Thursday, April 5, 2012
Preview Matches | by
0Championship Opta Facts – April 6-7
Reading v Leeds
There has only been one goal in the last three meetings between Reading and Leeds.
Leeds have visited Berkshire just three times since 1987 to face the Royals, and all three have ended in draws.
Reading have scored a league-high 28 goals from crosses this term.
Reading have won their last six home league games.
Leeds have kept four consecutive clean sheets away from home.
The Whites have won three and lost just one of their last seven away games in the league.
Burnley v Brighton
Brighton had two sendings off inside 12 minutes in this season's reverse fixture with Burnley; a game the Seagulls lost 1-0.
Brighton are unbeaten in three trips to Turf Moor, however, winning one and drawing two.
The Seagulls have conceded just one goal in the opening 15 minutes all season, a league-low.
Burnley have only won one of their last nine league fixtures.
Brighton have drawn three of their last four away league games, losing the other.
Watford v Blackpool
Gary Taylor-Fletcher has scored on his last two trips to Vicarage Road with the Seasiders.
Blackpool are unbeaten in three trips to the home of the Hornets, winning one and drawing two.
40% of the goals Watford have conceded this season have come from set pieces, a league-high.
Blackpool have netted 25 goals in the final 15 minutes this season, equating to 36% of their total haul - both are league-highs.
Watford have taken more points from their last six games than any other team in the Championship (14).
Barnsley v West Ham
West Ham have won their last five meetings with Barnsley in all competitions, scoring 14 and conceding one.
Only two of the last 13 clashes between Barnsley and West Ham have ended in draws.
West Ham have scored a joint-league-high 25 goals from set pieces this season.
Barnsley have gained just one point from games in which they've conceded first this season, a league-low.
The Hammers are unbeaten in five away league games, the longest current run of its kind in the Championship.
Barnsley have only netted one goal in their last six games.
Southampton v Portsmouth
Both sides have found the net in each of the last five south coast derbies in all competitions.
After a run of five straight defeats at the home of the Saints, Pompey won 4-1 on their last trip to St Mary's Stadium, in the 2009/10 FA Cup.
Southampton have scored more goals from penalties than any other team in the second tier this season (nine).
Pompey have lost their last four league games away from Fratton Park.
Southampton ended a run of 12 unbeaten league games with a 0-3 drubbing at Blackpool last week.
At home, however, the Saints have won four and drawn two of their last six league games and kept four clean sheets in the process.
Birmingham v Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have only scored one goal in their last four meetings with the Blues combined, but that earned them a 1-0 win in this season's reverse clash.
Birmingham have won seven of their last eight against the Eagles at St Andrews, losing the other.
Palace have conceded just 11 first-half goals all season, a league-low.
The Blues have lost 25 points after scoring first in the Championship this season, a league-high.
The Eagles have failed to score a first-half goal in any of their last six league games.
Coventry v Peterborough
Coventry have won their last four home meetings (in all competitions) against Peterborough and haven't lost at home to the Posh in any competition since September 1961.
Only one of the previous nine meetings between these sides in the Football League has ended in a draw.
Peterborough have conceded 24 goals from set pieces this season, a league-high.
The Sky Blues have netted 73% of their goals in the second-half this term, a league-high.
Coventry are unbeaten in five league games, their best run of the campaign and they have only lost one of their last nine at the Ricoh Arena.
Derby v Ipswich
Ipswich have won seven of their last eight games against Derby, losing the other.
The Tractor Boys have also won their last three trips to Pride Park, scoring six and conceding just two.
Ipswich have scored exactly one goal in each of their last four league games, and have only failed to score in one of their last 17 overall.
Derby have won four of their last seven league games, losing two.
Ipswich have only taken two points from the last 12 available on the road.
Leicester v Doncaster
Doncaster have only won one of their previous 14 trips to the home of the Foxes in the league, and that victory came back in December 1902.
Since that defeat, Rovers have conceded 40 goals in 12 trips to Leicester, losing 11 and drawing one of those games.
The Foxes have scored a higher percentage of first-half goals than any other team in the second tier this season (54%).
Doncaster have taken fewer points from their last six games than any other team in the division (two).
The Foxes are unbeaten in six league games at the Walkers Stadium, winning four and drawing two.
Middlesbrough v Cardiff
Boro have won their last three meetings with Cardiff, scoring seven and conceding two.
The Bluebirds have only won one of their last 10 league trips to Teeside, losing seven and drawing two.
Cardiff have scored a higher percentage of goals from set pieces than any other team in the Championship (44%).
The Bluebirds have drawn their last four league games.
Middlesbrough have also drawn their last four league games, all by the same scoreline (1-1).
The Teesiders haven't scored a first-half goal in any of their last nine league games.
Millwall v Hull
Millwall are unbeaten in four home meetings with the Tigers, a run that stretches back to August 1986.
Hull have netted just 10.5% of their goals from set pieces this season, a league-low.
Millwall, however, have lost their last four league fixtures at the New Den.
Hull have lost their last four league games, their worst run of the campaign.
The Tigers have shipped exactly two goals in each of their last four games.
Nottingham Forest v Bristol City
Forest are unbeaten in 14 home league meetings with the Robins, winning eight and drawing six.
Since their 2-0 win in 1955, the Robins have only scored seven goals in 14 league trips to the home of the Tricky Trees.
Forest have only lost one of their last six league games, winning three and drawing two.
Steve Cotterill's side have kept successive clean sheets for the first time this season.
The Robins have taken just three points from the last 15 available in the Championship.