It looks like being another unpredictable weekend of Championship football as punters study the form book before it traditionally gets thrown out of the window come Saturday afternoon. However, with some shrewd selections, profit really can be achieved from this notoriously tough to call division.
Coventry v Birmingham City (12.30pm)
Birmingham have scored 13 goals in their last three away games in the league, winning all three but Coventry are tough to beat at the Ricoh Arena, winning five and losing just one of their last seven home games in the league.
However, the most telling statistic lies in their head-to-head results, which have seen four of the last five encounters finish in 1-0 scorelines. Expect this to be another tight encounter with a solitary goal deciding it in favour of Birmingham – who can freshen up their line-up significantly from the midweek FA Cup defeat to Chelsea.
Birmingham to win 1-0 is 6/1.
Brighton and Hove Albion v Portsmouth (3pm)
The Seagulls are unbeaten in their last six Championship games on home soil and should easily overcome a Pompey side that have won just one of their last eight on the road, losing three of the last four and scoring just one goal in the last four away trips.
The 4/6 about a Brighton win is certainly backable but go for Craig Mackail-Smith (4/1 in the First Goalscorer market) to net first – 90 per cent of the goals he has scored since his move from Peterborough have been the first in the match.
Burnley v Crystal Palace (3pm)
Burnley have lost four of their last five Championship games while Palace arrive on an unbeaten run of seven league matches. The Clarets have lacked a killer instinct of late and rely heavily on Jay Rodriguez (8 in 10) to get them their goals.
For this reason, it is tempting to back Rodriguez at 15/8, but why not double it up with the 1-1 draw as a 25/1 Scorecast.
Derby County v Watford (3pm)
Watford have kept just one clean sheet in their last 13 league matches so don’t expect them to shut Derby out, but they can grab a half-time lead at Pride Park.
The Rams ability to storm back into matches was shown again in midweek when they turned around a half-time deficit against Blackpool, a few days after they grabbed a point from 2-0 down at Birmingham.
Nigel Clough’s side may have to do it the hard way again on Saturday so back Watford/Draw at 12/1 and Watford/Derby at 25/1 in the HT/FT market.
Hull City v Ipswich Town (3pm)
The Tigers have failed to score in seven of their last 11 league games, but Ipswich have been conceding goals away from Portman Road.
Hull have drawn four of their last six matches and that may be the result that they can best hope for against an improving Ipswich.
This looks like a tight game to call so go for the draw at 23/10 or take Draw/Draw in the HT/FT for a 4/1 payout.
Nottingham Forest v Millwall (3pm)
Forest have kept just one clean sheet in their last 12 Championship matches and face a Millwall side who have just won their last two on the road, beating Burnley 3-1 and Peterborough 3-0.
The 5/2 about a Millwall win is the standout price on the Totesport Championship football coupon and ought to be backed with confidence.
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