The 2016-17 season continues with the latest round of games at the start of 2017. This will see us among those involved with three points of course the aim.
Previous results
Thursday 29th December 2016 – Sky Bet Championship
Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United 19:45
Rotherham United 1-2 Burton Albion 19:45
Friday 30th December 2016 – Sky Bet Championship
Brighton & Hove Albion P-P Cardiff City 19:45
Ipswich Town 2-1 Bristol City 19:45
Newcastle United 3-1 Nottingham Forest 19:45
Reading A-A Fulham 20:00
Saturday 31st December 2016 – Sky Bet Championship
Huddersfield Town 1-1 Blackburn Rovers 12:30
Barnsley 2-2 Birmingham City 15:00
Derby County 0-0 Wigan Athletic 15:00
Preston North End 1-1 Sheffield Wednesday 15:00
Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-2 Queens Park Rangers 15:00
Brentford 0-0 Norwich City 17:30
What will happen in this one though? Cast your vote so we know if you think it’ll be all smiles or disappointment come the full time whistle.
Fixtures
Monday 2nd January 2017 – Sky Bet Championship
Birmingham City v Brentford 15:00
Blackburn Rovers v Newcastle United 15:00
Bristol City v Reading 15:00
Burton Albion v Preston North End 15:00
Cardiff City v Aston Villa 15:00
Fulham v Brighton & Hove Albion 15:00
Leeds United v Rotherham United 15:00
Norwich City v Derby County 15:00
Nottingham Forest v Barnsley 15:00
Queens Park Rangers v Ipswich Town 15:00
Sheffield Wednesday v Wolverhampton Wanderers 15:00
Wigan Athletic v Huddersfield Town 15:00
Leaders Newcastle know they’ll keep this place – albeit with Brighton having a game in hand – if they win at Blackburn on Monday. However, having lost at St James’ Park against Rovers in the last meeting they’ll not take Owen Coyle’s side – without a win in six with four lost – lightly.
As the last game was called off Brighton missed the chance to ensure top spot to start 2017. Albion will look to record a fifth straight win – to remain a point off the top at least – when they travel to Fulham. The 8th placed Cottagers are unbeaten in five though and are looking to close in on a play-off position.
Birmingham haven’t managed a win under Gianfranco Zola yet – he lost his opening two and drew his last – with the Blues hosting Brentford this time. The Bees have lost just once in their last five, which includes successive draws.
Eight defeats in the last nine has seen Bristol City plummet down the table from a potential play-off chasing side to one that could battle relegation in the second half of the campaign. Reading are certainly pushing for promotion themselves and the Royals – who saw their last game abandoned due to the weather – will look for a third straight win to consolidate 3rd place.
Having ended a four game losing run – with a first away win of the season – Burton return to the Pirelli Stadium looking to further boost their survival hopes against Preston. North End had been denied a winner at the end of 2016 by an added time goal so they’ll look to start the New Year on a high.
Cardiff have won just once in their last six with the Bluebirds just a place – and three points – above the bottom three to start the New Year. They’ll welcome Aston Villa to the Cardiff City Stadium with Steve Bruce’s side unbeaten in three and looking to push on for a play-off place in 2017.
As Leeds have lost just once in the last 10 games – winning seven – they’ll be firm favourites to see off struggling Rotherham. The Millers – bottom of the league – head to Elland Road 11 points from safety having one just twice in their last 10 themselves.
With Norwich recording just the two wins in their last 10 compared to the 10 game unbeaten run Derby are on the Rams would head to Carrow Road as favourites to collect the points. However, the Canaries will hope a New Year can bring improved fortunes!
Four defeats in a five game winless run means Nottingham Forest need to turn things around – and quickly – or they’ll be very much embroiled in a relegation battle in 2017. Barnsley on the other hand head to the City Ground having lost just once in the last 10 and sit pretty in 9th.
QPR ended a six game losing run with a crucial late win against Wolves in their last game. They’ll welcome Ipswich – who also won their last game – to Loftus Road as the R’s seek successive wins to put a bit of a gap between them and trouble.
An added time equaliser kept Sheffield Wednesday in the top six after the last game but the Owls will target something more at Hillsborough against Wolves. The visitors have lost only twice in the last six but one of those defeats came late on against QPR in Wolves’ last outing.
Wigan ended a five game losing run with a draw last time round but the Latics know they’ve got to start winning soon if they’ll climb out of the bottom three. Promotion chasing Huddersfield head to the DW Stadium looking to extend the six game unbeaten run – including four wins – to at least keep 4th place.
It goes without saying the expectation; most definitely the hope at least, will be for a positive result. But will this happen? We’ll find out soon enough.
Ahead of the game we’re looking for your views on what way you think it will go, which requires you to vote in the latest poll in one of the options you have been given.
However, don’t just look also have a say. We don’t just want your vote, which you can do to the right, we also want some thoughts and views ahead of the game as well so share these below.
