Southampton forward facing three-game ban as Leicester City man makes honest Leeds United admission

There is now less than three weeks left of the regular Championship season and still so much to play for at both ends of the table. Promotion, play-offs and relegation are a long way from being decided, with Birmingham City and West Brom fighting at opposite ends of the table.

The Baggies have long looked set for a play-off place but one win in five has allowed some late challengers to gain ground, while the Blues climbed out of the drop zone with a massive 3-0 win over Coventry City on Saturday. There is still so much drama left to unfold and BirminghamWorld has rounded up some of the latest Championship headlines this Tuesday.

Saints ban

Southampton forward Sekou Mara is facing the prospect of a retrospective three-game ban for an off-the-ball incident during Saturday’s 3-2 win over Watford. Mara’s clash with Ryan Porteous went unpunished initially but manager Russell Martin admits they are awaiting potential punishment.

"We will maybe be without Sekou,” Martin told The Daily Echo ahead of his side’s midweek clash against Preston. "Maybe he gets suspended for three games. We're waiting to find out about his off-the-ball incident with Ryan Porteous. I think Sekou might be the only one that misses out and we are likely to find out before we play Preston."

A three-game suspension would see Mara miss this evening’s visit of Preston to St. Mary’s plus trips to Cardiff City and fellow promotion hopefuls Leicester City.

Coady admission

Leicester defender Conor Coady is keeping a regular eye on the results of his promotion rivals, whether he should be or not. The Foxes are a point behind Ipswich and one ahead of Leeds, with a game in hand over both.

“Without a doubt, I think that is natural,” Coady told BBC’s Football Daily Podcast when asked if he has been watching Leeds and Ipswich. “I can come in, whether I should or shouldn’t do it, I look at the results, of course I do, seeing how they get on and hoping they’ve lost so you gain a bit of ground or to bridge a gap. 100 per cent it affects you, but over the last week we’ve spoken as a team of the results we have had at Leicester.

“We can’t concentrate on what anyone else is doing, it’s us and that’s it. That’s how you’ve got to be and that’s how we believe we have got to be because when you are in touching distance of what you worked all season for. But like I said, 100 per cent being human beings, I’d be silly if I sat here now and said I don’t look at other results.”

Bristol penalty

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes the decision to award Bristol City a late penalty against Huddersfield Town was a ‘misjudgement’ from referee Rebecca Welch. Huddersfield were on course for a huge 1-0 win on Saturday but conceded a 101st-minute penalty to Nahki Wells.

Defender Ollie Turnton was adjudged to have blocked Cam Pring’s cross with his arm but replays showed it to be incredibly harsh. Huddersfield manager Andre Breitenreiter revealed some of his players were in tears after full-time and called for VAR technology in the Championship.

“I just don’t think it’s handball, I think it’s just a misjudgement,” Gallagher told Sky Sports. “The referee’s got the best view but unfortunately I don’t think she makes the best decision. He turns away, if it strikes him, it strikes him, but it’s low, arms into the body - not a penalty for me.”