Sunderland vs. Preston (Monday, 12.30pm)
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Sunderland play host to Preston North End on New Year's Day looking for the win that could see them move back into the Championship playoff spots.
At a time when the Black Cats sit in seventh position in the standings, Preston have recently dropped down to 11th place, albeit still just two points adrift of their upcoming opponents.
We say: Sunderland 2-1 Preston North End
There is an unpredictability about Preston that makes it impossible to completely write them off ahead of their visit to the Stadium of Light. Nevertheless, Sunderland look in better shape than they were for Beale's first home game, leaving us to predict a narrow win for the North-East outfit.
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Blackburn vs. Rotherham (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Blackburn Rovers play host to Rotherham United on New Year's Day looking to end a run of four successive defeats in the Championship.
At a time when Rovers have dropped down to 15th position in the standings, Rotherham remain eight points adrift of safety despite their recent improvements.
We say: Blackburn Rovers 2-1 Rotherham United
Given their contrasting form, there is an argument that this is now a 50-50 contest. However, with Tomasson fighting for his job at Ewood Park, we feel that his players will rise to the occasion and edge this game by the odd goal in three.
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Bristol City vs. Millwall (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Two teams in good form will lock horns in the Championship on New Year's Day, with Bristol City welcoming Millwall to Ashton Gate.
Bristol City are currently eighth in the Championship table, three points behind sixth-placed Hull City, while Millwall are 16th, eight points clear of the relegation zone.
We say: Bristol City 1-1 Millwall
Millwall have only actually lost four times away from home in the Championship this season, sharing the spoils on five occasions, while Bristol City have dropped points in half of their 12 home league games in 2023-24. A case can be made for either to win it, but we are backing a low-scoring draw on Monday.
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Leeds vs. Birmingham (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Looking to keep their hopes of an immediate return to the Premier League via the automatic promotion spots alive, Leeds United will welcome a misfiring Birmingham City side to Elland Road on New Year's Day in the Championship.
The Whites have fallen further behind the pacesetters at the top of the division following back-to-back losses, while Blues are slowly being drawn towards the bottom three under the controversial management of Wayne Rooney.
We say: Leeds United 2-0 Birmingham City
Leeds have fallen short of their normal standards in the last two matches, but the arrival of a Birmingham side who struggle on their travels to Elland Road represents a good chance to get back to winning ways.
Blues ambled to a clean sheet on Friday night to secure an uninspiring point, but Rooney's men will face a much more potent attacking force in Yorkshire on Monday.
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Leicester vs. Huddersfield (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Two teams entering 2024 at opposite ends of the Championship table prepare for a New Year's Day scrap at the King Power Stadium, as Leicester City pit their wits against Huddersfield Town.
The Foxes ended 2023 in victorious fashion by getting the better of Cardiff City 2-0, while the Terriers' frenetic affair with Middlesbrough ended in a 2-1 home defeat.
We say: Leicester City 3-0 Huddersfield Town
Leicester have been largely unaffected by the unforgiving demands of the winter schedule, and even with Iheanacho now joining a few stricken teammates in the infirmary, there should only be one outcome to Monday's game.
The thumping of Blackburn appears to have been a one-off for a Huddersfield side whose away form has left a lot to be desired all season long, so the Foxes ought to start 2024 as they mean to go on.
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Middlesbrough vs. Coventry (Monday, 3.00pm)
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In a repeat of last season's playoff semi-final, Middlesbrough will welcome Coventry City to the Riverside Stadium on New Year's Day, with both sides chasing down the top six.
Boro returned to winning ways with a narrow success at strugglers Huddersfield Town on Friday, while the Sky Blues were held at home to managerless Swansea City on the same day.
We say: Middlesbrough 1-1 Coventry City
Middlesbrough were arguably lucky to earn all three points at Huddersfield, although Boro do have the potential to dominate teams at the Riverside.
Coventry rested some of their key men from the start on Friday night and should be good enough to force a share of the spoils on Teesside.
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Norwich vs. Southampton (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Southampton will go in search of a fifth straight victory in the Championship when they make the trip to Carrow Road on New Year's Day to tackle Norwich City.
The Saints, who are up in third spot in the Championship table, will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle, while Norwich were beaten 1-0 at Millwall last time out.
We say: Norwich City 2-2 Southampton
This has all of the makings of a fascinating match, and we are expecting it to be an entertaining contest. Southampton will go in search of a fifth straight Championship win, but Norwich have been strong at home this season, and we are therefore finding it difficult to separate the two teams.
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Plymouth vs. Watford (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Both Plymouth Argyle and Watford will be bidding to return to winning ways when the two teams lock horns at Home Park in the Championship on New Year's Day.
Plymouth will enter the contest off the back of a 2-1 defeat at Southampton, while Watford drew 1-1 with Stoke City in their last game in the second tier of English football.
We say: Plymouth Argyle 1-1 Watford
Plymouth's home form this season has been excellent, but Watford have lost just four of their 11 matches on their travels, so we are finding it difficult to separate the two sides here. A draw would not be the worst result for either team on Monday, and we are predicting a 1-1 in this contest.
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QPR vs. Cardiff (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Having ended 2023 with a creditable draw against one of the Championship's high-flyers, Queens Park Rangers commence the New Year with a home clash against Cardiff City on Monday.
The capital outfit played out a goalless stalemate with Ipswich Town on Friday evening, while the Bluebirds took on the Tractor Boys' title rivals Leicester City and were on the receiving end of a 2-0 loss.
We say: Queens Park Rangers 0-0 Cardiff City
Enforced attacking alterations will threaten to disrupt the flow of both sides on Monday, although QPR did not have much offensive verve to begin with, while Cardiff have failed to score in five of their last eight away matches.
Plenty of fireworks will be lit up and down the country over the New Year period, but do not expect sparks to fly at Loftus Road, where a bore draw is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility.
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Stoke vs. Ipswich (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Looking to continue their unbeaten run since the appointment of Steven Schumacher, Stoke City will host Ipswich Town at the bet365 Stadium on New Year's Day in the Championship.
The Potters forced a share of the spoils at Watford on Friday night, while the Tractor Boys played out a goalless draw with Queens Park Rangers on the same day.
We say: Stoke City 1-2 Ipswich Town
Stoke have been impressive since the arrival of Schumacher, but the visit of Ipswich is the hardest assessment the Potters have faced under the leadership of the Liverpudlian.
The Tractor Boys are beginning to stall as the season rolls into 2024, but we believe that they will be good enough to earn maximum points on Monday.
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Swansea vs. West Brom (Monday, 3.00pm)
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Whilst their search for a permanent successor to Michael Duff rumbles on into the New Year, Swansea City will welcome promotion-chasing West Bromwich Albion to the Swansea.com Stadium in the Championship.
The Welsh side earned a last-gasp point in the East Midlands at Coventry City last time out, whilst the Baggies made a big statement by collecting maximum points from Leeds United on Friday night.
We say: Swansea City 1-2 West Bromwich Albion
Swansea were improved in their 2-2 draw at Coventry last time out, however the Welsh club have struggled for consistency under the stewardship of Sheehan.
The Baggies dispatched Norwich and Leeds with relative ease to round off a promising 2023 on the pitch, and we believe that the Baggies will commence the new year on the right note.
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Sheff Weds vs. Hull City (Monday, 5.15pm)
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Two sides who ended 2023 on a high note will endeavour to keep the momentum going in a New Year's Day Championship clash, as Sheffield Wednesday welcome Yorkshire rivals Hull City to Hillsborough.
The Owls overcame Preston North End 1-0 on Friday evening, while their visitors also snapped a two-game losing streak in a 3-2 beating of Blackburn Rovers.
We say: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Hull City
Credit where credit is due for Sheffield Wednesday's admirable defensive display against Preston, and the festive period as a whole breathed new life into the hosts' survival fight.
However, with two new injuries and an additional suspension to factor in for New Year's Day, the Owls could be set for a rude awakening against Hull, who are riding the crest of the wave from a sensational beating of Blackburn and are no strangers to victory in this Yorkshire derby.
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Barney Corkhill
