There are nine games taking place in the Championship on Tuesday, with all of the top four sides in action. The top two teams in the division, Southampton and West Ham, will both be confident of picking up points from home – but nearest-challengers Crystal Palace will be hot on their heels. Here’s our suggestions for a Championship treble …
Crystal Palace v Portsmouth
Dougie Freedman’s Eagles are the surprise package of the Championship, with Palace currently sitting pretty in third after collecting 24 points from their opening 14 games.
It’s all the more remarkable when you consider they were fighting to stave off relegation last term and lost their best player, Neil Danns, during the summer. Palace have lost just one of their seven home games to date, a tight affair to Middlesbrough in September, and have conceded just five goals at Selhurst Park.
They face a Portsmouth team still without a permanent manager following Steve Cotterill’s switch to Nottingham Forest. Pompey are yet to win on their travels this term and go into Tuesday’s game off the back of a 3-1 defeat at Derby.
Neither side are prolific in front of goal, but Carling Cup quarter-finalists Palace are a difficult side to break down and are likely to grind down the visitors and claim another crucial three points.
Suggested Bet: Palace to win @ 11/10
Barnsley v Hull
Hull are on a role and go into this Yorkshire derby unbeaten in their last nine games, a run which has seen them move into the play-off places. The Tigers have looked better away from home than they have at the KC Stadium, with Nigel Pearson’s men looking like promotion contenders.
A 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest on Saturday was the Tigers third away win of the season and Hull have only lost one of seven games on their travels. This away run comes after a record-breaking unbeaten spell on their travels last term and Pearson’s men are masters of hitting teams on the break.
Barnsley had shown signs of real progress last month, but back-to-back defeats have hit the Tykes hard, especially Saturday’s last-gasp home loss to Bottom club Bristol City. Keith Hill’s men appear to lack a real cutting edge up front and although they are heading in the right direction, Hull look too strong and can further enhance their promotion hopes.
Suggested Bet: Half-Ttime/Full-Time – Draw/Hull @ 9/2
Millwall v Coventry
Many will have been surprised by the Lions poor start to the season, but Kenny Jackett looks to have got his team back on track. Millwall are unbeaten in their last four games, including back-to-back wins over Ipswich and Leicester.
The departure of Steve Morison was a big loss and Millwall struggled for goals early season, but they have bagged nine goals in their last four matches. Darius Henderson has made big impact in recent weeks and the Lions have moved out of the bottom three up to 17th.
In contrast, Coventry have won just one of their last eight league games and look set for a relegation scrap this season. There were signs of encouragement in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Doncaster, but goals still remain a problem with just four in seven games on their travels.
Suggested Bet: Millwall to win @ 8/11
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