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Ollie's predictions: Hull to beat Burnley, Jordan Rhodes to haunt Blackburn

Ian Holloway
Image: Ollie predicts Jordan Rhodes to fire Middlesbrough to victory against Blackburn

Sky Sports' Ian Holloway predicts the outcomes of the big games in the Football League, and sees Jordan Rhodes scoring against Blackburn.

Burnley v Hull, Saturday 3pm

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Highlights of the 1-1 draw between Sheffield Wednesday and Burnley from the Sky Bet Championship

Sparks will fly in this one. What a game. 

Sometimes these games can be cagey but Burnley have to win this game if they want to break into that top two. This match is much important for them than Hull.

Burnley have got their tails up and have started putting the ball in the net - I don't think they're playing better, they're just taking their chances now. Burnley have scored 13 goals in their last four Championship games but Hull are so streetwise and are rock solid at the back. I fancy them to bag an away win. The difference between the teams will be Abel Hernandez. Now he's settled in, he's showing his true ability and he scores all types of goals.

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Fulham v Derby, Saturday 3pm

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There's something wrong at Derby. But do I believe they can beat Fulham? Yes.

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Highlights of the 0-0 draw between Derby and Preston from the Sky Bet Championship

Fulham are in a bit of a sorry state. They were an established Premier League club and bang, bang, look at them now.

They've kept hold of Ross McCormack but I'm not sure how the player will feel about that. It looks as though the club have stood in his way from getting his move. He's not a young man anymore - when he went there, they were expected to go straight back up - a lot has changed since then. They're now in a relegation dog fight. Players and supporters like to feel positive about where their club is going and if you're associated with Fulham at the moment, you'd be feeling the opposite.

It's all good keeping your best players, but what if they're not bothered? You need fighters in this scenario. The Fulham boat is sinking - which of their players is going to bail them out? It will be interesting to find out. 

They're going backwards at an alarming rate, having won just one of their last 14 Championship games. This will be another defeat. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-3 (Sky Bet odds 12/1)

Leeds v Nottingham Forest, Saturday 3pm

Dougie Freedman
Image: Dougie Freedman has made his Nottingham Forest side very hard to beat

Leeds are unbeaten at home in six games and Nottingham Forest haven't lost in 12 matches in the league. This has got a draw written all over it. Dougie Freedman deserves huge credit for what he's doing at Forest. He's ticking all the boxes and stabilising the club, and the relationship between him and the chairman looks strong. It looks a great fit.

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 5/1)

Middlesbrough v Blackburn, Saturday 3pm

This game revolves around Jordan Rhodes, who's facing his old club on debut. It's unbelievable how football works sometimes. It will be fascinating to see how the manager integrates him into the team. Will he play with David Nugent or up top on his own? Either way, I think Rhodes will get the first goal... or he'll be useless! One of the two!

Fair play to him though, he's handled himself like a top professional throughout the last few transfer windows. He'll give Boro, who need to start winning again, a massive boost. 

Blackburn have scored just twice in their last seven Championship games and losing Rhodes isn't exactly going to help matters. Boro to win to nil.

Jordan Rhodes celebrates
Image: Jordan Rhodes left Blackburn for Middlesbrough in the transfer window

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

QPR v Ipswich, Saturday 3pm

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Highlights of Ipswich's 2-1 win over Reading in the Sky Bet Championship

It's been an interesting transfer window at QPR, who have looked to the lower leagues for their recruitment, which is great to see. Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink will need time to build this team. The fans have got a part to play too. They need to get over Charlie Austin and get behind Sebastian Polter, Conor Washington and the other new lads. They're the future of this club. 

This will be a tough ask though. Ipswich have picked up more points than any other team over the past six Championship away games, and they will be very well organised - as ever. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-2 (Sky Bet odds 8/1)

Reading v Wolves, Saturday 3pm

Both teams should really be higher in the table. It's a shame this has a mid-table look to it. Reading are very, very steady, while Kenny Jackett has been restricted by losing some of his best players. I'm firmly on the fence. 

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Highlights of the 2-2 draw between Wolves and Bolton from the Sky Bet Championship

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1 (Sky Bet odds 6/1)

Cardiff v MK Dons, Saturday 3pm

Cardiff are unbeaten in their last 10 home games. I've fancied them to make a move into the play-off picture all season and this is the time for them to strike, with just a third of the season remaining. They're really close to clicking - all they need to do is start hitting the back of the net and they'll shoot up the table.

MK Dons have a weakness in their back-line. They played quite well against Chelsea in the FA Cup but they shipped five goals. They're not plugging the gaps in key areas of the field and lack pace in their back four. If Craig Noone is on form for Cardiff, he'll tear them to shreds. He beats people for fun. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-1 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

Southend v Colchester, Saturday 3pm

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Highlights of Southend's 2-1 win against Shrewsbury in Sky Bet League 1

Colchester haven't won in the league since October! Wow. It's so difficult to convince the players they can get out of a rut in games you see statistics like that.

It's a horrendous situation to be in and I can't see it getting much better in this Essex derby. Phil Brown is a wonderful fella and he's doing a fantastic job with a limited budget. A win here could take them into the play-off places - that's incredible considering they only sneaked up through the League Two play-offs last season.  

OLLIE PREDICTS: 2-0 (Sky Bet odds 9/1)

Northampton v York, Saturday 3pm

I've not got great memories at Northampton - I get a bit a stick from them after they beat my Bristol Rovers team in the play-offs in 1998. We were 3-1 up from the first leg and blew it, losing 3-0, although they did deserve it. I didn't do much better there when manager of QPR either!

However, I'm not going to hold that against them as they're buzzing at the moment. Top of the league and they'll be tough to stop now. This will be an easy home win against York, who are struggling at the bottom of the league. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 3-0 (Sky Bet odds 14/1)

Brighton v Brentford, Friday

I always go against Brentford, but I fancy them to get something here. The Bees have scored more goals away from home than any other team in the Championship this season and following them here to get a result makes perfect sense to me. There's not much wrong with their make-up - they're pretty strong throughout their team, and that's why I feel Dean Smith's men are capable of nicking the final play-off spot, despite being eight points adrift. They're a club on the up.

Brighton will find out soon that life gets much tougher the closer you get to achieving what you're looking to do. They've strengthened really well in January, especially taking Steve Sidwell - I'm sure plenty of managers in the league wouldn't even know he was available, so well done to Chris Hughton. 

OLLIE PREDICTS: 1-1

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