Image source, Getty Images

The phrase 'poison chalice' seemed to be a little synonymous with the QPR job of late, given the fortunes of everyone post-Michael Beale.

However, now he seems to have got his feet under the table, Marti Cifuentes looks to have got Rangers up and running with back-to-back wins over Stoke and Preston ending a 12-match winless streak.

Getting big Aussie-Scot Lyndon Dykes back to form has helped, as full-back Kenneth Paal finally has a bit of competition in the goalscoring stakes after a barren start.

Hull have been doing pretty well under Liam Rosenior, in spite of a loss to Watford last time out.

The Tigers have the mercurial Jaden Philogene and two impressive forwards in Liam Delap and Aaron Connolly among their talents.

Image source, Rex Features

Huddersfield Town are unbeaten in three, but have only won one in seven.

The joint lowest scorers in the league have Sorba Thomas suspended.

They have taken 12 points from 12 games under Darren Moore since he took charge in September.

Bristol City sit seven places (14th) above the Terriers, but are only five points better off in a congested bottom half of the Championship.

The Robins have won just once in four under Liam Manning, but have won eight of the last 13 meetings between the two sides.

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Caretaker head coach Alan Sheehan is in charge of the Swans following Michael Duff's departure earlier in the week.

Having sacked former Exeter boss Matt Taylor last month, Rotherham went for another former Grecian - with Wayne Carlisle in caretaker charge.

He leads Rotherham, who are without a win in their last seven and have the worst defence in the Championship - conceding 37 goals already.

The Millers side sit in the relegation zone, but have taken 11 of their 13 points this season in their own stadium.

Swansea have not won in five league games and have lost 19 points from winning positions since August.

Yet the Swans are unbeaten in the last five meetings between these sides, including three wins.

Sheffield Wednesday fans must have thought May's sunshine day of glory was a false dawn given the horrendous sequence of moments which have followed it.

Managers going - and that's plural, shoddy form, losses, the chairman asking for funding, before paying the bill...

Finally though, the relentless black clouds around Hillsborough are just starting to clear as ex-Leipzig and Southampton coach Danny Rohl implements his gameplan as a main man for the first time.

A point against Leicester and a comprehensive win over Blackburn have injected some optimism, but given no team has lost more Championship away games this season, there will still be trepidation.

Stoke under Alex Neil have hit a bit of a wall, without a win in five games and not since 2019 have they lost four on the spin.

Right, such is the frenetic nature of the Championship, we have no time to waste.

Just over 20 minutes until nine more games get under way.

Let's preview those now...

Gary Bennett
Ex-Sunderland defender on BBC Radio Newcastle

Alex Pritchard, love him or hate him, made the difference in the second half for Sunderland.

Patrick Roberts was also great today, and Jack Clarke was bright today, but they are still missing that striker.

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Sunderland get the win as Mike Dodds picks up the baton following Tony Mowbray's departure.

The Wearsiders showed their mettle, gave a performance to make Mowbray proud and delivered three points against a promotion rival.

Goals from Dan Ballard and Dan Neil were enough.

West Brom lacked their usual cutting edge and dynamism here, but did get on the scoresheet through Brandon Thomas-Asante.

Carlos Corberan knows afternoons will come easier than this one.

The Black Cats play a dicey game, as Jeremy Sarmiento hits the deck under pressure from Luke O'Nien.

O'Nien offers him some industrial-terms feedback as to his behaviour. Sarmiento saunters away with tail between his legs.

Jon Newsome
Ex-Leeds defender on BBC Radio Leeds

A professional performance from Leeds. They defended resolutely, the way they managed the game was brilliant.

Darnell Furlong bangs his elbow into the chin of Sunderland midfielder Alex Pritchard as he shepherds the ball out, and is booked for his.

Looked innocuous initially, but the shot didn't miss and was a sneaky one.

Image source, Rex Features

Full time at Ewood Park.

Leeds United stretch their unbeaten Championship run to seven games and move to within four points of second-placed Ipswich Town.

Dan James' low strike and Crysencio Summerville's dinked finish gives the visitors all three points against a Blackburn side who threatened but couldn't score.

Blackburn drop to eighth as it stands.

Alex Pritchard picks up the ball down in West Brom's right full-back position, retains possession and then even wins a throw.

Such a clever player.

Six minutes of added time.

Sunderland corner though.

Jack Clarke and Nathaniel Chalobah limp away from a 50-50.

It's not been overly rough this game. But the odd fearsome tackle.

Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

That was a striker's finish from Brandon Thomas-Asante.

It's going to be a frantic few minutes now from Albion.

Can they get another chance, can they pull themselves out of the fire?

Seven minutes added on at Ewood Park.

Surely Leeds are almost home and dry after a clinical performance at points against Blackburn.

Jeremy Sarmiento cracks a shot which loops up and goes behind for a West Brom corner, but again Sunderland clear...

Tony Brown
West Brom's all-time record goalscorer on BBC Radio WM

West Brom haven't threatened Sunderland all afternoon, it's unusual to see that.

You would think in 90 minutes you would create some kind of chance, but Albion haven't done that

Eliezer Mayenda tries to wriggle his way into the West Brom box for Sunderland, but there's no route through.

Baggies boss Carlos Corberan, in his country gent chic, waves his arms furiously trying to pass on the necessary messages.