First chance of the match at The Den where City forward Haji Wright latches onto a through ball from Josh Eccles only to see his effort saved by Bartosz Bialkowski.

First chance in this game goes to Southampton, riding high in the Championship and hoping to put the pressure on third-placed Leeds after they failed to beat Rotherham last night.

Will Smallbone volleys goalbound but his effort goes wide of the mark.

Owain Gwynedd Griffith
BBC Final Score at the Swansea.com Stadium

Swans in the traditional all white with Hull in their black and orange. Crisp autumn day let's hope the footy keeps us warm.

Image source, Owen Gwynedd Griffith

Here we go...

Naz Premji
Final Score at The John Smith's Stadium

Darren Moore's tenure at Huddersfield Town hasn't gone as well as expected.

Just one win and a huge injury list, all is not well at The John Smith's Stadium.

Southampton are in great form and could climb to third with victory today.

Russell Martin's side are motoring and today could be a real chance to try and get on the shoulders of the top two and remind everyone that they are ready for the promotion battle.

Image source, Rex Features

Stoke City must break through a "glass ceiling" in order to become regular challengers in the Championship, says boss Alex Neil.

The Potters have failed to finish in the division's top 12 since their relegation from the Premier League five-and-a-half years ago.

They finished 16th last season in Neil's first term in charge and are currently 14th.

"We need consistency," Neil told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We want to be hard to play against and hard to beat and put a good sequence of games together so we continually pick points up."

Image source, Getty Images

If you’d said seven months ago that Millwall v Coventry would be a clash of two sides in the lower reaches of the table by November, not many would have believed you.

This meeting of two sides who fell short of play-off success last May pits one of the Championship’s newest managers against its longest serving, with Lions boss Joe Edwards seeking to build on the 4-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday in his first game in charge at The Den.

Mark Robins’ Sky Blues are winless in six league games and have lost their last three on the road, two of them without scoring.

If Millwall can make it back-to-back wins not only would it haul them back towards the top-half of the table it would make Edwards the first Lions boss to win his first two league matches since Mark McGhee in October 2000.

Sanny Rudravajhala
Reporting for 5 Live Sport

Image source, Sanny Rudravajhala

It’s blue skies and sunshine over Deepdale and things are looking up all round for Preston North End.

A late goal helped them see off Blackburn Rovers in the a Lancashire Derby last time out, the real highlight though was Alan Browne’s superb opener.

Honestly, if it was in the Premier League, it’d have been all over the socials. North End sit fifth but a goal difference of -1 tells you they can be got at...

Cardiff have had the whole international break to stew over contriving to lose 3-2 to Norwich, despite leading with ten to go. A huge boost for them is the return of Perry Ng at the back, he’s been their top performer this season and will have keeping Ched Evans quiet on his to-do list.

It’s a beautiful day, let’s hope for a beautiful game.

Image source, Getty Images

All eyes on Carrow Road this afternoon to see whether the international break has proven more useful to Norwich or QPR.

The Canaries did muster a 3-2 win at Cardiff last time out for their first win in seven to ease some of the growing pressure on boss David Wagner.

Although the Hoops are 11 without a win dating back to 2 September, they have drawn both games under newly-arrived Spaniard Marti Cifuentes and their average number of completed passes per match has risen to 371 from the 234 which Rangers averaged under former boss Gareth Ainsworth.

City have lost their last three at home and have never lost four straight outside of the top flight. QPR have only one win in 18 at Carrow Road, that coming in 2008 under Iain Dowie, and have just two points and two goals from their last five away games.

Something’s got to give, right?

Image source, Bristol City

The international break came at a useful time for new Bristol City boss Liam Manning, as it gave him time to take stock and assess the job at hand.

Two weeks away from the bruising Saturday-Tuesday schedule resulted in quality time on the paddock, and his seemingly gym-inspired talk of 'gains' to be had.

He has also encouraged an attacking style, which should make for a good game given Michael Carrick has a similar philosophy at Middlesbrough.

The Teessiders have, to quote boxer Nigel Benn - "picked themselves up and dusted themselves down", after a shaky start and come out slipping off the kind of footballing punches that draw further comparison to the 'Dark Destroyer'.

Their 1-0 win over league leaders Leicester last time out showed they were well and truly back at it, as Carrick seeks to go one better than last season's play-off exit.

One to watch for sure down at Ashton Gate.

Marc Webber
Final Score at Ashton Gate

A home debut today for Bristol City head coach Liam Manning.

The international break has given him more time to impart his wisdom into his team off the field and contemplate how to counter a Middlesbrough side who are on a roll after a sluggish start.

Only one defeat in 12 league and cup games has brought them close to the play-offs and a quarter final game.

Image source, Getty Images

Hull head to south Wales on the back of three wins in four but have a dreadful record at Swansea, winning one of their last nine, that coming in the Premier League more than seven years ago.

The Swans have one win in five and have failed to score in their last two at home. It’s been more than a decade since they went three without scoring infront of the own fans.

Their omens aren’t great, however, as Hull have kept the second most clean sheets in the Championship since Liam Rosenior took over a year ago with 18, bettered only by West Brom’s 19.

Keep an eye out for Hull’s in-form Jaden Philogene, who has scored or assisted in seven of his last eight games. After spending last season at Cardiff, how he’d love to add to that tally today.

Image source, Rex Features

It is games like this that make me marvel at the dedication of the football fan.

Some 800 miles in terms of round trip away for those who boarded buses in the middle of the night and will in turn, get back off them again in Sunderland at a similar time on the way home. No guarantee it'll be worth it.

If there's any consolation for the Sunderland faithful, it's that there's usually entertainment on show. Only Ipswich have scored more home goals than the Pilgrims and last time out the Black Cats' rivals Middlesbrough emerged with a 3-3 draw after their long slog south.

That said, it's not exactly a fortress as Plymouth have lost at home to Southampton, Millwall and Swansea this season.

Sunderland have kicked back into gear after a slew of defeats although both wins have come on home turf in the past three unbeaten.

One warning: Tony Mowbray's side haven't won away since September when they beat Blackburn.

Image source, Getty Images

Birmingham City boss Wayne Rooney is unfazed by the poor start his side have made under his tenure, but knows they need points.

Blues have lost four of their past five games, collecting just one point, since Rooney replaced John Eustace.

That sequence of results has seen them slip from sixth place to 18th but they host Championship bottom side Sheffield Wednesday at St Andrew's today aiming to turn their form around.

"We've had five games - five tough games against very good opposition as well," Rooney told BBC Radio WM.

"People - fans, pundits, whatever - can have their opinions, of course they can, but as long as we know what we're trying to do and where we're trying to go to, that's fine."

Image source, Getty Images

Losing four straight Championship games may have been the making of Southampton.

That's according to boss Russell Martin.

Martin's team endured a grim September with a 5-0 drubbing at Sunderland and home losses to Leicester and Ipswich, followed by defeat at Middlesbrough.

"It'll sound crazy but I think over the long term that will be the best thing that could probably have happened to us," Martin told BBC South Today.

"It strengthened us in a really weird way and I'm quite grateful for it."

Saints visit struggling Huddersfield today and have since responded with an unbeaten run of eight games, including six wins, to climb to fourth place in the Championship table.

Image source, Getty Images

After a honeymoon start for Enzo Maresca in the Championship, Leicester have hit the buffers slightly with back-to-back defeats.

Thirteen wins from 14 games to kick off the campaign had fans dreaming of an immediate Premier League return before the clocks went back, but as the dark nights have drawn in so has a mini-wobble after narrow losses to Leeds and Middlesbrough.

Thankfully they have a good record against Watford, unbeaten in four meetings and have won the last six against the Hornets at the King Power.

However, Valerien Ismael's side have started to come good after a sticky start, unbeaten in six and they thumped Rotherham 5-0 before the break.

They'll need to be at their best today, if this season's evidence is anything to go by.

Image source, Getty Images

Hakeem Odoffin's equaliser in first-half stoppage time was enough to salvage a point for managerless Rotherham, despite being largely dominated by Daniel Farke's Leeds.

Crysencio Summerville pounced early on for the highflying visitors but his effort was as good as Leeds could get over 90 minutes.

The point leaves Rotherham in the bottom three, while for Leeds it was a missed opportunity to gain ground on Leicester and Ipswich, who remain seven points clear in the top two.

For a more considered read, have a ganzle here.

Here's how things line up in the Championship today with all games getting under way at 15:00 GMT unless stated:

• Birmingham City v Sheffield Wednesday
• Bristol City v Middlesbrough
• Huddersfield Town v Southampton
• Leicester City v Watford
• Millwall v Coventry City
• Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers
• Plymouth Argyle v Sunderland
• Preston North End v Cardiff City
• Stoke City v Blackburn Rovers
• Swansea City v Hull City
• West Bromwich Albion v Ipswich Town (17:30 GMT)

Image source, Rex Features

With the international break done and dusted, it's full steam ahead now for the Championship as we edge toward the turn of the year.

The league table is beyond its embryonic stage, we're starting to see the true mettle of teams whether you're tussling at the top, meddling in the middle or scrapping at the bottom.

Have the pacesetters dropped the baton? Who's come through the fortnight off unscathed? Who's pressed the reset button and is ready to kick on? Who's going to grab this clump of games by the scruff of the proverbial neck and get climbing?

All pertinent questions, and while we might not get the full answer today, we might well be a little more clued in come five o'clock.