Wednesday's Championship predictions including Southampton vs. Preston

Cardiff vs. Huddersfield (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Aiming to rebuild a lead over the bottom three in the Championship table, Huddersfield Town will travel to South Wales to take on Cardiff City on Wednesday.

Despite back-to-back positive results under the new management of Andre Breitenreiter, the visitors now only sit above the drop zone on goal difference, while their hosts have climbed up to 11th spot with consecutive wins.

We say: Cardiff City 1-1 Huddersfield Town

With both sides having a degree of renewed confidence and a need for three points, we anticipate a tight and entertaining encounter at the Cardiff City Stadium.

We cannot quite envisage either succumbing to a defeat, though, and see a share of the spoils as the most likely outcome.

Middlesbrough vs. Norwich (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Norwich City make the long trip to Middlesbrough looking for the victory that could move them into the top six of the Championship table.

At a time when the Canaries sit in seventh position, Boro are all the way down in 14th and will be more concerned about being dragged into a relegation battle.

We say: Middlesbrough 1-2 Norwich City

Given the quality of some of Boro's players, they may click back into gear at some stage. Nevertheless, that may still not be enough to outclass this Norwich side, who we expect to battle their way to victory at the Riverside Stadium.

Southampton vs. Preston (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Southampton will be looking to boost their automatic promotion hopes when they play host to Championship playoff contenders Preston North End at St Mary's on Wednesday night.

The two teams meet for the first time since October when they played out a 2-2 draw at Deepdale, with the Saints needing a 96th-minute own goal from Ched Evans to salvage a point.

We say: Southampton 2-1 Preston North End

Considering that an average of 3.9 goals have been scored across the last seven competitive meetings between these two teams, another entertaining end-to-end contest could be on the cards on Wednesday.

Both sides will fancy their chances of claiming three precious points, but we believe that Southampton, motivated by recent slip-ups from Leicester and Leeds, will find a way to come out on top on home soil.

Watford vs. Swansea (Wednesday, 7.45pm)

Watford play host to Swansea City on Wednesday evening desperately requiring all three points to retain any kind of realistic chance to make the Championship playoffs.

Meanwhile, the visitors, just two points adrift of their 12th-placed opponents in the standings, make the trip to Vicarage Road on the back of two successive wins.

We say: Watford 1-1 Swansea City

Although these two clubs will expect to remain in the Championship, the stakes are high for both sides, who are aware that defeat could lead to becoming embroiled in a relegation scrap. With that in mind, do not be surprised to see a draw be played out at Vicarage Road.

QPR vs. West Brom (Wednesday, 8.00pm)

Aiming to make it four-straight wins in the league, relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers will welcome playoff hopefuls West Bromwich Albion to Loftus Road on Wednesday night in the Championship.

The R's ground out a standout result at Leicester City on Saturday afternoon, whilst the Baggies were victorious in a Midlands derby versus Coventry City.

We say: Queens Park Rangers 1-1 West Bromwich Albion

QPR are coming off the back of a victory over the league leaders, so they should be confident of picking up another positive result on Wednesday night.

West Brom have struggled on the road at times over recent seasons, but we reckon that they will be good enough for a share of the spoils at Loftus Road.