they host Leicester, who have won four of their last five and suffered just one away defeat all season (and that was at Newcastle). A striker like Matt Fryatt could have a field day against the Scunny defence, and I think Leicester can take three points in this one, so I'll back them at [2.34].

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It's not been a bad time to be a Watford fan - I doubt any of us thought we'd find ourselves eighth at any stage this season. However Malky Mackay has got his young side playing some excellent football, and after a couple of drubbings, he has also got the defence looking far sounder. A play-off bid may still be a lofty aim though, and I think most Hornets fans are applying the old adage of 'not looking any further ahead than the next game'. Given that is a trip to Crystal Palace, I think the Hornets have enough about them at the moment to come back with some reward.

The Eagles have been the draw kings of late (5 in 7 games), and after being pasted 5-1 by West Brom on their last away trip, I doubt Mackay would turn his nose up at a point. I'd love to be bold enough to back a Watford win, but I'll err on the side of caution and lay Palace at [2.22].

* Andrew is showing a profit of approximately £159 (£10 level stake/liability) on all his selections so far this season

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