Our football writer previews the English Football League Championship round 29 action which kicks off on Saturday 27 January 2018.
The English Championship will resume on Saturday with just four clashes taking place due to the fourth round of the FA Cup. Not to worry, another seven matches are set for Tuesday so there is plenty of action coming our way. Let’s keep the chit-chat to a minimum and get stuck in.
Saturday 27 January
Brentford 19/20 | Draw 51/20 | Norwich 49/20 (17:00)
Brentford and Norwich will square off on Saturday in what promises to be a cracking contest. The Bees have won five of their last six matches and are unbeaten on their ground since the opening match of the season, a run of 13 games.
Norwich are coming off a disappointing 2-1 home defeat against Sheffield and will be hoping to come good. Brentford won the reverse leg 2-1 and are tipped to pull the double over the Canaries.
Barnsley 51/20 | Draw 51/20 | Fulham 19/20 (17:00)
Barnsley are without a win on their grounds in six matches and will be desperate to turn that form around. Fulham are undefeated in their last six games with five wins, including three on the spin, scoring 11 goals without reply.
The Cottagers are unbeaten against Barnsley in the last five meetings with four wins and will be keen to build on that. Get on the away win.
Bristol City 17/20 | Draw 49/20 | QPR 29/10 (17:00)
Bristol City are winless in their last four matches with three losses, including back-to-back defeats on home soil. QPR were hammered 3-0 in front of their own fans by a rampant Middlesbrough side last time out but have set up defensively on the road this term.
Four of the last five meetings between these sides have produced Under 2.5 goals. I suggest following the trend and firing at 17/20.
Ipswich 17/4 | Draw 51/20 | Wolves 13/20 (17:00)
Ipswich find themselves hanging in the balance in 12th place on the standings due to a lack of consistency. They will take on log-leaders Wolves, who have dropped points two weeks in a row but given their excellent away record this term, the Wanderers are expected to bounce back strong. The last four meetings have seen three goalless draws and a 1-0 victory for Wolves in the corresponding fixture. It just might be worth a punt having a go on the Under 2.5 Goals market at 13/20 but I prefer backing a straight Wolves win.
Tuesday 30 January
Hull City 23/20 | Draw 9/4 | Leeds 23/10 (21:45)
Hull City are without a win in their last seven matches with four defeats and three draws. Leeds have been poor in recent weeks with three losses from their last four matches, including back-to-back defeats in the process.
This one looks set to go down to the wire with a cagey 90 minutes of football expected. The sides are tipped to cancel each other out.
Birmingham 11/10 | Draw 2/1 | Sunderland 26/10 (21:45)
Birmingham are placed second from bottom on the log with just six wins from 28 matches. Sunderland are just a point above their opponents which makes for an enticing early relegation-battle between the sides.
This one can go either way but I’m backing Birmingham to utilize home advantage and get the job done at even money.
Middlesbrough 6/10 | Draw 26/10 | Sheffield Wed. 9/2 (21:45)
Middlesbrough have been poor on home soil of late with back-to-back defeats, but are coming off an impressive 3-0 win away to QPR. Sheffield Wednesday are without a win in their last four games with two defeats.
The Boro have won the last four meetings against the Owls and will be looking to build on that. The home win is the way to go.
Millwall 16/10 | Draw 2/1 | Derby 17/10 (21:45)
Millwall are off the back of a seven-goal thriller, edging Leeds 4-3 at Elland Road Stadium. The Lions are unbeaten in their last six home games but that will mean very little here as Derby are undefeated in their last 10 travels.
The last five matchups between the sides have seen 16 goals scored at an average of 3.2 per game. Get on the Over 2.5 goals market at 12/10.
Nottingham 31/20 | Draw 21/10 | Preston 7/4 (21:45)
Nottingham were brilliant last time out, putting runaway leaders Wolves to the sword with a 2-0 victory. However, their record at home has been dismal of late, suffering three straight defeats, conceding five goals without scoring.
Preston, on the other hand, are winless in their last three games but are unbeaten in their last six travels. The last three meetings between these sides have ended in 1-1 draws and another stalemate is on the cards.
Sheffield Utd 5/4 | Draw 2/1 | Aston Villa 23/10 (21:45)
Sheffield United are off the back of a hard-earned 2-1 win away to Norwich but have managed just one win from their last six home games. High-flying Aston Villa have won four matches on the spin, scoring 10 goals and conceding just once.
Neither side have had much problem in finding the back of the net this season. And with that being said, the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market is there for the taking at 9/10.
Burton Albion 37/20 | Draw 2/1 | Reading 15/10 (21:45)
Basement-dwellers Burton Albion have been dreadful with back-to-back losses, scoring once and conceding nine times, including a 6-0 defeat at Fulham last time out. Reading are without a win in their last eight matches with five defeats.
It’s a difficult one to call but looking at past head-to-heads there has been plenty of goals exchanged between these sides – 18 goals in four meetings – at an average of 4.5 per game. The Over 2.5 Goals market should be taken at a generous 12/10.
TREBLE TIPPED @ 7/1
Brentford Win 19/20
Sheffield Utd vs Aston Villa BTTS 9/10
Burton Albion vs Reading Over 2.5 Goals 12/10
