Ian Cranson
Fomer Stoke defender on BBC Radio Stoke

It was a penalty of a confident player, a good strong side foot into the corner.

Keeper had no chance!

Stoke City have the chance to go ahead after Jacob Zetterstrom fouls Tom Cannon. Messy.

Rams keeper Jacob Zetterstrom sends in a glorious high pass towards Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the left in the other half.

It meets its target and the home side are forced into giving away a free kick before the experienced winger can get it through to the box.

The position is promising and the kick goes above the wall but a save for Stoke's Viktor Johansson, who palms it away with his gloves.

The Blades have really made their goals count this season.

They've claimed seven wins from their 12 games but have scored just 14 times to date, that's one more than 22nd placed Plymouth.

At the other end, they've only conceded six goals.

Strong start from Derby, who have clearly been directed to go out with real intent.

The Stoke half is crammed with orange shirts, forcing Potters keeper Viktor Johansson to go long just to ease the pressure.

We've highlighted Swansea's poor return in front of goal but they're tight at the back with just the eight league goals conceded so far which means Oxford will find it hard to break them down.

The home side are desperate to end a seven game run without a victory.

We're under way in all three of our early games today.

Sanny Rudravajhala
BBC Radio 5 Live at Ewood Park

Image source, Rex Features

Greetings from Ewood Park, where the press room has served up a Mexican Bean and Avocado sandwiches and looking at the xG table, this may be the closest we get to a bit of flair today!

With it being sixth hosting fourth, this is of course one of the standout fixtures in the second tier. For Rovers, it’s been all about their home form – unbeaten and winning five from six. So why am I sounding so downbeat?

Well, the fact Sammy Szmodics is still Blackburn’s second top scorer, and he left for Ipswich in August tells you all you need to know about their issues up top.

They’re looking to bounce back from a 1-0 loss at Watford last time out and get Yuki Ohashi back in the goals. The Japanese starts and hasn’t scored since two superb goals when I was last here, against Bristol City in September.

Sheffield United remedied back-to-back defeats with a solid performance and 2-0 victory over Stoke City. Their performances this season have been built around the second meanest defence in the league. Jesurun Rak-Sakyi has put in some stellar showings on the flanks and Vinicius Souza seems determined to get his first Blades goal of the season from about 30 yards out.

Today is Mexico’s Day of the Dead, which may explain the sandwiches! So, let’s hope the sides say ‘adios’ to xG stats and have a footballing fiesta!

Image source, BBC Sport

Today marks a starting XI debut of the Championship season for Tatsuki Seko after he impressed during Stoke City's EFL Cup loss to Southampton in the week.

He's one of two changes for the side that also sees Bae Junho start up front.

Ben Wilmot is out with illness while Lewis Koumas is available from the substitutes bench.

Derby County also make a double change from the side that held Hull City to a draw last week.

Kenzo Goudmijn drops to the bench as Ben Osborn and Joe Ward make the starting XI.

Kane Wilson misses out due to injury.

Image source, BBC Sport

On the back of a 2-0 defeat by Sunderland last weekend, the Oxford manager Des Buckingham makes three changes to his starting line-up.

Will Vaulks, Idris El Mizouni and Dane Scarlett drop to the bench and in come Josh McEachran, Louie Sibley and Owen Dale.

Image source, BBC Sport

As Swansea search for a goal and a win, they make one change to the side which lost at Millwall.

Leading scorer Liam Cullen is among the substitutes with Joe Allen replacing him from the start.

New signing Cyrus Christie is on the bench having joined in midweek.

Image source, BBC Sport

Blackburn gaffer John Eustace makes three changes to the team that went down to a narrow 1-0 loss at Watford. Joe Rankin-Costello, Tyrhys Dolan & Yuki Ohashi are all back in the XI. Harry Leonard is named in a matchday squad for the first time since September. He's on the bench.

Image source, BBC Sport

Sheffield United make a couple of alterations from the side that started the 2-0 win over Stoke City last week. Defender Anel Ahmedhodzic serves a one-match ban and is replaced by Jack Robinson, who also takes the captain's armband, while Rhian Brewster comes in for Tyrese Campbell in one of the forward positions.

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Things have gone from not-so-good to downright bad for Stoke City.

Not only have they won just one league game out of their past eight, but their 2-0 loss to Sheffield United ended their three-match draw streak with a punctuated defeat rather than the exclamation of a win.

Defender Enda Stevens went on record to say that the team needs to manage games better, having conceded at critical points at Bramall Lane, but the players on the pitch aren't the only thing Stoke need to keep a hold of.

In the week, the Potters have condemned the behaviour of their fans following tragedy chants directed at Blades and former Stoke striker Tyrese Campbell after the passing of his father, Kevin, in June.

Being 19th in league and with the same amount of points as Plymouth Argyle in 22nd, Stoke will need their home support's voice to be a rally call rather than a distraction as they host Derby in today's early afternoon kick-off.

The Rams are in their own little winless spell, having conceded three successive draws, but midfielder Ebou Adams is feeling positive about the visitor's performances up to now.

Another draw won't be an option either side would like to take down the tunnel on the final whistle. Can one of them find themselves an elusive win?

Image source, Getty Images

Okay, let's admit it, anyone wanting a goal fest on their Saturday lunchtime might not choose this one... but no, don't look away, bear with us.

There's almost a ghoulish interest about this fixture as Swansea look to avoid equalling an unwanted club record. The Swans have failed to register a goal in their last five league games and have only once in their history gone six without scoring, which was back in February 1996.

For the record it's 525 minutes since Luke Williams' side last found the target and of the eight goals they have managed in their 12 league matches, five came in two games.

Top scorer Liam Cullen recently signed a new long term contract but has found the net just three times in all competitions.

Oxford have won 86% of their points at home this season, only Plymouth and Derby's ratio is higher in the Championship, but a solid start to life back in the second tier has tailed-off in recent weeks with the U's winless in their last seven league games.

Former Cardiff forward Mark Harris scored in each of this first four league appearances of the season but has now gone eight matches without a goal which has coincided with their dip in form.

We'll either get goals galore or some rather, depressing, unhappy statistics - makes you want to keep watching doesn't it!

Image source, Rex Features

After the difficulties of last season's Premier League campaign Sheffield United could scarcely have hoped to make a better start to this season.

The Blades remained unbeaten for longer than any other EFL side and, but for a two-point deduction, would he sitting in second after 12 games.

Chris Wilder's men will move up to that position, albeit potentially only briefly, if they can come out on top today.

John Eustace's Rovers made a bright start to the season themselves but have won just one of their past five matches.

Their recent home record is strong though, with clean sheets in their past four, and they have won six and drawn three of the previous 10 league meetings between these two sides at Ewood Park.

Here's what's coming up for you from English football's second tier this afternoon, with all games kicking off at 15:00 GMT unless stated:

• Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United (12:30 GMT)
• Oxford United v Swansea City (12:30 GMT)
• Stoke City v Derby County (12:30 GMT)
• Cardiff City v Norwich City
• Hull City v Portsmouth
• Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle
• Middlesbrough v Coventry City
• Preston North End v Bristol City
• Queens Park Rangers v Sunderland
• Sheffield Wednesday v Watford

Image source, Rex Features

Not entirely sure how but a chicken was on the loose on the Ewood Park car park earlier.

Could it be a distant relation of the one famously released on to the pitch by an irate fan at Blackburn in 2012 when they were relegated from the Premier League?

Probably not but it made for an easy pun so here we are ¯\_(ツ)_/¯,

Image source, Rex Features

Good afternoon and welcome to today's Championship live text.

The clock's have gone back, Halloween has been and gone and all the teams have played at least 12 games. This is the stage of the season where the table really starts to take shape.

Our three early games today feature a team looking to go second, one looking to move away from the relegation zone and one just hoping to score a goal for the first time since 29 September.

Half an hour until kick off so let's get going.