Saturday’s Championship action is littered with matches where the opposing sides are closely matched and picking a winner is difficult. But here is our treble selection for the weekend’s games, headed by promotion hopefuls West Ham.
West Ham v Derby (5.20pm)
The televised game sees second-placed West Ham up against a Derby side that has slipped down the Championship table, following a disappointing run of form since the early October international break.
Sam Allardyce’s men are enjoying a good spell of late and will aim to make it three successive wins against the Rams, having already made their best start to a league campaign for 17 years. Allardyce should have Carlton Cole, Matt Taylor and Joey O?Brien available for the game at Upton Park, while Guy Demel is also fit and in contention for the Hammers.
Nigel Clough’s Derby are looking to avoid a fourth straight defeat, as they have managed just one win in nine matches since the end of September, which has seen them plummet from second position to 11th in the table – 10 points behind the Hammers.
The Rams’ injury problems have not helped their cause, with strikers Theo Robinson, Nathan Tyson and Steven Davies all absent. However, Tamas Priskin is set to make his debut having joined on loan from Ipswich.
The Hammers’ have only lost once to Derby in 15 league meetings over the last 13 years and it looks highly unlikely that the visitors will improve on that statistic this weekend.
Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 2/5
Value Bet: West Ham 3-1 Correct Score @ 10/1
Hull v Burnley (3pm)
This KC Stadium encounter has got a home banker stamped all over it, as Nicky Barmby will take charge of his first home match since taking over as caretaker boss.
The sixth-placed Tigers will look to follow up last weekend’s win at Derby with a fourth victory in six matches, to keep pressure on the teams above them in the play-off places in what has been a decent run of late.
Barmby will be without the likes of suspended Aaron McLean and injured quartet Martyn Waghorn, Martin Pusic, Seyi Olofinjana and Richard Garcia, but Andy Dawson is due back for his first game since September.
The Clarets cross the Pennines in a desperate run of form with the pressure starting to mount on boss Eddie Howe. Four successive defeats have left Burnley just one place and two points outside of the relegation places, while they have only scored one goal in those matches.
However, while you have got to look at the home win market, Burnley do have the omens on their side as they have won their last four encounters against Hull, scoring 11 goals in the process.
Prediction: Home Win 90 Minutes @ 10/11
Value Bet: Fryatt 1st goal / Hull 1-0 Scorecast @ 22/1
Portsmouth v Leicester (3pm)
It’s the clash of the two new boys at Fratton Park on Saturday, as Michael Appleton will take charge of his first home game in charge of Pompey and Nigel Pearson will preside over his first away game since his recent return to the King Power Stadium.
The two managers had very different first games in charge as Appleton watched his side lose 2-0 at Watford, while Pearson’s Foxes romped to a 3-0 win against Crystal Palace last Sunday.
It is a tricky fixture to call because Portsmouth might be struggling and currently sit just three points above the dreaded drop zone, but their home form is pretty good as they boast three successive league wins ahead of this match.
Appleton has also drafted in loan reinforcements to strengthen his side, in the shape of Joe Mattock and George Thorne from his former club West Brom. Abdul Razak is set to start in place of ankle injury victim, skipper Liam Lawrence, while Hermann Hreidarsson also misses out.
Pearson could bring Sol Bamba back in his defence for the match following a one-match ban and Lee Peltier is also fit, as Leicester go in search of a fourth win in six league games at Fratton Park and a fifth win in nine Championship outings.
Don’t be fooled by those encouraging stats, though, as Pompey ran out convincing 6-1 winners in the corresponding fixture last season. But the clincher is that Leicester have already drawn half of their eight away games to date and, with Appleton desperate not to lose his first match in charge in front of the home fans, back both teams to take a share of the spoils.
Prediction: Draw 90 Minutes @ 12/5
Value Bet: Leicester/Draw HT/FT @ 16/1
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