As we hurtle to the 'business end of the season', huge matches are being played out for those at both ends of the table.

Third-from-bottom Stoke City will be looking to turn their dismal recent form around when they entertain mid-table Middlesbrough.

The Potters have lost six of their past seven matches to tumbled into the relegation spots.

Boro's form is hardly impressive at the minute, but the one win they have have managed from their past seven in all competitions was against leaders Leicester.

Relegation-threatened Millwall, who are only one point and two places above the bottom three, are at home to play-off chasing Watford.

Meanwhile on the south coast of Wales, Swansea City and Blackburn Rovers find themselves facing off in what could be a key clash for two sides desperately fighting to avoid being sucked into the relegation scrap.

Both sides start the day just four points above the drop zone.

Ipswich are desperately trying to hang on to the coat tails of Leeds and Leicester at the top of the Championship.

Kieran McKenna's side went though a sticky patch but a run of four successive wins has kept them on the shoulders of the two relegated Premier League outfits.

They travel to a Plymouth side who had a pretty formidable record at Home Park before successive defeats by Leeds and West Brom in their past two outings in front of their own fans.

The Pilgrims did pick up a rare win on their travels last week when they turned over flagging Middlesbrough on Teesside and will look to build on that to move further from the backlog of teams looking to get away from trouble at the bottom.

Southampton are on a rotten run of form, and their hopes for automatic promotion have been dented as a result.

But their defeat by Liverpool in the FA Cup midweek, which was their fourth loss in five games in all competitions, has given boss Russell Martin reason to be optimistic.

They earned plenty of praise for their efforts in possession in a game in which they spurned several big chances to take the lead.

Martin told BBC Radio Solent: "It was a really incredible performance. I hope we can do the same next season.

"I'm really gutted that we've lost - 3-0 is not a fair reflection of the game, I don't think.

"I learned that we have some incredibly brave and talented players that I hope we can bring to the Premier League together and do the same again next season."

Next up for the Saints is a Birmingham City side that have won back-to-back home games for the first time since October.

Blues will again be playing under assistant boss Mark Venus, who remains in charge while Tony Mowbray undergoes medical treatment.

Ben Mundy
BBC Final Score

I’m not just saying this because I’m mid London Marathon training, and ran 18 miles this morning, but Leicester City look after us media folk splendidly.

Jerk chicken, chocolate orange cake and a bag of pick 'n' mix sweets. And things are pretty sweet on the pitch for the Championship leaders right now.

Through to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup after victory over Bournemouth in midweek - and second-placed Leeds United have just dropped points in the early game.

Talking of Leeds, Leicester will be looking to bounce back to Championship victories after defeat at Elland Road last time out.

And they’ll fancy their chances as they face a QPR side sitting just above the drop zone. Although, that’s the thing about the Championship, it’s a very much like a pick 'n' mix bag of sweets - you’re never really sure what’s going to happen next.

Image source, Getty Images

As the old saying goes, a week is a long time in football.

And don't Leicester City just know it!

In the space of seven days they had their lead at the top of the table slashed form 12 points to just six, after defeats by Middlesbrough and Leeds United.

The Foxes bounced back from back-to-back defeats by overcoming Premier League side Bournemouth to reach the FA Cup quarter-finals. Some pick-me-up, right!

After that victory, Leicester defender Wout Faes spoke to BBC East Midlands Today about the mood among the Foxes ahead of their home game against strugglers QPR.

"We've lost a few games in a row before and I don't think we have to panic or anything," Faes said.

"I'd prefer to have the six points than have to chase the six points.

"We just have to continue in the way we are playing."

Marc Webber
Final Score

Image source, Marc Webber

These two are still knocking on the play-off door, but both - especially Sunderland - will need to start knocking a bit harder.

A biting North Sea wind, coupled with depleted squads, make this a hard game to call.

Both have pulled off unexpected results this season. Interim Black Cats boss Mike Dodds is looking for his first win.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland are looking to arrest a slide in form which has seen them fall away from the Championship play-off picture against a promotion rivals Norwich who have a sunnier outlook on things at present.

The Black Cats have lost three on the bounce in a run which has seen them drop down to 10th, eight points outside the play-off places.

Their poor form cost ex-manager Michael Beale his job after only 12 games and now it is Mike Dodds, in charge until the end of the season, who is tasked with turning around Sunderland’s fortunes.

Norwich are in seventh, three points outside the play-off places, and will be looking to continue their excellent home form which has seen them win seven of their last nine league games at Carrow Road, including the last four.

David Wagner’s side could go sixth with a win today, but must be wary, having lost their last three home league games against Sunderland.

Rotherham's record this season reads played 34, won three, drawn 10 and lost 21.

The Millers are 16 points adrift of safety with 12 games to play and their return to League One after two seasons back in the second tier seems to be all-but nailed on.

Still, they will want to throw some punches on their way down and their fans would love to see them land one against South Yorkshire rivals, and fellow strugglers, Sheffield Wednesday today.

The Owls might be second bottom but are just three points shy of 21st place and are looking to record three straight wins at this level for the first time since September 2018.

Preston have forced their way back into play-off contention with a run of four wins and a draw in their past five games.

Another win over sixth-placed Hull City today would see them end the day level on points with the final play-off position.

The Tigers are in great shape themselves though and are looking to record five successive wins away from home for the first time since April 1966.

Here's how the table looks after today's lunchtime games.

The big winners at the top are invariably Leicester and Ipswich after Leeds' draw.

The Foxes are now five points clear of the Whites with a game in hand, while Ipswich could go above Daniel Farke's men with victory at Plymouth.

Image source, .

At the bottom, that's a really valuable point for Huddersfield with 10 men.

They are now three points clear of the bottom three before the 15:00 GMT kick-offs.

Image source, .

Two down, nine to go. Here's what's coming up in the Championship at 15:00 GMT:

• Birmingham City v Southampton
• Leicester City v QPR
• Millwall v Watford
• Norwich City v Sunderland
• Plymouth Argyle v Ipswich Town
• Preston North End v Hull City
• Rotherham United v Sheffield Wednesday
• Stoke City v Middlesbrough
• Swansea City v Blackburn Rovers

Adam Pope
Leeds United commentator, on BBC Radio Leeds

Leeds United's worst performance.

The record run is over but this is only a small bump in their journey to return to the Premier League.

Leeds' run of nine successive league wins comes to an end against 10-man Huddersfield in a feisty West Yorkshire derby.

The home side took the lead when Michal Helik stabbed in after Illan Meslier had saved Danny Ward's initial shot in the 45th minutes.

Terriers skipper Jonathan Hogg was then sent off for a second bookable offence in time added on before the break.

Second-placed Leeds had 79% of possession but just two shots on target, with Patrick Bamford levelling from close in with their second.

Crysencio Summerville saw a shot hit the outside of the post late on but in all honesty Leeds didn't look like getting a second.

They miss out on what would have been a club-record 10th straight league win and Leicester can now go eight points clear at the top with a home win over lowly QPR.

Town move three clear of the relegation zone.

... No.

Sorba Thomas sends it in and Leeds keeper Illan Meslier puches it clear.

That's it.

Town win a corner in the very last minute.

Surely not?!

Matt Glennon
Former Huddersfield keeper on BBC Radio Leeds

There's some tired legs in there for Huddersfield.

The defenders have been everywhere.

Leeds just want to walk it into the back of the net and they can't.

Into the last 60 seconds.

Patrick Bamford shoots wide for the away side.

Think that might be that.

It's a real arm-wrestle out there now.

Crucially Town have got the ball and they have won a free-kick just over the halfway line.

I don't think they'll be in a great rush to take it.

There goes the final whistle - Cardiff do the double over their rivals by winning both the home and away Severnside derbies.

Perry Ng's 66th-minute header is the difference as Cardiff leapfrog their opponents up to 11th in the Championship.

Robins boss Liam Manning can't have enjoyed the sight of fans leaving with still plenty of the game remaining and the final whistle was also greeted with boos.

They drop to 13th after a fourth league defeat in their past seven games and are now 11 points off the play-offs with as many games remaining.

It's looking a tall order in this form for Bristol City to make up that ground.

Jon Newsome
Former Leeds defender on BBC Radio Leeds

I just want someone to dive across the keeper and get on the end of a chance.

And now Nicholls [Huddersfield goalkeeper] is taking an age to get the ball out.

It's game management, and annoying when you're on the receiving end of it, but there we go.