• Fifth-placed Millwall visit struggling Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday

• QPR entertain Blackburn at Loftus Road

• The top two clash on Monday night as new leaders Middlesbrough visit Coventry

We have only half as many Championship matches than on a usual weekend due to some clubs' involvement in the FA Cup fourth round, but there are still six important fixtures taking place from Saturday to Monday.

Derby vs Swansea (Saturday, 3pm)

Derby had a four-match unbeaten run ended by a 2-1 home defeat to high-flying Ipswich last weekend but they should be able to get back to winning ways when they host Swansea on Saturday.

The Rams had won their previous league match 5-0 on the road at Bristol City and they would be much higher in the table if their home form was as good as their performances on the road. 

Their recent Pride Park losses to Wrexham and Ipswich were against top-six teams, though, and 15th-placed Swansea are unlikely to provide such a tough test.

The Swans have picked up in the league with three wins in their last four games but none of their four away league wins have come against top-half teams and they have lost nine of their 15 Championship road games.

Score prediction: Derby 2-1 Swansea

Portsmouth vs Sheffield United (Saturday, 3pm)

Sheffield United are much improved under Chris Wilder after their disastrous start to the season under Ruben Selles and the Blades can pick up another valuable win at Fratton Park.

United have faced some tough opposition of late but have competed well and look capable of pulling off an away victory.

Portsmouth are only one point above the bottom three but have shown enough to suggest they should be hopeful of remaining above the line.

However, the Blades have the stronger squad and should make their class count.

Score prediction: Portsmouth 0-2 Sheffield United

Preston North End vs Watford (Saturday, 3pm)

Watford are on to their third manager of the season as Edward Still takes charge of the Hornets for the first time against Preston but the new boss has a tough job on his hands to turn around a team who are on a seven-match winless run.

Watford have not even scored in their last three matches and Still could have been handed an easier first assignment than a trip to seventh-placed Preston.

North End beat Portsmouth 1-0 at home last week after a tough run of games against Hull, Middlesbrough and Ipswich, and they may be capable of a similar result this time.

Score prediction: Preston 1-0 Watford

QPR vs Blackburn (Saturday, 3pm)

QPR have lost only one of their last seven league and cup games in 90 minutes and they should prove too strong for struggling Blackburn at Loftus Road.

The home side have won more than half of their home league games, while Rovers have scored just 12 goals in 15 away league games.

Blackburn's only success in their last 11 outings was against last-placed Sheffield Wednesday and mid-table QPR look set to record a comfortable win.

Score prediction: QPR 2-0 Blackburn

Sheffield Wednesday vs Millwall (Saturday, 3pm)

Sheffield Wednesday's plight seems to be getting worse by the week and they are now 35 points behind 23rd-placed Oxford after winning just one of their 31 Championship games.

Their seventh successive defeat, at Swansea last Sunday, was a 4-0 thrashing and they have not even scored in their last 10 games.

Fifth-placed Millwall should not pass up this opportunity to claim three points.

Score prediction: Sheffield Wednesday 0-3 Millwall

Coventry vs Middlesbrough (Monday, 8pm)

While some of the Saturday Championship fixtures are not the most attractive match-ups, Monday's game between the top two - Coventry and Middlesbrough - is one to savour.

The Sky Blues had been top of the standings from the ninth game of the season until last week, when Boro's 2-1 win at Sheffield United - their fifth successive victory - took them two points ahead.

Coventry have won only four of their 14 games since the end of November so they should find it hard to repeat their 4-2 win in the teams' first meeting.

With goals drying up for Coventry, Boro may be able to stretch their advantage at the top with a crucial victory. 

Score prediction: Coventry 1-2 Middlesbrough.