Before the Round – Trends on England Championship (14/01)

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The Championship is a two-horse title race as Burnley and Sheffield United battle for the league trophy. The two clubs are running away with automatic promotion as third-place Blackburn Rovers are nine points off second place.

The race for the top six is red-hot with third-place Blackburn and 15th-place Swansea City separated by seven points. There is a lot to play for in round 27.

Rotherham United - Blackburn Rovers

Rotherham United are not in the promotion playoff mix. Rather, the Millers are battling relegation and start the weekend in 21st place. They are winless in six straight games and are a mere one point outside the relegation zone.

Blackburn Rovers are coming off a 1-0 win against Cardiff which ended a two-game losing streak. Rovers cannot string wins together at the moment to build momentum.

Blackburn Rovers won the reverse fixture 3-0 at Ewood Park against Rotherham in October. Ben Brereton Diaz scored a brace.

• In their 13 most recent matches of all competitions, Rotherham have achieved just 1 win.
• Blackburn Rovers have achieved just 1 wins of their last 6 away games against Rotherham in all competitions.
• Rotherham have lost by 2 or more goals their last 3 all competitions games in a row.
• Blackburn Rovers have scored 1 or more goals in 12 consecutive encounters with Rotherham in all competitions.
• Prediction: Blackburn Rovers @2.40.

Burnley - Coventry City

First-place Burnley can take a step closer to automatic promotion back to the Premier League with a win over Coventry City. The Clarets are on a six-game Championship winning streak. The reverse fixture between these clubs ended as a 1-0 win for Burnley.

Fourteen points currently separate Burnley and third-place Blackburn. Burnley should seal promotion back to the Premier League unless they suffer an incredible collapse. The Clarets have played 13 home games this season winning nine and drawing four.

Coventry City are 14th and are aiming to make a run at the top six. Four points separate the Sky Blues from the playoff places. Coventry City took a mere six points from the last 18 points on offer in the league.

• No defeats can be found in Burnley's 14 most recent home games in all competitions.
• Coventry City's performance has been disappointing of late, as they have won just 1 of their 7 most recent all competitions clashes.
• Burnley participated in some high-scoring meetings, with over 2.5 goals scored in their last 6 home matches in all competitions.
• Coventry City have won just 1 of their last 6 league games.
• Prediction: Over 2.5 goals @1.91.

Middlesbrough – Millwall

Middlesbrough are coming off a 5-1 FA Cup third-round defeat against Brighton. The loss won’t be seen as a bad thing by manager Michael Carrick, however. The Boro are winless in four straight games against Millwall, including a 2-0 loss at The Den earlier this season.

Millwall are sixth in the table and go into this playoff six-pointer level on points with fifth-place Middlesbrough. Goal difference currently separates these promotion playoff chasers. The Lions took 11 points from the last six games.

Middlesbrough picked up 15 points from the last six games. Carrick has completely turned around Boro after the dismissal of former manager Chris Wilder. Middlesbrough are on a three-game winning streak in the Championship.

• Middlesbrough are undefeated in 12 of their last 14 home Championship games.
• Millwall are unbeaten in 7 of their last 8 Championship games.
• Middlesbrough's last 7 games (all competitions) have seen both teams score.
• In their last 3 games in Championship, Millwall have managed to keep a clean sheet.
• Prediction: Both teams to score - Yes @1.91

Sheffield United - Stoke City

Second-place Sheffield United will host 18th-place Stoke City on Saturday at Bramall Lane. Stoke City shocked the Blades in October with a 3-1 win at the Bet365 Stadium. The home team is unbeaten in six straight games when Sheffield United and Stoke City play.

The Blades picked up 16 points from their last 18 points on offer. They outscored their last six opponents 10-4. Sheffield United’s last two home matches ended as wins.

Stoke City took only five points from the last six matches in the league. The Potters go into the weekend on a two-game losing streak. Stoke City have played decently on the road this season with a record of 5W-3D-5L. The Potters are unbeaten in back-to-back away games.

• Sheffield United haven't lost in 24 of their last 28 home games in all competitions.
• Stoke City have managed just 1 wins in their last 6 league games.
• Sheffield United score an average of 2.17 goals in their home matches in all competitions.
• In Stoke City's last 3 away games in all competitions there have been over 2.5 goals scored.
• Prediction: Sheffield United @1.70.