Image source, Shutterstock

Hull might have been frustrated by their 0-0 draw with Watford midweek but they remain one of the in-form teams in the league, with just one defeat in their past 11 league games (W8, D2).

In fact, their eight wins stretching back to December is the most of any team in the Championship and another win today will mean the Tigers keep up the pressure on Coventry and Middlesbrough above them.

After a 5-0 thrashing by Derby at home, Bristol City by comparison need a big reaction and to get some consistency back after stuttering through January and falling off the pace in the race for the top six.

Unsurprisingly Gerhard Struber has made four changes, including dropping new signing Tomi Horvat straight in for his first start with Rob Atkinson back from injury and into the backline.

Do not expect much ground to be given between these two with their Championship status very much at stake, but for different reasons.

Preston's surprise play-off challenge has faltered with three defeats from their past four matches, failing to score in each of those losses.

Cue reinforcements at Deepdale with midfielder Andy Moran arriving from Brighton and strikers Milos Lukovic and Callum Lang - the latter from today's opponents.

Pompey also did not let the grass grow under their feet in their attempts to pull clear of the relegation zone with six new faces arriving last month.

January can always be seen as a risky time to add to your squad - sometimes it can look desperate but when your Championship ambitions or survival may depend on it, it is always worth twisting rather than sticking.

These two have done their dealing so all that is left is the talking, on the pitch that is.

Charlotte Richardson
Final Score reporter

Bonded by belief. Those are the words emblazoned on flags around a grey, gloomy Hawthorns.

However, with just one point from a possible 12 since taking charge, belief is something West Brom boss Eric Ramsay is failing to instil in supporters and perhaps more worryingly, his players. Disappointing home performances have contributed to West Brom dropping into the bottom three. The Baggies host Stoke who themselves have suffered a disappointing drop down the division. The visitors without a win in four and have only found the back of the net twice during this tricky spell. Mark Robins has used all his managerial experience to bring in shrewd January recruitments who he will hope can make an instant impact.

Blackburn's victory over Sheffield Wednesday in midweek put West Brom into the relegation zone, completing a slide that has gone on for some time.

Winless since 29 December, head coach Eric Ramsay said he is not looking at the league table.

Stoke City fans meanwhile might be looking at the table and wondering what's going on.

The Potters made a fine start to the season but a run of four games without a win means they are now five points and six places outside the top six.

Image source, Shutterstock

And then there were none.

Coventry's defeat at QPR last week coupled with Middlesbrough's win over Norwich saw Boro draw level on points with the Championship leaders, who were 10 points clear in December.

A visit from Oxford United could be just what the doctor ordered.

The Yellows are second bottom in the second tier and have won just three of their past 18 league matches.

Sacked your boss, four league games without a win, injuries and suspensions beginning to bite - things could not really get much worse. Well, not unless you are Leicester City.

A six-point deduction handed out this week for breaching financial regulations leaves the Foxes in a hole with only goal difference now keeping them out of the Championship's relegation zone - it is all a far cry from the glory days of 2016.

Defender Jamaal Lascelles joined Leicester this week along with Manchester City midfielder Divine Mukasa and Chelsea forward Dujuan Richards on loan for the rest of the campaign - they will need to hit the ground running if their season is not to crumble in even more of a mess.

Meanwhile over at St Andrew's things are going along very nicely thank you.

Six new players and turning Patrick Roberts' loan into a permanent deal leaves Blues a lot stronger than they were at the start of January.

A five-game unbeaten run still leaves a five-point gap to bridge to the play-offs but with a home game against struggling West Brom to come on Tuesday this feels like a big opportunity to force themselves into the reckoning.

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All EFL games are kicking off one minute late this weekend to raise awareness for the Every Minute Matters campaign.

EFL sponsor Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have been working together since May 2024 to highlight the importance of speed when it comes to performing life-saving CPR.

Later kick-off times will serve as "a stark reminder that every minute matters", the EFL said.

Bristol Rovers defender Tom Lockyer collapsed while playing for Luton Town eight minutes into the Championship play-off final against Coventry in May 2023.

Lockyer then suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch seven months later during a Premier League game at Bournemouth.

"What happened to me can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time," said Lockyer, who is now a BHF ambassador.

"Every year, more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and most of them never make it home.

"I'm here today because of the transformative power of CPR as every minute matters when it comes to saving a life.

"This February, we want everyone to get behind this life-saving initiative, learn the skills and be ready to step in because your actions could give someone else the chance I was given."

Throughout February, the Every Minute Matters campaign is calling on fans to learn CPR using the BHF's online RevivR, external, external tool.

There are six more games to come in the Championship this afternoon:

• Birmingham City v Leicester City
• Coventry City v Oxford United
• Hull City v Bristol City
• Preston North End v Portsmouth
• West Brom v Stoke City
• Wrexham v Millwall

Image source, BBC Sport/Getty Images

It is all smiles in East Anglia as Ipswich keep the pressure on the top two with their win at Derby while up the A140 Norwich are now four points clear of trouble after beating troubled Blackburn.

Southampton are back in the top half with that victory over Watford.

Elliot Bennett
BBC Radio Norfolk commentator

It was definitely not a 2-0 game, the second half was looking like the first before the first goal went in.

There were a few mistakes in the passing from Norwich but that was to be expected.

It was a tough watch at time but they got the three points which is the most important thing.

The only concern will be how serious the injury to Makama will be.

Pleased with these outcomes? Hit the thumbs...

There'll be some happy people in East Anglia this lunchtime for sure...

Alex Mathie
Former Ipswich Town striker on BBC Radio Suffolk

It's such a good win for Town.

My man of the match would be Mehmeti, everything he did was positive, he looked forward all the time.

A really good three points, it's a tough place to come.

We've got to keep winning, it's going to be tough.

Image source, PA Media

A debut to remember for Cyle Larin as the new Southampton number nine comes on from the bench and four minutes later sends the ball into the net with a powerful, diving header to give Saints a 1-0 win.

Watford had plenty of the ball around the Southampton box but didn't manage to really challenge Saints keeper Daniel Peretz.

Victory means Southampton are unbeaten in their past four now (W3, D1), while managerless Watford are now without a win in their past six and have only scored twice during that time.

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Big win for Norwich in this game between two of the strugglers.

They move four points clear of danger, while Rovers remain above the bottom three on goal difference only.

Goals from Anis Slimane and debutant Mohamed Toure gave the home side the points for a fourth win in five league games.

Blackburn, who will drop into the relegation zone if West Brom take anything against Stoke, did not have a single shot on target.

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Ipswich move up to third place with only their fifth away win of the season.

A strong start from the visitors saw them lead at the break through a Lewis Travis own goal but they failed to make the most of their dominance and it looked like it might cost them.

Azor Matusiwa threw himself into a tackle to concede a 68th-minute penalty which Rhian Brewster disapatched.

Derby came on strongly but were rocked when Leif Davis precisely headed home a Kasey McAteer cross.

Travis' awful lunchtime was complete late on when he received a second yellow card with Derby now only winning one of their past eight home games.

Malcom Christie
BBC Radio Derby

It was stupid from Travis!

He's put his knee into the player's head, it's not been a great day for him.

If Derby's day was poor, it's got even worse now.

Right,

We've got trouble here.

Lewis Travis has been walking the tightrope all day and now he's fallen off it.

Ipswich are taking their time over a throw and the Derby skipper pushes Darnell Furlong and that's a second caution - stupid really.

Furlong is also cautioned.

We will have at least an extra four minutes.

Owen Eames replaces Bobby Clark for Derby.

We are about to hit stoppage time.

There will be a minimum of FIVE minutes added on to this one.