Can Middlesbrough consolidate top two spot? Plus three other things to look out for on Tuesday

The Yorkshire derby between Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United could have huge ramifications for the Championship’s relegation places.

Elsewhere in the county, Middlesbrough host Burnley knowing that anything but victory would damage their automatic promotion hopes.

Here are four talking points ahead of Tuesday’s games:

Can Middlesbrough consolidate their automatic promotion place ahead of Brighton test? How will they cope with the absence of David Nugent?

Burnley visit the Riverside Stadium on Tuesday night. Sean Dyche’s side are real candidates for an immediate return to the Premier League, and it is Middlesbrough’s job to ensure that they do not open up the race for the top two places in the second tier. With a limited schedule tonight, Boro could put the pressure on Hull City ahead of their match on Wednesday by opening up a five point gap between themselves and the team currently occupying third. A loss would move Burnley to within two points of second. A Derby County victory would also leave the Rams hot on Boro’s tail, no matter the result. It is therefore important that Aitor Karanka’s side win. With a trip to leaders Brighton ahead of them, there is not much room for error if the North Yorkshire side want to stay in the top two heading into the festive period. David Nugent’s sending off in the game against Birmingham means he will be absent on Tuesday. It will be interesting to see how Boro offer a goalscoring threat with the former Portsmouth striker missing.

Will Huddersfield find themselves dragged into a relegation battle?

Neil Redfearn set his outlook out in his press conference on Monday - simply put, win tonight and Rotherham will have brought another team into the Championship’s relegation battle. Huddersfield are only three points ahead of their Yorkshire rivals and after a run of three losses from four games, they look like they could have a fight on their hands. David Wagner’s arrival has resulted in a real upturn in performances, although results have not followed. Even Redfearn pointed out how impressed he was with their displays in his press conference on Monday. Town chose to ditch the stability of Chris Powell for a potentially greater gain. Tuesday should provide an indication of whether Wagner can bring immediate results, or whether the Terriers may have a tricky season ahead of them.

Can Sheffield Wednesday return to winning form?

After their League Cup successes, Sheffield Wednesday seemed to be about to threaten the top six spots in the Championship. However, recent form has been questionable and the Owls have drawn their last three games in the Championship. They have also only won one of their last six games in the league. Struggles elsewhere at the top end of the table mean Wednesday remain in eighth position, only a point behind Ipswich Town in sixth. A win tonight could see them jump up to the last play-off place. They will not have many better opportunities to close the gap - they face MK Dons, marooned in 22nd place. The Milton Keynes side have failed to win since November 3.

Will Guiseley avoid another cup upset in their replay?

Guiseley’s recent record in cup competitions is not a positive read. They were forced to a replay last season by Rushall Olympic. In manager Mark Bower’s time at the club as a player they were eliminated by both Ashington and Skelmersdale in the FA Cup and FA Trophy respectively. Burscough came back from behind twice on Saturday to secure a 2-2 draw and set up tonight’s replay at Nethermoor Park. Guiseley have already gone out of one competition this season, the FA Cup, in a replay, that time against National League rivals Halifax Town. The Lions have also been hindered by the departure of Anthony Dudley, who returned to Bury on Saturday after scoring five goals in seven appearances. The pressure is now on Bower and his side to ensure they do not fall to another cup upset, with a trip to hipster favourites Dulwich Hamlet on the cards if they can get a result.