Image source, Rex Features

Before today's action let's catch up with Friday's matches. There were three played in the EFL yesterday, with Bristol City the biggest winners.

Relegation-threatened City thrashed Huddersfield, who were hoping to close a six-point gap to the top two, 4-0 at Ashton Gate.

Reading moved up to fourth with a 2-0 win at fellow play-off contenders Sheffield Wednesday, while Port Vale boosted their chances of surviving in League One with a 2-1 home success against Shrewsbury.

Image source, Rex Features

Preston's charge towards the top six may have come rather late in the day, but Simon Grayson's side are putting on a show to try to reach the play-offs.

North End may be six points off sixth place, but last Saturday's 3-0 defeat of promotion hopefuls Reading meant Grayson's side have taken 14 points out of a possible 21.

Their main men in that run? Striker Tom Barkhuizen with four goals in his last three starts and the guile of Aiden McGeady and Daryl Horgan.

Are they peaking at just the right time, or have they left it a couple of weeks too late?

Image source, Rex Features

Before Tony Mowbray took over at struggling Blackburn Rovers, you could have been forgiven for thinking their time in the Championship was hurtling towards an end.

But since the new manager's appointment, Rovers have gone six games unbeaten - including a draw against play-off hopefuls Fulham on Tuesday - to rise to one point off safety.

Today, victory in a potentially fearsome Lancashire derby against Preston will take them out of the relegation zone before the 15:00 GMT kick-offs. 

What more motivation could you want?

As if Forest v Derby needs any added interest and incentive, both teams have points to prove for new managers, who were appointed on the same day earlier this week. 

It does feel like the rivals are intent on out-doing each other on the shambles front.

Ten different men at the helm for the past five derbies.

Image source, BBC Sport

So new managers with different aims. Forest are now just one point off the Championship relegation zone after Bristol City's win on Friday, while Derby have a glimmer of hope of salvaging a play-off push following Sheffield Wednesday's defeat by Reading.

Welcome one and all. It's Championship lunchtime derby day.

Blackburn are hosting Preston in an all-Lancashire meeting and Nottingham Forest have a neighbourly East Midlands date with Derby County at the City Ground.

I'm not sure hosting is necessarily the best choice of word but it is probably better than welcoming...  

So, it should be nice and quiet. It's not as if three of those clubs have got plenty going on, with relegation worries, managerial upheaval and some seriously irate supporters to placate.