Date: 29th September 2022 at 3:49pm
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With the EFL Championship set to return this weekend following an international break, here are three matches to watch out for in England’s second tier this weekend.

As the action resumes, be sure to keep up to date with all the latest updates, stats and live scores from the Championship by using the Flashscore app or website.

But with a full schedule of Championship fixtures this weekend, which matches promise to provide the most drama?

Stoke City vs Watford

The news of Rob Edwards’ sacking sent shockwaves throughout the division, with the former Forest Green boss being ditched by Watford after just 10 games.

While maybe not a major surprise given Watford’s pedigree for sacking managers, the Hornets moved quickly to secure a replacement, with English football journeyman Slaven Bilic taking over at Vicarage Road.

It’s the Croatian’s first job in English football since he was sacked by Premier League West Bromwich Albion in December 2020, with Bilic now tasked with taking Watford back to the top tier.

His job will begin with a tricky test to the Bet365 Stadium, where they’ll face a Stoke City side in need of three points.

Without a victory at home since early August, the Potters will be looking to dent Bilic’s early Watford ambitions by triumphing on Saturday afternoon.

Cardiff City vs Burnley

From a club who have recently sacked their manager, to another who are still searching for one. Managerless Cardiff City will welcome Burnley to the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday, as they start life without Steve Morison.

A 1-0 defeat to Huddersfield Town marked the end for Morison in charge of Cardiff, with the Bluebirds taking their time before appointing his successor.

As for Burnley, life under Vincent Kompany has started well, as the Claret and Blues look to bounce back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Enjoying their best form of the campaign, Burnley have won four of their last six across all competitions, will losing none of their previous eight outings.

They hold the upper-hand in this fixture too, having one the last two head-to-heads against Cardiff – a record they’ll be looking to extend to three this weekend.

Coventry City vs Middlesbrough

In an already crucial bottom-of-the-table clash, two of the Championship’s strugglers lock horns this weekend, when Coventry City welcome Middlesbrough to the Coventry Building Society Arena.

Staring a return to League One down the barrel, Coventry must put their rocky start behind them, if they wish to retain Championship status.

Of course, they do boast the luxury of three games in hand, but without a win after seven matches, the pressure is beginning to build on the Sky Blues.

Similarly, it’s been a difficult start for Middlesborough, who enter the weekend inside the division’s relegation places, just two positions above Coventry.

Either side can ill-afford anymore dropped points, even at this fledgling stage of the campaign, with Saturday’s clash shaping up to be a crucial meeting at the bottom.

By Amos Murphy

Photo by Unsplash