Bristol City vs. Leicester (Friday, 12.30pm)
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Having been knocked off their Championship perch, an ailing Leicester City endeavour to reignite their title bid against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on Friday lunchtime.
The Foxes - also reeling from financial punishments - went into the international break on the back of an FA Cup elimination at the hands of Chelsea, while the Robins went down 2-0 to West Bromwich Albion.
We say: Bristol City 0-2 Leicester City
Both Manning and Maresca ought to have welcomed the international break with open arms amid their side's respective on-field struggles, but two weeks may not be enough to solve the Robins' attacking crisis at home.
Now squaring up to the division's best-performing away team - and one that were highly unfortunate to lose in the way that they did versus Chelsea - Good Friday should not end in a good way for the hosts as Leicester return to winning ways, and to the top of the table.
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Millwall vs. West Brom (Friday, 1.00pm)
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West Bromwich Albion make the trip to face Millwall on Good Friday looking for the win that will strengthen their efforts to seal a Championship promotion spot.
At a time when the Baggies sit in fifth position in the standings, Millwall are in 16th place having recently moved away from the relegation zone.
We say: Millwall 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
Of all the teams competing for a playoff spot, it is West Brom that have clicked into gear at the right time. Although Millwall have shown their own improvements, we are backing the Baggies to battle their way to a hard-fought victory at The Den.
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Cardiff vs. Sunderland (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Sunderland will be bidding to bring to an end a seven-game winless run in the Championship when they make the trip to Wales to tackle an in-form Cardiff City outfit on Friday afternoon.
The visitors entered the international break off the back of a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers, while Cardiff suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Swansea City last time out.
We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Sunderland
There has only been one draw in the last 12 meetings between these two teams in all competitions, but we have a feeling that the points will be shared on Friday. Sunderland managed to end their losing run last time out and certainly have enough quality to avoid defeat in Wales on Friday afternoon.
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Huddersfield vs. Coventry (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Coventry City will be looking to build on their FA Cup exploits when they square off against Huddersfield Town on Good Friday.
At a time when the Sky Blues occupy eighth position in the Championship standings, the Terriers sit in the relegation zone, albeit on goal difference.
We say: Huddersfield Town 1-3 Coventry City
Huddersfield should have only benefitted from some time on the training ground over the international break. Nevertheless, they may not be able to enforce any fresh ideas on a Coventry side who have been free-scoring of late, leading us to predict an away win in relatively comfortable fashion.
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Hull City vs. Stoke (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Hull City will be looking to boost their Championship playoff hopes when they welcome relegation-threatened Stoke City to the MKM Stadium on Good Friday.
The Potters will be seeking revenge after they suffered a 3-1 home defeat to the Tigers in September last year.
We say: Hull City 3-1 Stoke City
Only one of the last five meetings between Hull and Stoke have seen both teams score – the aforementioned reverse fixture – but we can see these two sides having joy in the final third on Good Friday.
Having said that, playoff hopefuls Hull will be regarded as favourites to come out on top and should ultimately have enough quality in the final third to claim maximum points, ending their four-game winless home run in the process.
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Norwich vs. Plymouth (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Seeking to consolidate their place in the Championship playoffs, Norwich City play host to relegation-threatened Plymouth Argyle at Carrow Road on Good Friday.
The two teams meet for the first time since September last year when the Pilgrims surprisingly thrashed the Canaries 6-2 at Home Park.
We say: Norwich City 3-1 Plymouth Argyle
Both teams enter Friday's contest in contrasting form, but high-flying Norwich cannot take Plymouth lightly considering their thumping by the Pilgrams in the reverse fixture.
However, the Canaries are in a strong position this time around to gain revenge and have plenty of attacking options at their disposal to outscore their opponents en route to an important victory.
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Preston vs. Rotherham (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Preston North End play host to Rotherham United on Good Friday looking for the win that will keep their Championship playoff hopes alive.
In sharp contrast, Rotherham are aware that only a win will do if they want to do everything possible to avoid relegation being confirmed over the Easter period.
We say: Preston North End 3-0 Rotherham United
Having held Huddersfield to a draw, Rotherham will at least possess the smallest bit of confidence ahead of this contest. That said, we are still backing Preston to cruise to victory, starting quickly and seeing out a professional win.
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QPR vs. Birmingham (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Queens Park Rangers and Birmingham City square off on Good Friday with both teams looking to avoid dropping into the Championship relegation zone.
These two teams occupy 20th and 21st place in the standings respectively, the visitors only outside of the bottom three on goal difference.
We say: Queens Park Rangers 2-1 Birmingham City
With a different manager at the helm on an interim basis, Birmingham may respond in a positive manner after a number of defeats. Nevertheless, we can only back QPR to end their only winless streak, potentially courtesy of a late goal at Loftus Road.
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Sheff Weds vs. Swansea (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Sheffield Wednesday will endeavour to climb out of the Championship relegation zone when they welcome Swansea City to Hillsborough on Good Friday.
The Owls will be seeking revenge against the Swans after they suffered a 3-0 defeat in South Wales the last time these two teams met in September last year.
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 1-2 Swansea City
Securing maximum points would provide a huge boost for either side heading down the home straight, but taking into account the reverse fixture and their results prior to the international break, we feel that Swansea will do enough to claim a slender victory.
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Southampton vs. Middlesbrough (Friday, 3.00pm)
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Seeking to boost their slim hopes of automatic promotion, Southampton welcome Middlesbrough to St Mary's for a Championship clash on Good Friday.
The Saints suffered a 2-1 defeat to Boro at the Riverside Stadium the last time these two teams locked horns in September last year.
We say: Southampton 2-1 Middlesbrough
Both sides will be motivated to collect maximum points to boost their promotion hopes, and although Southampton will be regarded as slight favourites, Middlesbrough cannot be taken lightly considering their away form and victory over the Saints in the reverse fixture.
Six of the last eight meetings between these two sides have seen both teams score, with Southampton netting in all eight of those matches, and we can see the Saints just edging this closely-fought contest on Good Friday.
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Blackburn vs. Ipswich (Friday, 5.30pm)
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Should results on Good Friday go their way, Ipswich Town could be spending the Easter weekend at the top of the Championship table, but first they must navigate the Ewood Park examination against Blackburn Rovers.
Kieran McKenna's men hit Sheffield Wednesday for six without reply just before the international break, while their hosts' winless run continued in a goalless stalemate with Middlesbrough.
We say: Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Ipswich Town
While Blackburn should arguably always pack a punch with Sammie Szmodics strutting his stuff in the final third, the hosts are bereft of a winning formula and must now try to quell the Championship's most prolific attacking unit.
With fresh injury concerns also rearing their ugly heads, Eustace's winless run is likely to stretch into the double figures on Friday, as Ipswich do all they can to surge to the summit.
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Watford vs. Leeds (Friday, 8.00pm)
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Returning from the international break at the top of the Championship standings, Leeds United head south to tackle Watford in Good Friday's evening battle at Vicarage Road.
The Whites ran out 2-0 victors over Millwall two weekends ago, while their hosts also emerged triumphant with a clean sheet in tow, overcoming Birmingham City by a goal to nil.
We say: Watford 0-2 Leeds United
Watford would do well to target a potentially decimated left-hand side of the Leeds XI, but the hosts just cannot buy a win at Vicarage Road, and the new manager bounce should only take them so far this weekend.
With Leeds possessing the formula for clean sheets on the road during their near-impeccable start to 2024, the visitors should pick up where they left off before the international break and maintain their standing in first place.
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Barney Corkhill
