Tag Archives: Championship

Saturday Championship preview

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Bet on the ChampionshipQueens Park Rangers are not in action until Sunday but there is still plenty of action in the Championship on Saturday so we will have a look at the top games and pick out any potential betting opportunities.

Cardiff v Watford

Cardiff’s form has been indifferent over their past five fixtures – with two wins, two defeats and a draw – and they are due to face a Hornets side who have won their last six Championship games, including a 3-1 victory at league-leading QPR.

A win for the Hertfordshire side would take them above the Welshmen and would equal their club record of seven consecutive wins. But Cardiff may have Craig Bellamy and Jay Bothroyd back, which will boost their goal-scoring potential and it could be that this one ends in a stalemate, with a low-scoring draw possibly on the cards.

Odds: Draw 12/5

Value bet: 1-1 draw 11/2

Barnsley v Swansea

The Swans have taken nine out of a possible 15 points in their last five outings but remain in second place in the Championship table. They have been strengthened by the return of midfielder Leon Britton and should have enough ammunition to take all three points from a Tykes side who have won just once in their last five games.

With QPR not playing until Sunday, the Welsh side can join them on 49 points and continue their march towards the Premier League.

The Yorkshiremen can take heart from the fact that Saturday’s opponents are vulnerable away from home and have already lost seven times on their travels this term.

Odds: Swansea Evens to win

Value bet: Both teams to score 3/4

Portsmouth v Leeds

Leeds were dumped out of the FA Cup by Arsenal in a replay this week but they now return to the business of winning back their Premier League status.

The Elland Road outfit have taken just six points from their last five games, with only one victory in that time, but will face a Pompey side who have not won any of their past five fixtures. They have endured three defeats and two draws, one of which was a 3-3 affair with Saturday’s opponents back in late December.

The Yorkshire outfit are the Championship’s joint-top scorers and so the home side’s dodgy defence will have its work cut out to contain them, and an away win is predicted here.

Odds: Leeds 6/4 to win

Value bet: Leeds to win to nil 16/5

Reading v Hull

The Royals’ form has been mixed of late with two wins, two draws and a defeat but they are just one place and two points outside the play-off zone.

Hull have managed 10 points from a possible 15 and will pose a significant threat to their hosts on Saturday as they have not been beaten on the road for eight games.

Whether or not they can take all three points is open to question and these sides may have to settle for a point each after 90 minutes at the Madejski Stadium.

Odds: Draw 5/2

Value bet: 2-2 draw 12/1

Nottingham Forest v Derby County

Forest are on a great run at present with 13 points from 15, including a 5-2 victory over Saturday’s opponents in December, while Derby have won just once in five.

Local derbies can always throw up strange results but the Rams’ FA Cup defeat to Crawley Town will have dented their fragile confidence even further and Forest will surely be too good for Nigel Clough’s beleaguered side.

Derby are in free-fall at present and the Forest fans would love their heroes to aid the Rams’ downward spiral.

Odds: Forest win 6/4

Value bet: Forest to lead at half time and full time 7/2

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Boxing Day Championship Picks

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There’s a full fixture list planned in the Championship on Boxing Day and, providing the weather is not the winner again, there are plenty of festive footy delights to keep you entertained in the second tier if that’s your betting bag and you’ve already had enough Turkey stew, leftover cake and old movies for Christmas.

Leeds are the form team in the Championship at the moment and head to Leicester on Boxing Day with another promotion-boosting victory in their sights.

The 2-0 win over table-toppers QPR last weekend underlined United’s title credentials and there is a growing belief in West Yorkshire that a return to the big time may just be around the corner.

They will again be tested at the Walkers Stadium and Sven appears to have the Foxes on the up, too, but such is Leeds’ confidence, an away win is a distinct possibility.

That game kicks off at the traditional 3pm time but there are three 1pm ko’s with the aforementioned Rangers hosting Swansea in another eyecatching clash.

Neil Warnock’s men will be keen to erase the memory of the Leeds loss with a win over the Swans and we can’t see anything other than a handsome win for the home side – go for 3-0 at 16/1.

One of Warnock’s old clubs, Crystal Palace, host Norwich and here the away win at 6/4 is attractive while a double with Portsmouth to win at evens against Millwall would return a decent profit.

In a division that is often difficult to predict, finding more value bets on Boxing Day is not easy. Middlesbrough boss Tony Mowbray has had a tough time of it since he came in to rescue his old club following a disastrous spell under Gordon Strachan but a win at home over Forest could just be the turning point.

Boro are on offer at 6/4 to win and it’s worth a punt with a big crowd expected at the Riverside to help cheer Mowbray’s men on.

Finally, two more clubs in need of a vital win are Sheffield United (23/20) and Hull City, who go head to head at Bramall Lane. United, who are in search of a permanent successor to Gary Speed after his decision to take up the Wales job the other week, have experienced coach John Carver in charge and may just have the edge over the Tigers.

This is, of course, if we’re not all snowed in and forced to watch the Royle Family instead that you recorded on Christmas Day!

Boxing Day Championship picks:

Leeds to win at Leicester at 11/5

QPR 3-0 versus Swansea at 16/1

Double:
Norwich to win at Crystal Palace
Portsmouth to beat Millwall

Boro to beat Forest (6/4)
Sheffield United to beat Hull (23/20).

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Championship top two collide

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It’s first v second in the Championship this weekend (QPR 11/10, Draw 23/10, Cardiff 23/10 – Match Betting) and in-form QPR look set to steal a march on their closest challengers, with Cardiff appearing to have hit a slump at a crucial time.

Neil Warnock’s men are currently two points clear at the top and remain unbeaten in the league, although they face their toughest test yet on Saturday.

The R’s (13/10 Championship Outright) have the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just eight goals all season, letting only three in at Loftus Road, so could have the measure off Cardiff’s attacking threat.

The Bluebirds have also held top spot for periods this season but have won just one of their last four matches – which was a 4-2 success at struggling Scunthorpe – and have their work cut out to end their frustrating run this weekend.

At the other end of the table, Millwall look likely to heap more pressure on Darren Ferguson as the Lions seek a second successive away win at Preston.

North End are currently rooted to the bottom and six points from safety and the home fans will be demanding a victory when the Lions visit on Saturday.

After a bright start, Millwall (7/4) have struggled in recent weeks but their 1-0 win at Middlesbrough last weekend will have lifted confidence for another trip north.

Swansea face Portsmouth on Friday night, knowing that a win will move them level on points with Cardiff – for at least 24 hours – and Brendan Rodgers’ men look too strong for the visitors.

A last-gasp equaliser at Doncaster last week maintained a run of just one defeat in 10 league matches and they should be too good for a Pompey squad struggling for numbers at present.

Burnley will welcome a return to home comforts on Saturday and expect the Clarets to put a dent in Derby’s promotion bid.

The Rams, currently fourth, look to be punching above their weight at the moment and they will struggle against a Burnley side who have lost just once at home this term and will be desperate to make up for poor form on the road.

Two former Premier League teams meet at the Riverside, with both Middlesbrough and Hull struggling at the wrong end of the table.

The difference is though that Hull (21/10) appear to be getting their act together, with two wins and a draw in their last three games, while Boro are struggling for any consistency.

With the home fans getting more anxious at the Teessiders bottom-three position, the Tigers will fancy their chances of extending their unbeaten run to four.

Sunday sees the latest East Anglia derby, as Norwich and Ipswich go head-to-head at Carrow Road (Norwich 11/10, Draw 23/10, Ipswich 23/10 – Match Betting).

The Canaries hold local bragging rights at the moment, sitting eighth in the table compared to 13th-placed Town, and they are expected to get the better of their rivals this weekend.

City’s home form is nothing special, but Ipswich look to be on the slide after a decent start to the season – losing their last three games.

Scunthorpe cannot buy a win at home and have lost six of their nine matches at Glanford Park this season, to leave them fifth from bottom. Coventry, fresh from a win over Burnley last weekend, are likely to pile more misery on the Iron on Saturday.

Barnsley entertain Watford on Saturday and with both teams sat in mid-table and with patchy form behind them  – don’t be surprised to see a stalemate at Oakwell.

Bristol City’s ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ performances pretty much some up the division and they face another inconsistent team this weekend, when Sheffield United arrive at Ashton Gate – anyone’s guess as to how that will end up!

Leeds’ away record has been impressive, with just two defeats in nine matches away from Elland Road and they will fancy their chances of victory (Leeds 5/2) at Reading, who are also stuck in the mid-table quagmire.

Crystal Palace may still in the bottom three, but they have shown signs of improvement – two wins in the last three and almost won at Sheffield United last week. The Eagles (6/4) look good for a win over Doncaster, who are a different side on their travels compared to at home.

There is a Midlands derby at the Walkers Stadium on Monday night, when Leicester could spring an upset with victory over Nottingham Forest.

Although Forest are 11 places ahead of the Foxes, Sven’s men are resurgent and have not lost at home in the league since the former England manager took charge in mid-October.

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Championship preview

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Queens Park Rangers’ march back to the Premier League has stuttered in recent weeks with five draws and just one victory in the last six matches.

Goals have been hard to come by with just one a game during that run and they face a trip to Nottingham Forest on Saturday having drawn 1-1 with Portsmouth in midweek.

Billy Davies’ men have been difficult to beat at the City Ground and are yet to lose a game and, with the Hoops unable to win at present, we predict a score draw could be on the cards, which could see Rangers knocked off the top of the table if Cardiff manage to win at Scunthorpe (1-1 draw 11/2).

And the Bluebirds are tipped to take all three points from their visit to Glanford Park to play a Scunthorpe side who have already suffered defeat five times at home this term with just one success.

The Iron have lost their last three home games and there seems no reason to believe that the horror sequence will end on Saturday.

The Welsh side are solid on their travels, with five victories under their belts already, and we predict that Cardiff will top the Championship table on Saturday night with a comfortable success by at least two goals (Cardiff 7/1 to win 2-0).

Derby are currently in the play-off zone but form will go out of the window this weekend as they travel to the Walkers Stadium to meet local rivals Leicester City.

Nigel Clough’s side have three away victories behind them and took all the points from a trip to Portman Road on Tuesday night – their third successive victory.

The Foxes are also in decent nick with seven points from their last three games and, with solid home form behind them, they should be able to hold on for a point in a high-scoring draw (2-2 draw 12/1).

Norwich City travel to Reading just two points better off than the Royals but without a win in three Championship games.

Their last victory came against Middlesbrough back on October 23 and they have drawn their last two fixtures, taking a point off Millwall on Tuesday night.

Reading also drew in midweek and have not reproduced the form that saw them put four goals past both Doncaster and Burnley prior to a loss to QPR.

It is hard to separate these two former Premier League sides and a draw seems the obvious result with Reading looking solid on their own patch (draw 12/5).

Finally, Ipswich will have hopes of slipping into a play-off spot after they play host to Barnsley, but Town are notoriously hard to predict at home.

Roy Keane’s men have won four but lost three at Portman Road and defeat to Derby followed two successive victories in East Anglia.

But they have won three of their last four games and should have too much ammunition for a Barnsley side who have recorded just one win away from Oakwell.

The Tykes did manage to down Preston at Deepdale on Tuesday but the chances of lighting striking twice appear to be slim this weekend with Ipswich tipped for a comfortable triumph (Ipswich 4/6 to beast Barnsley).

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Championship predictions

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Championship leaders Queens Park Rangers (7/4 Outright) enjoyed a good weekend after a 3-1 victory over Reading put them back on top of the table, before closest rivals Cardiff lost 1-0 to Welsh neighbours Swansea on Sunday.

However Neil Warnock’s side will have their unbeaten record severely put to the test on Tuesday when they travel to the south coast to tackle a resurgent Portsmouth side.

Pompey slipped to a 2-0 defeat at Derby on Saturday, but that was a first setback in eight Championship games, while Steve Cotterill’s men have won four games on the bounce at Fratton Park scoring 14 goals in the process.

Therefore if there is a strong possibility that the Hoops could be tasting defeat for the first time this season (6/4 – 90 minutes betting).

Derby moved up to fourth thanks to that win against Pompey and they face a tough trip to Portman Road to take on Roy Keane’s sixth-placed Ipswich.

The Tractor Boys won at Sheffield United on Saturday and go into the match with two successive wins under their belts, but with Nigel Clough’s Rams also in good form a draw looks a good bet for this one (23/10 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Fifth-placed Coventry will aim to bounce back from a 3-2 defeat at home to Leeds on Saturday, but they will find the points hard to come by at Nottingham Forest.

Billy Davies’ side are unbeaten on home soil so far this term and should maintain that impressive form at the City Ground (10/11 – 90 minutes betting).

Norwich sit just outside the play-off places on goal difference following the point picked up against Carrow Road against Burnley on Saturday when they battled back from two-down.

The Canaries will need that battling spirit at Millwall on Tuesday as Kenny Jackett’s side generally have a decent record at the Den.

However, while Paul Lambert’s side have done well on the road this term, I fancy the Lions to nick this one by the odd goal (13/10 – 90 minutes betting).

Leeds were flying on the road again with their win at Coventry making it three successive away day victories. However their home form is inconsistent with heavy losses against the likes of Cardiff and lowly Preston.

Struggling Yorkshire rivals Hull City arrive at Elland Road without a win in seven, but capable of grabbing a share of the spoils in what would be Leeds’ first home draw of the campaign (13/5 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Burnley’s home form has been the key to them sitting within two points of the play-off places so far this term.

And Brian Laws’ side should make it six wins at Turf Moor (11/10 Home win – 90 minutes betting) in a tight game against a Doncaster Rovers side that sits three places below the Clarets but level on 22 points.

At the wrong end of the table Preston will hope to pull away from the bottom three relegation places by seeing off a Barnsley side without an away win to their name this season at Deepdale.

However Darren Ferguson’s men have lost four on home soil so, with that in mind, expect a tight game with both sides settling for a point (5/2 Draw – 90 minutes betting).

Scunthorpe United are brilliant on the road this season with five away wins already in the bag – the latest came in the derby at struggling Hull City on Saturday.

However they have struggled in front of their own fans with just one win and four defeats at Glanford Park.

The Iron will feel confident of improving on those statistics when Middlesbrough arrive in town with the worst away record in the whole country – no wins, a draw and six defeats with only two goals scored so far.

However it is the first away match for Boro since Tony Mowbray took over from Gordon Strachan and the Teessiders will go into the game buoyed by their 2-1 win against fellow strugglers Crystal Palace at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday.

Boro could build on that result by taking advantage of Scunthorpe’s home woes and grab a much-needed point from the tussle (9/4 Boro to earn a draw).

Bottom club Crystal Palace let a one-goal lead slip late on at Boro on Saturday and they will return to Selhurst Park to face Watford on Tuesday.

George Burley has been boosted by the return to fitness of Darren Ambrose and Neil Danns, but they will find it difficult to get anything from a Hornets side which has a great away record with four wins from seven on their travels (Watford 8/5 to make it five away wins).

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Championship rivals irked by Bellamy

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Chairman across the Championship are aggrieved with Manchester City for giving Craig Bellamy to Cardiff City (6/1 – Championship outright) and paying his wages, according to John Ryan.

The Doncaster chairman has criticised the moneybags regime at Eastlands for allowing the 31-year-old striker to go on a season-long loan to Cardiff and continue to pay the majority of his wages.

Bellamy scored one goal and got two assists on his debut at the weekend as the Bluebirds steamrollered Ryan’s Doncaster (16/1 – to be promoted) 4-0.

The Wales striker is on a reported £95,000 a week at City and made the switch to Cardiff despite interest in his services from Premier League sides Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham.

At a time when Championship sides like Doncaster have to scrape around to sign players on the cheap and look to the Premier League to allow younger, unproven footballers to go on loan to them, the details of Bellamy’s deal has irked a number of chairman across the country.

Ryan told the Daily Mail it is not a case of “sour grapes”, as he would have done exactly the same as Cardiff if they had the opportunity, but he is more disappointed with City for allowing the deal to happen under the circumstances it did.

He has claimed that the move is going to “distort the integrity of the Championship” and harm what is an “incredibly competitive division”.

“Handing a striker of Bellamy’s quality to Cardiff – and paying most of his wages – undermines the sanctity of the competition,” added Ryan.

“Manchester City shouldn’t have done that. I feel let down by that, as do many other Championship chairmen.”

“If everyone goes to Cardiff and gets slammed 4-0 like us, the result will be an unfair competition because Manchester City are bankrolling Cardiff’s success.”

Despite Bellamy’s successful debut for the Bluebirds, he has moved to calm down supporters who are expecting him to single-handedly bring success to the club this season.

The striker said he cannot get Cardiff promoted on his own and all the players at the club need to “step up to the plate” if success if to happen to Dave Jones’ men this season.

Cardiff face League One side Peterborough in the Carling Cup on Tuesday and after that travel to face beleaguered Portsmouth (50/1 to win the Championship) on August 28.

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