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Last season's beaten play-off finalists Coventry just haven't got going this season. The Sky Blues start the day just four points above the bottom three. Visitors Stoke, who are looking to make it successive league wins against Cov for the first time in 100 years, are in decent nick with three wins and a draw from their past four.

Hull City are another side who are going along very nicely. Liam Rosenior's men have lost just two of their past 19 home matches. Struggling Huddersfield boast a good recent record against the Tigers, with no defeats in their past seven meetings but have won just one of their past nine games this season.

Sheffield Wednesday's fortunes have improved since rookie German boss Danny Rohl took over. They battled hard in their loss at Ashton Gate last week and have skipper Barry Bannan available for selection after he had his red card from that game overturned. They'll need to find a way to score today though, something they have managed in just three of their past 13 league games. New Millwall boss Joe Edwards will look to hit the ground running and arrest a five-match winless slump.

It's not been a great past 15 months or so for Watford and their current unbeaten run of five league games is their longest since August 2022. Boss Valerien Ismail makes five changes form the 0-0 at Huddersfield last time out. Opponents Rotherham have drawn their past two, both at home, but start today four points adrift of safety and haven't won on the road since November of last year.

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Two of the Championship's newest managers go head-to-head this afternoon, with QPR's Marti Cifuentes putting his wits against Liam Manning, the fresh face in the Robins' hot seat.

Former Hammarby boss Cifuentes took over from Gareth Ainsworth in late October and almost engineered a win in his first match but QPR were pegged back for a 1-1 draw with Rotherham.

Their form, it's fair to say, hasn't been great. They have not won in 10 matches, they've taken one point from six home league games this season and have lost 16 of their last 21 home league games (W1 D4).

Manning is even newer to the league than his Spanish opposite number today. The former Oxford head coach was appointed by Bristol City on Tuesday following the sacking of Nigel Pearson.

The 38-year-old said he wants fans to enjoy coming to watch their club and he will be aiming for his side to dominate the ball and score goals.

Travelling Robins fans will be eager to get their first look at life under Manning this afternoon.

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Under-pressure Canaries boss David Wagner thanked majority shareholders Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones for a supportive phone call this week.

Probably better than Delia stepping onto the pitch with a microphone as she famously did in the past but there's no doubt that Wagner's side are not meeting expectations.

They are without a win in six games in a run going back to September and have lost their last four matches, conceding 11 goals in the process.

Kenny McLean said it's not Wagner's fault that the team has been "gifting" goals away and their defence is now the leakiest in the league with 30 conceded in 15 matches.

Their 26 goals scored is the joint-third highest in the Championship so it's pretty obvious where the problems lie.

Cardiff on the other hand are enjoying a hugely more positive campaign and following a 1-0 win last season at the Cardiff City Stadium, they are looking for back-to-back home league wins against Norwich for the first time since February 2014.

The Bluebirds are unbeaten in three and start the game sitting seventh in the table and knowing a win could push them up into the playoff spots.

Erol Bulut's side will be confident too with Norwich having only won once in 10 away league games.

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Fifth plays sixth as two of the Championship's in-form sides face off on the south coast.

Russell Martin's Saints seems to have got over a sticky spell earlier in the campaign and are unbeaten in seven, with the latest win on that run coming last Saturday when Ryan Fraser struck in the 93rd minute to to secure three points away at Millwall.

Southampton have shored things up at the back in recent games but have conceded as many as they've scored this season (F25 A25) and have only kept one clean sheet in their last 28 home league games, and none in their last 14 at St Mary’s.

Carlos Corberan's Baggies are in a fine run too, winning their last three and losing just once in 10 Championship games.

They have been much more secure at the back than their opponents, with only leaders Leicester conceding fewer than the Baggies' 15.

This game should give us a good indication of the respective strengths of these promotion hopefuls as they attempt to rein in the top two of Leicester and Ipswich.

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There haven't been many bumps in the road for Leicester so far this season.

Enzo Maresca's side have made a flying start to the campaign and start today 11 points clear of third-placed Leeds.

It could have been a frankly insane 17 points had the Foxes beaten the Whites at home last week but it was the West Yorkshire side who took the points from a high-quality encounter.

Still, Leicester's away form this season currently reads played seven, won seven.

Ominous signs for Middlesbrough then, especially if you add in that Boro haven't beaten the East Midlands outfit since way back in March 2002.

Michael Carrick's men recovered from a dreadful start to fly up the table but followed a surprise home defeat by Stoke with a 3-3 draw at Plymouth last time out.

What better way to get their play-off charge back on track than by beating the league leaders?

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As far as home bankers go this one looks about as nailed as they come.

Leeds are third in the table, beat leaders Leicester last week and are unbeaten at Elland Road this season.

Plymouth are winless on the road and haven't won away at the Whites since 1962.

However, Leeds boss Daniel Farke has warned his side against being complacent as they look to close the gap on the top two.

"In this league you cannot go into any game like it is just another day in the office," he said.

"For Plymouth it will be one of the games of the season. They have worked so hard to have an away game at a packed Elland Road and if we go in with the attitude like it's just another game... we will not have a chance to win the points."

It's been a superb start to life back in the second tier for Ipswich.

So much so that successive 2-2 draws at Birmingham and Rotherham actually constitute something of a blip.

Kieran McKenna's side haven't put together three league games without a win since back in February and their home form is irresistible. The Blues have won 14 of their past 15 league games at Portman Road.

Tall task for Michael Duff's Swans then, although their recent away form is very strong.

They've won their past three games on the road and a fourth today could send them up into the top half.

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• Cardiff City v Norwich City
• Coventry City v Stoke City
• Hull City v Huddersfield Town
• Ipswich Town v Swansea City
• Leeds United v Plymouth Argyle
• Middlesbrough v Leicester City
• Queens Park Rangers v Bristol City
• Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall
• Southampton v West Bromwich Albion
• Watford v Rotherham United

Now the early action is wrapped up at the Stadium of Light we'll turn our attentions to this afternoon's 15:00 GMT action.

Ian Woodcock and Steve Mather here to take you through all the build up for that.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

Sunderland get the three points, it's just one point from his first five games for Wayne Rooney.

It's starting to look like a relegation six-pointer against Sheffield Wednesday next week.

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Sunderland add to Wayne Rooney's miserable start at Birmingham City boss.

The Blues remain winless under the former England captain after five games thanks to goals from ex-Blues star Jobe Bellingham, substitute Adil Aouchiche and an own goal from Dion Sanderson.

Mason Burstow has his hands in his head because he fancied himself to add a fourth for Sunderland.

He looks to bend his shot in at the far post, but just can't get enough curl on his effort as it drifts just wide.

We have just a few moments of added time left now, that would have just been the cherry on the cake.

Anthony Patterson shifts well to his left to make an excellent diving save to deny Lukas Jutkiewicz!

The Birmingham City forward was so close to pulling one back in injury time there, with his volley into the ground.

Substitute Eliezer Mayenda has Birmingham City back-peddling in panic as he runs right down the middle.

The Blues defence fail to get a challenge in on him and he slams a shot toward goal. John Ruddy manages to get his face in the way. That's certainly one way to save a goal! Can't say it's least painful way.

It's applause all round from Sunderland fans as Jack Clarke is replaced by Mason Burstow. Just two minutes of normal time remain now.

Anthony Patterson makes crucial save to deal with a fierce low shot from Lukas Jutkiewicz shot.

It's a big moment that as Sunderland look to close out this win.

With the minutes ticking down there is a last roll of the substitution dice by Wayne Rooney.

Koji Miyoshi and Ethan Laird are replaced by Marcel Oakley and Gary Gardner.

Scott Hogan almost makes a huge impression after coming off the bench! He goes for it from 35 yards out, but his effort skips wide of the mark.

That would have been a life raft for Birmingham City to try to get on as they attempt to fight back late on.

That goal prompts Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney to shake things up further with more changes.

Lukas Jutkiewicz replaces Jay Stansfield, while Scott Hogan comes on for Oliver Burke.

Richard Wilford
BBC Radio WM

That will kill the game now. It's going to be one point out of a possible 15 for Wayne Rooney.

Blues have had decent moments in this game, but have been largely second best.