Brentford will look to boost their play-off hopes at the expense of Championship title contenders West Brom on Friday.
The Bees made a winning return on Saturday, sealing a 2-0 victory at cross-city rivals Fulham, to emerge from the weekend as the big winners.
They look strong contenders for a top-six berth with a six-point gap to seventh-placed Cardiff and can send out a further statement on home soil on Friday.
Brentford have lost just three times at Griffin Park in the league this term, albeit with fans in attendance, but they clearly didn’t struggle to raise their game at an empty Craven Cottage last time out and will look to take that momentum into the clash with the Baggies.
West Brom sit at the top of the standings despite slipping up in their first game back after the enforced break.
Slaven Bilic’s men were held to a frustrating goalless draw but moved to the summit as automatic-promotion rivals Leeds fell to a surprise defeat against the Bluebirds.
This fixture ended all square at the Hawthorns earlier in the season and Brentford look good for at least a repeat of that result, available at 23/10.
Early Afternoon Games on Saturday
Saturday’s programme is made up of nine games with two of those set to get underway at 12:30 when Charlton host QPR and Cardiff head to Preston.
The Addicks gave their survival hopes a boost when beating Hull last time out and could take advantage of a QPR side lacking motivation in mid-table.
Preston against Cardiff looks to be the standout fixture of the early matches as they both hold hopes of securing a playoff spot.
The hosts sit sixth while the Bluebirds, who are 16/1 to be promoted, occupy seventh position and only goal difference is keeping them apart at this key stage of the campaign.
Cardiff’s victory over Leeds along with Preston’s slip up against rock-bottom Luton last weekend suggests an away win could be on the cards.
Two games jump out from the 3pm kick-offs with the potential to see major movement at the top and bottom of the table.
Leeds will be desperate to bounce back but they face another tricky task when welcoming Fulham, 19/10 to be promoted, to Elland Road.
Fulham, who have won the last two meetings with the West Yorkshire side and are unbeaten in seven, sit third and can close the gap on Leeds to four points with a win.
Relegation Six-Pointer
Stoke and Middlesbrough is the other 3pm kick-off worth highlighting as both clubs look to pick up points in their pursuit of survival.
Boro, who can be backed at 7/2 to be relegated, sacked head coach Jonathan Woodgate on Tuesday and confirmed the appointment of Neil Warnock as concerns grow over relegation.
They are only outside of the drop zone on goal difference and have eight games to avoid dropping into the third tier for the first time since 1986-87.
Stoke are three places and two points better off ahead of the meeting at the bet365 Stadium and this one is the archetypal relegation six-pointer.
