Midweek Championship matches usually throw up a few surprise results but with three of the four teams in action on Wednesday desperate for the three points in the battle for promotion surely there won’t be any shocks on the cards?
West Ham will fancy their chances against Watford, while Cardiff will be looking to bounce back from defeat to the Hammers against Brighton.
West Ham v Watford 7:45pm
Depending on how Tuesday night’s matches go West Ham could go top of the Championship with a win over Watford. The Hammers look to be building a head of steam for the final 13 matches of the season, losing just once in their last eight outings.
Sunday’s win in Cardiff was as professional a performance as you are likely to see in the Championship, West Ham taking full advantage of a demoralised Bluebirds team to pick up another three points. Away from home Sam Allardyce’s men have been performing well recently, the win in Wales coming after they had put Blackpool to the sword.
At home though West Ham have drawn the last two – against Southampton and Crystal Palace. Maybe the pressure placed on them by the expectant West Ham supporters is taking its toll? Whatever it is, it will give Watford hope of causing an upset.
The Hornets are what you would call a typical Championship team, unpredictable, and on their day capable of beating anyone. Before last Saturday’s remarkable 3-2 win over Burnley, Watford had been stuffed by Crystal Palace and Southampton. Manager Sean Dyche will hope the victory over the Clarets will have restored his team’s confidence and that they will at least put on a show at Upton Park.
West Ham are 4/7 to beat Watford , who have won just three times away from Vicarage Road all season. However, it won’t be easy and draw half-time/ West Ham full time result at 3/1 should appeal. Watford won on their last visit to Upton Park and if you expect them to cause another upset you can get them at 5/1.
Brighton v Cardiff City 7:45pm
Based on Sunday’s defeat to West Ham, Cardiff’s Carling Cup exploits could have a detrimental effect on their hopes of being promoted. The Bluebirds have lost four of the last five in the league, and rather than galvanise the squad their fine performance in the final against Liverpool appears to have taken a lot out of the players.
Malky Mackay has conceded a top-two finish is beyond Cardiff’s reach and has called on his team to get their act together or risk missing out on the play-offs. Victory for the Welsh side would lift them back into the play-off places but it won’t be easy at the Amex Stadium.
Brighton’s away form might be patchy but at home they are a tough nut to crack, losing just one of the last 11 on their own patch and keeping clean sheets in four of the last five on the south coast. The Seagulls could be in the play-offs had it not been for a late El Hadji Diouf penalty rescuing a point for Doncaster and they will be keen to make amends.
Brighton were excellent in their last outing at home against in-form Ipswich, beating the Tractor Boys 3-0. Gus Poyet seems to have rediscovered some of that gold dust which gave them such a flying start in the Championship and they will be confident of picking apart Cardiff.
Brighton are 11/8 to win at home and that looks a solid enough bet, as does Craig Mackail-Smith to score first at 13/2. The Scottish striker recently ended his goal drought and has got two in the last two, prompting thoughts he could be about to go on a run of finding the back of the net. You can get 40/1 on Mackail-Smith as first goalscorer and Brighton to win 2-0 if you are feeling extra brave.
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