Sheffield United and Wrexham lock horns under the Bramall Lane lights on Friday night
Stoke will aim to get back to winning ways against rock-bottom Preston on Saturday lunchtime
Top two Middlesbrough and Swansea are at home in winnable 3pm kick-offs
The Championship continues to deliver twists at both ends of the table, with only five points separating second-placed Swansea from 11th-placed Portsmouth after last weekend's surprising scorelines.
With momentum shifting weekly, here are the key stats, team news, talking points and predictions for all 12 upcoming fixtures.
Sheffield United vs Wrexham – Friday October 30 (8pm)
Key stats
Patrick Bamford has scored 12 goals in his 21 home league games for Sheffield United
Wrexham average 2.67 goals per game against the Blades in the league (16 in six games)
Team news
Chris Wilder admitted Ryan One has suffered another hamstring injury, while there will be concerns that Patrick Bamford could not continue after aggravating a shoulder issue when scoring against Derby last Saturday.
Wrexham remain without several key players, including Josh Windass, Nathan Broadhead and Ben Sheaf, but Max Cleworth is due to return after almost two months out.
Need to know
The Blades were left frustrated after drawing with 10-man Derby and Wilder's post-match comments suggested he expects an immediate reaction.
Phil Parkinson believes Wrexham are missing Windass' clinical edge after the Red Dragons registered 23 attempts at Ewood Park but managed only one on target in a 2-0 defeat to Blackburn.
Score prediction: Sheffield United 2-0 Wrexham @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Lincoln City vs Birmingham City – Saturday October 31 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Lincoln City recorded their first home win of the season with a stunning 4-1 victory over Burnley last Saturday
Cardiff City's winner in a 1-0 defeat in Wales last weekend was the first goal Birmingham City had conceded in five hours of football
Team news
Tom Hamer and Freddie Draper are available after suspension, but Lincoln's management team could name an unchanged side after the Imps' best performance of the campaign against the Clarets.
Chris Davies is unsure whether striker August Priske will be fit for Birmingham's Halloween fixture against the Imps.
Need to know
Confidence is flowing through Lincoln after dismantling Burnley last week with Shaw revealing his side felt the Clarets were "there for the taking" and the performance backed up that belief.
Although atrocious conditions played a part, Birmingham created very little until the bitter end at Cardiff and there are concerns that they lack punch without joint-leading scorer Priske.
Score prediction: Lincoln City 1-1 Birmingham City @ 23/5 with LiveScore Bet
Norwich City vs Watford – Saturday October 31 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Norwich have won two of their last three Championship matches
Watford have lost seven of their last nine league games, including their last five on the road
Team news
Norwich's injury issues are easing, while Philippe Clement may resist the temptation to rotate after an impressive victory at Charlton.
Watford boss boss Alessio Dionisi has been chopping and changing personnel and formations without any success, so it is anyone’s guess how the Hornets will line up at Carrow Road.
Need to know
Norwich produced one of their most complete displays of the season when coming from behind to beat Charlton 3-1 and Clement believes confidence is steadily growing.
After failing to register a shot on target at Wolves, Watford's travelling form remains a major concern and Dionisi admitted his side lacked courage on the ball at Molineux.
Score prediction: Norwich City 2-1 Watford @ 11/2 with LiveScore Bet
Stoke City vs Preston – Saturday October 31 (12.30pm)
Key stats
Stoke have failed to win their last eight home games against Preston, losing five
Preston have conceded eight times across their last two away Championship matches
Team news
Mark Robins may once again be without injured striker Lamine Cisse after his early withdrawal against Bristol City.
For the visitors, Lewis Gibson underwent a 'procedure' for a hernia last Saturday while Alfie Devine has been struggling with a calf issue.
Liam Lindsay could be available soon while Stan Mills, Delano Burgzorg and Brad Potts should retain their places after earning recalls last week.
Need to know
Stoke's goalless draw with Bristol City was heavily influenced by difficult weather conditions and there was enough in their performance to suggest confidence remains high.
Preston have struggled for momentum all season and remain too reliant on isolated moments rather than sustained attacking pressure.
Score prediction: Stoke City 1-1 Preston @ 5/1 with LiveScore Bet
Bolton vs Bristol City – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Bolton are unbeaten in the last seven home league matches against Bristol City
Bristol City are unbeaten in five of their six away league matches this season
Team news
Chris Forino could return to the Bolton side after missing the last six matches through injury
Robins head coach Michael Skubala may consider freshening up his attack after another frustrating afternoon against Stoke.
Need to know
Bolton continue to look competitive against strong opposition and their defensive discipline has improved significantly over the past month.
Bristol City's set-piece prowess this season has seen them score six times, generate the most shots (71), the highest percentage of set-piece goals (50%), and the fifth-highest xG (5.83) in the Championship.
The Robins have also conceded just once from a set piece in the opening 12 games.
Score prediction: Bolton 1-0 Bristol City @ 15/2 with LiveScore Bet
Burnley vs Portsmouth – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Burnley have failed to win any of their last six home league games and have conceded nine goals in their last three league matches
Portsmouth have won three of their last four Championship games
Team news
Burnley's selection could depend on developments off the field after Nicky Hayen was sacked and been replaced by Fabio Celestini.
Pompey have largely avoided major new injuries and will travel with confidence.
Need to know
Burnley's campaign threatens to unravel. The 4-1 collapse at Lincoln generated angry scenes among supporters and raised fresh questions about the club's direction.
Portsmouth have developed a habit of finding goals at crucial moments and John Mousinho's side are showing tremendous character. They may sense an opportunity against a fragile opponent.
Score prediction: Burnley 1-2 Portsmouth @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
Middlesbrough vs Charlton – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Middlesbrough begin the weekend at the top of the Championship after several of their rivals dropped points last weekend
Charlton have failed to win any of their last five away league matches
Team news
David Strelec has returned to training but Boro could be unchanged after an eight-day break between matches. Alfie Jones and Rokas Pukstas remain absent.
Oliver Skipp did not even make the matchday squad at Norwich, where Josh Edwards, Joe Rankin-Costello and Sonny Carey returned to the starting XI and Charlie Kelman was handed his first start of the season.
Need to know
Will Lankshear took his league tally to 11 goals in just 12 games after being restored to the Boro starting line-up against Bolton last Friday.
Charlton are drifting after a bright opening to the campaign and Nathan Jones was critical of the basics of his side's defending following last Saturday’s 3-1 defeat at Carrow Road.
Score prediction: Middlesbrough 2-1 Charlton @ 6/1 with LiveScore Bet
Millwall vs Derby – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Millwall have only won two of their past 10 league matches
Derby's winless run extended to eight games with their draw at Sheffield United
Team news
Mihailo Ivanovic made his first appearance of the season at Portsmouth after missing the opening two and a half months with a fractured metatarsal.
Romain Esse and Alfie Doughty also came off the bench as the Lions' injury list has halved from 12 to six out.
Derby will check on the availability of several players who impressed at Bramall Lane.
Need to know
Derby's display against Sheff Utd was arguably their best for several weeks and John Eustace praised the resilience shown after the Rams went down to 10 men.
Costly defensive mistakes and uncertain goalkeeping have dogged Millwall of late as last season's play-off semi-finalists slip down the table.
Score prediction: Millwall 1-1 Derby @ 5/1 with LiveScore Bet
Southampton vs QPR – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Southampton won 3-2 away at West Ham last weekend
QPR scored five goals against Swansea after netting only six in their previous six league matches
Team news
The Saints' squad depth paid dividends last week when they won at the London Stadium without main striker Cyle Larin and key midfielder Flynn Downes.
QPR's injury list remains lengthy despite their emphatic victory over Swansea.
Need to know
If it were not for their four-point deduction at the start of the campaign, Saints would be second in the Championship table.
Richard Kone's record-breaking early hat-trick dominated the headlines last week, but Southampton represent a very different challenge.
Score prediction: Southampton 2-1 QPR @ 23/4 with LiveScore Bet
Swansea vs Blackburn – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Swansea suffered their heaviest defeat since 2002 when beaten 5-0 at QPR last Saturday
Blackburn have won two of their last three league matches
Team news
Ronald and Moussa Yeo could be in line for recalls after being left out of the squad last week.
Blackburn could again look to Andri Gudjohnsen, who remains in excellent goalscoring form.
Need to know
Of Swansea's seven league wins so far this season, only one – at Stoke on the opening weekend – was against a club who currently sit in the top half of the table.
Rovers' Gudjohnsen is one of only two Championship strikers, alongside Lankshear, to have scored more than one goal per 90 minutes played this season.
Score prediction: Swansea 2-2 Blackburn @ 9/1 with LiveScore Bet
West Ham vs West Brom – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
West Ham have lost two of their last three matches
West Brom are unbeaten in four Championship games
Team news
Teenager Airidas Golambeckis could get just his second league start of the season after Konstantinos Mavropanos suffered a knee injury last week.
Albion boss James Morrison is unlikely to make major changes, although midfielder Toby Collyer remains out for up to six weeks with a hamstring injury.
Need to know
West Ham remain one of the division's most talented sides, but their defensive vulnerability was exposed by Southampton.
West Brom have conceded the first goal in six consecutive matches but they have rescued 11 points from the eight games they've conceded the opener in this season.
Score prediction: West Ham 1-1 West Brom @ 6/1 with LiveScore Bet
Wolves vs Cardiff – Saturday October 31 (3pm)
Key stats
Wolves have won three of their last five Championship matches at Molineux
Cardiff's tally of two away points is the third lowest in the division
Team news
Cesar Peixoto could recall Mateus Mane in the search for greater attacking efficiency.
Callum Robinson and Ruben Colwill are closing on returns but Brian Barry-Murphy could stick with the side that has climbed away from relegation trouble.
Need to know
Wolves dominated Watford but only won 1-0, highlighting an issue Peixoto himself acknowledged after the match. It is now 10 games in a row since they scored more than twice in a game.
Yousef Salech netted his third league goal of the season last week but the Cardiff forward has missed 10 big chances – more than any other Championship player.
Score prediction: Wolves 1-0 Cardiff @ 8/1 with LiveScore Bet
