Championship News 4th December

Blackpool v Barnsley
Neal Eardley might play in defence for Blackpool but then again he might not. David Vaughan is a more definite maybe. Probably.

Bristol City v Ipswich Town
Footballers spotted out partying often lose their place in the team. But that won’t happen to Lewin Nyatanga, who went to a party for young Bristol City supporters. His team-mate Gavin Williams will be facing his old club if he gets to play.

Cardiff City v Preston North End
Joe Ledley, who has been criticised by Cardiff chairman Peter Risdale for his disappointing performances, has explained he is playing through a hip injury and will eventually need an operation. hope he’ll be okay. Cardiff - and Wales - will be weaker without Joe but the longer they leave it, surely the worse it’s going to get and his long-term wellbeing should come before his job.
The chairman said he felt Joe looked like he was ‘playing somewhere else’. Well of course he does, the poor man’s probably on painkillers and you feel like you’re somewhere else if you take a lot of them. Adam Matthews should play for Cardiff too. (Well I think he should.)
Preston’s Paul Parry faces his former side. Paul wants to show Cardiff they were wrong to let them go but he feels Cardiff are a future Premier League side so the task won’t be easy.

Crystal Palace v Doncaster Rovers
Doncaster’s John Oster is facing his former club. His contract with Doncaster runs out in January but he’s confident of an extension (isn’t it nice to find a footballer who actually wants to extend his contract?). So he and Gareth Roberts should both play for Doncaster. Brian Stock will be out for another month but he’s still attracting the attention of Reading boss Brendan Rogers. To think Doncaster to Reading is technically a step down…

Derby County v West Bromwich Albion
Robbie Savage will probably play for Derby County which is slightly annoying because it means he’s less likely to be on The Football League Show. I think Robbie is a great pundit. I like his hair.

Nottingham Forest v Leicester City
Arron Davies has returned early from his loan to Brighton. I would love to see him in the side but if you can’t get into Brighton’s team you’re going to struggle to get into the side for Forest. Look at it this way, Robert Earnshaw doesn’t always get in the side for Forest. Chris Gunter should play though.
Boxing fan Nicky Adams hopes to fight his way into Leicester’s starting line-up. Well that’s one way of doing it I suppose… Andy King is more certain of playing.