At the start of the season, Leicester City were one of the favourites for promotion while for Hull City... well, the expectations were a little different.

The Foxes are up there with the pacesetters and have an eye on a quick return to the Premier League but with five of their last six matches cumulating in a draw, the King Power isn't really drawing (a triggering word for you Foxes fans, I know!) all that much buzz.

While for the Tigers, they are sneaking up on the top six under new boss Sergej Jakirovic and have just achieved something many failed to do before them - defeat Birmingham City at their beloved St Andrew's to ruin a 29 game undefeated home streak.

"When you have this feeling almost of a defeat, when you have a bad feeling, I think the best thing that happens is that you want to play immediately," Cifuentes told BBC Radio Leicester.

"It's a quick turnaround and we are going to get all the guys together, try to recover, try to analyse what we could have done better and and bring the positives into the game.

"We want to be very self-critical on the things we need to improve and make sure we improve our performance because Hull are coming from a strong win away and we can expect they will be in a good mood playing at home and we will definitely have to be at our best to get the three points."

While Blackburn and Sheffield United need a map and a compass to find their way to goal, we're rubbing our hands at the prospect of Ipswich against Charlton, although don't tell Addicks fans that.

The past three meetings between these two have produced 18 goals, the trouble for the Londoners is they've conceded 14 of them and the game they didn't lose was a chaotic 4-4 draw.

Now, don't all start predicting 0-0 because there's only been one involving these sides so far this season and Ipswich have banged in 10 goals in their past three home games - all of which ended in wins which is as many home victories as they had managed in their previous 24 outings at Portman Road.

Charlton are decent on the road following promotion, so much so they are looking to avoid successive away defeats for the first time since November last year.

Sit back and watch it rain goals, and if it doesn't you didn't hear it here, right?

Millwall's derby day win over Queens Park Rangers on the weekend has got Lions fans feeling all kinds of excited.

The result puts them in the top six and on a winning streak but to get a third successive victory and stay up in the play-off places, they need to defeat the hardiest team in the league.

Stoke's stability at the back sees them with the best defensive record in the league, conceding just six goals this season to put them third in the league.

In fact, they are undefeated in their last four games but that doesn't mean Potters defender Ashley Phillips thinks they are infallible.

"It is brilliant news to have the record, it means that we are doing our jobs and clean sheets win games," said Phillips.

"We have to take one game at a time as in the Championship anyone can beat anyone on their day, so we have to be humble."

Without wishing to pour petrol on the flames, this feels like it is getting to a point of no return for the respective managers of these sides.

Both were brought in to try to turn around difficult situations and while John Eustace can point to Derby's final day salvation last season, it's hardly been party central at Pride Park since then.

Meanwhile in the wilds of Norfolk, Norwich-born Liam Manning was teased from the clutches of play-off contenders Bristol City with the promise of honey and jam but it's barely been bread and water.

And so these two meet at maybe the least opportune moment for either boss.

"I can't control anything - I don't worry about any outcome, I don't lose any sleep over fear of that," Manning told BBC Radio Norfolk.

"As far as I'm aware, everybody from the ownership down is pulling in the same direction and on board - it's not a good period but sometimes it's what you have to go through."

The good news for Norwich is their two wins so far have come on the road and they're at a Derby side yet to taste victory at home.

"We need to be better, I get that. We have to win more games, of course we do, but over the course of the season I'm very confident we'll get there," said head coach Eustace.

Seasons are long and trying - patience at both clubs is being tested to the extreme...

Image source, Shutterstock

Coventry's ascent to the top of the Championship table has been nothing short of spectacular.

They've scored 29 goals this season, 13 more than any other Championship side, while conceding just seven, only one more than Stoke's six.

By comparison, hosts Portsmouth have scored nine in their entire Championship campaign so far, leaving them in 14th place.

Nine also happens to be the number of goals the Sky Blues have scored across their past two away trips and many will expect another ruthless showing when they make the trip to Fratton Park - though forward Ephron Mason-Clark doesn't make the same assumption.

"Those stats we can't take for granted," Mason-Clark told BBC Radio CWR.

"We go there to stick to our own qualities and make sure we're fighting for each other and the fans that are travelling down there.

"It's an amazing ground with a lot of history but we're all confident and looking forward to a tough test again."

Not difficult to see the problem confronting these two sides - sticking the ball in the onion bag.

Those tuning in for a goalfest may wish to evaluate their judgement, but you never know.

Yes, Sheffield United may have won at the weekend but a return of four goals in 10 games tells the story without having to look at the league table.

Yet, they head to Ewood Park on a bit of a high after that win over Watford on Saturday and boss Chris Wilder admits that has given them a lift.

"It was an enjoyable weekend, that lovely feeling that stays with you until the next game," he told BBC Radio Sheffield.

"But with all Championship games, whether it's Saturday or the two coming up, it's not easy to win."

Blackburn have scored nearly double the number of goals managed by the Blades, but they've won the same number of games, two.

But it's no wins and three defeats from their past four outings which puts extra pressure on this evening's game with the opponents having the chance to leapfrog them in the table.

"We do need a win for the group I think, just to give everyone a boost and the confidence," said defender Scott Wharton.

"These two next home games, if we pick up some good results, hopefully two wins, can be a real turning point for us."

One goal might be enough for either of these teams to take all three points.

BBC Local Radio

Because of broadcasting rights we cannot bring you online audio commentary of tonight's games.

Your BBC local radio radio station will be providing commentary and we will bring you a flavour of their output alongside our live text coverage so you will not miss a thing.

We have eight games in the Championship tonight (19:45 BST unless stated).

• Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United
• Derby County v Norwich City
• Hull City v Leicester City
• Ipswich Town v Charlton Athletic
• Millwall v Stoke City
• Portsmouth v Coventry City
• Preston North End v Birmingham City
• Bristol City v Southampton (20:00 BST)

Image source, Shutterstock

I know there's still many moons to see before Halloween hits town but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a good Tuesday night treat now, does it?

The trick, however, is that all not all of tonight's teams will go home feeling sweet and some results may come back to haunt them.

Especially if you're, let's say, Derby County's John Eustace or Norwich City's Liam Manning for example, the battle at Pride Park could be a horror show.

But that's enough spooking, we've got build up to give you so make sure you stick with us for all the latest before the teams get ready for showtime under the new moon.