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The Championship returns: The main talking points ahead of this weekend's action

:Headline: The Championship returns: The main talking points ahead of this weekend's action: ID:403082: from db_amp
There are still promotion and relegation issues to be sorted.

The Sky Bet Championship resumes on Saturday with virtually all clubs having something to play for.

Here the PA news agency takes a look at some of the games in the issues at hand in the first round of matches.

Race for the top

West Brom resume their bid for promotion to the Premier League (Nick Potts/PA)

West Brom have a chance to strike first in the battle to be Championship winners as they kick-off 21 hours before current leaders Leeds. Only a point separates the top two, with the Baggies six points clear of the chasing pack, and both strong favourites to win promotion back to the Premier League. However, there remains the small issue of the title to contest. The break may have come at the right time for West Brom after they dropped five points in two games, so a reset point could come in handy. Less than a fortnight ago Birmingham manager Pep Clotet announced his decision to leave at the end of the season and that could have a negative effect on the 16th-placed side for the remainder of the campaign.

Bielsa back to go one better

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa will want to ensure his side get over the line this time around (Richard Sellers/PA)

Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa has done much to transform the club but last season's late collapse and subsequent failure in the play-offs must still rankle. Having seemingly got their 'wobble' out of the way in December and January they are arguably better placed to get the job done – topping the table with nine games to go. The accusation often levelled at the Argentinian manager is that his teams run out of steam, a theory which appeared to be given more credence last season. Therefore, the long break should, so the argument goes, play into his hands with the players refreshed enough to push home their advantage, starting at Cardiff on Sunday.

Six-pointer

Hull manager Grant McCann (left) and Charlton boss Lee Bowyer both have worries on and off the pitch (Steven Paston/PA)

Hull, one place above the relegation zone, host Charlton, just inside it, in one of those classic end-of-season 'six pointers'. The Tigers have not had a good lockdown period: they were the most vociferous club in their opposition to the restarting of the season and have been hit by the blow of having four first-team players fail to agree contract extensions beyond the end of June. Charlton have had their own issues with three out-of-contract players – including top scorer Lyle Taylor – not playing again in the current campaign for fear of getting injured. Neither side can afford to lose and it may come down to who is prepared to take a gamble in search of a vital victory.

Now or never

Barnsley manager Gerhard Struber's great escape has to start soon (Victoria Jones/PA)

For the two other clubs in the relegation zone, Barnsley and Luton, the great escape – if there is to be one – starts now. The Tykes are bottom, seven points from safety, with their large negative goal difference also working against them. Gerhard Struber's side looked like they were making a comeback with three successive victories in February but back-to-back defeats before the season was interrupted halted that progress. Hosts QPR are mid-table, not out of reach of the play-offs but probably safe from relegation, so in theory have less to play for. Luton's last win also came around the same time but they were at three matches unbeaten before the stoppage. Their task is tougher, however, as they have to go to sixth-placed Preston, who have a play-off scrap on their hands.

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Championship Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds39228959322774
2West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom391914664382671
3Brentford391991167333466
4Fulham391810115243964
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest381613949391061
6Cardiff CityCardiff39151595751660
7Preston North EndPreston39169145249357
8Derby CountyDerby391512125452257
9Blackburn RoversBlackburn391511135548756
10Swansea CitySwansea391414114946356
11Millwall391316104643355
12Bristol City381510135256-455
13Queens Park RangersQPR39148175864-650
14Reading391310164845349
15Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds381310154750-349
16Birmingham CityBirmingham391213145160-949
17Wigan AthleticWigan391211164250-847
18Charlton AthleticCharlton39129184654-845
19Middlesbrough391014153950-1144
20Stoke CityStoke39127205058-843
21Hull City39119195267-1542
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38119184560-1542
23Luton TownLuton39116224572-2739
24Barnsley39911194362-1938
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Serie B Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1BeneventoBenevento30227155154073
2Crotone30156948341451
3Spezia CalcioSpezia Calcio30148844331150
4Cittadella3014793932749
5FrosinoneFrosinone3013983325848
6Pordenone CalcioPordenone30137103737046
7Salernitana30127113734343
8AC Chievo VeronaChievo30101283631542
9Virtus EntellaVirtus Entella30118113738-141
10Empoli30101193335-241
11Pisa301010103837140
12Perugia30117123036-640
13Pescara30115144247-538
14VeneziaVenezia30812102834-636
15Juve StabiaJuve Stabia30106143849-1136
16Cremonese3089133136-533
17AscoliAscoli3095163847-932
18Cosenza CalcioCosenza3079143336-330
19Trapani CalcioTrapani30611133452-1829
20LivornoLivorno3056192649-2321
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