BBC Local Radio

Your BBC Local Radio Station will be providing commentary on today's Championship matches.

Because of broadcast rights we are unable to bring you that commentary online.

We will have a flavour of the local radio coverage from selected matches as part of our live text service.

Image source, BBC Sport

Millwall make three changes as former Luton full-back Alfie Doughty comes into the side, as does Casper de Norre and striker Josh Coburn.

Mihailo Ivanovic and Zak Sturge drop to the bench while Thierno Ballo is ill.

Charlton also change three players; Miles Leaburn, Conor Coventry and Reece Burke all move to the bench as Luke Chambers, Joe Rankin-Costello and Harry Clarke get the shirt.

Image source, BBC Sport

Millwall are hoping to revive the spirit of 1990 as they think about a return to the top flight for the first time in 36 years...

Alex Neil's side start the day handily placed in fifth but did lose to leaders Coventry in midweek. They haven't lost to Charlton since 1996 though and will fancy a win in their early kick-off today in what is somewhat of a derby.

"I don’t ever like to play derbies down, because they are what they are – but ultimately it’s three points for us," said boss Alex Neil.

"I know it’s bragging rights, all that sort of stuff. But as far as we’re concerned, it’s another home game that we need to try and win on the journey which we’re on at the moment."

The Addicks are just four points above the drop zone heading into the weekend and haven't won on the road since October.

Image source, Opta

Leo Castledine gets his first start for Middlesbrough since joining from Chelsea earlier this month while skipper Dael Fry is also included.

Alex Gilbert and Sam Silvera are the men to make way from the midweek win at Stoke and are among the substitutes.

Preston are without the suspended Milutin Osmajic while Jordan Thompson, Michael Smith and Thierry Small drop to the bench.

Into the side from the defeat by Hull City come Ali McCann, Daniel Jebbison, Lewis Dobbin and Jamal Lewis.

Image source, Opta

Three games, three wins. Middlesbrough have rediscovered their mojo.

Victory over Preston today would make it four wins in a row for the second time this season - the first time was Kim Hellberg's opening four games in charge.

Boro are doing enough to keep their heads above that automatic promotion line with Ipswich snapping at their heels, waiting to pounce on any mistake.

But Middlesbrough may have the leaders Coventry in their sights with a chance to cut the gap to three points today albeit this is a third game in a week.

"It cannot be an excuse for us to not bring the best of [our] energy, it cannot be an excuse for someone to not be ready to play," Hellberg told BBC Radio Tees as their heavy schedule continues.

Successive home defeats for Preston have put a spanner in the works - the nature of Tuesday's 3-0 home loss to Hull City not helped by another moment of indiscipline from striker Milutin Osmajic.

"A lack of discipline is totally unacceptable. In my time here, if he gets three games for that, that will be 20 games missed," Lilywhites head coach Paul Heckingbottom told BBC Radio Lancashire.

Preston could fall out of the top six if things go against them today while Middlesbrough know anything less than a win might drop them out of the top two - there is quite a lot at stake.

Image source, Getty Images

Middlesbrough could pile the pressure on Championship leaders Coventry with a win over Preston in the early kick-off today.

Victory for Boro would cut the gap to the Sky Blues to just three points before Frank Lampard's side visit an improving Norwich on Monday night, while the Lilywhites are trying to keep their play-off bid on track.

If Millwall can see off south-east London rivals Charlton at The Den, they will move above Hull into fourth and strengthen their grip on a top-six spot.

The Addicks can give themselves a bit of breathing space with a win that would take them seven points clear of the drop zone.

Image source, Getty Images

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We have two games to get our Championship action up and running.

• Middlesbrough v Preston North End
• Milwall v Charlton Athletic

Image source, PA Media

The Championship weekend began in dramatic fashion last night as West Bromwich Albion left it very late to avoid equalling a club-record 11th straight away league defeat with a stoppage time equaliser at Derby.

Chris Mepham forced in a 95th-minute header to cancel out Patrick Agyemang's poked effort in the first half after Baggies goalkeeper Max O'Leary spilled a cross on debut.

That leveller for Albion means they just stopped short of matching a dismal away record set more than 134 years ago in 1891 and remain 19th, four points above the drop zone, albeit having played two more than Blackburn in 22nd.

The Rams missed out on a victory that would've taken them into a play-off spot for the first time since August 2019, but John Eustace's side remain in the mix in eighth before today's action.

You can read the full report from Pride Park here.

Image source, Getty Images

Another busy weekend in the EFL means there is plenty to look out for besides your own side's fortunes.

We have picked out five things you may want to keep an eye on.

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Good afternoon one and all!

The crisp winter sun is shining brightly over London today but who will be making hay in our early kick-offs?

We've got a couple of big games with permutations at both ends of the Championship table to get us going before seven fixtures at 15:00 GMT.

Welcome along to our live coverage of another important day in a topsy-turvy season.

Half-an-hour until the lunchtime kick-offs, so let's dive straight in.