We preview gameweek 2 of the 2017/18 English Football League Championship season.
It wasn’t the start we were looking for football fans as results really didn’t go our way in the opening round. A new week brings with it new hope, however, and at least last week gave us a chance to see all 24 sides in action.
A few impressed while others struggled to shake off the off-season cobwebs. With a week’s worth of game time under their belts, I’m expecting big responses from the likes of Aston Villa and Sunderland.
Saturday 12 August
Birmingham 29/20 | Draw 22/10 | Bristol 18/10
We kick off gameweek 2’s action with a match between Birmingham City and Bristol City. The visitors come into this one off the back of an exceedingly impressive 3-1 victory over Barnsley while the hosts got their campaign off to a less than ideal start as they went down by a 1-0 score line to Ipswich Town.
Yes, Bristol were good last week but Birmingham at home will pose a much stiffer test than Bristol did. I think we could see the Blues bounce back in front of what will be a vociferous St Andrews crowd. Get on the home win at 29/20!
Hull 6/10 | Draw 26/10 | Burton 17/4
Next up is a tie between Hull City and Burton. The Tigers got their campaign off to a solid start as they drew 1-1 with highly fancied Aston Villa at Villa Park. There match levelling goal came courtesy of young gun, James Bowen, who levelled the score in the 62nd minute. Burton didn’t experience as great a weekend as Hull, with the Brewers going down by a goal to nil in their opening match against Cardiff City.
Burton looked rather toothless this week and I think they will struggle against the razor-sharp Tigers. My advice here is to have a proper go on the home win at a kind 6/10.
Brentford 8/10 | Draw 26/10 | Forest 29/10
Brentford will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United when they take on a Nottingham Forest side, who downed Millwall 1-0 last weekend.
Forest were by no means impressive last time out but they still managed to get over the line against Millwall. Brentford also looked rather limp last week which is why I’m inclined to back the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market. Get on at 11/10.
Reading 24/10 | Draw 51/20 | Fulham 19/20
Reading got their campaign off to a nightmarish start with a 56th minute Tiago Llori red card ending any hopes of them overturning QPR’s one goal lead last weekend. The former Liverpool man’s sending off allowed QPR to bag a second goal as his infringement led to a penalty being awarded. Fulham, while not quite getting the perfect result to start off with, they did manage to salvage a point from their opener as they drew 1-1 with Norwich.
Fulham are extremely short here and I’m not too sure why. Yes, Reading didn’t exactly sparkle last week but hey had every chance of turning the game around before their centre half was dismissed. I’m going to stick my neck out here and back Reading to produce the goods at 24/10.
Sheffield Wednesday 15/20 | Draw 5/2 | QPR 34/10
Sheffield Wednesday are awfully short for a side who went down 1-0 to Preston last week. I mean Preston is hardly a name that strikes fear into opposition sides, now is it? QPR also don’t really deserve to have such a large price affixed to them as while they did play against ten men for a third of match against Reading last week, they still looked a more competent bunch than I had predicted in my season preview.
I hate when the books go short on a side as it just adds an element of doubt to my thought process. This game, mainly due to the crazy prices, is one in which I will be avoiding the outright market. Instead, I’m going to back the Totals – Over 2.5 Goals – market at solid enough 19/20. I just have this gut feeling that we will see goals in this one.
Cardiff 15/10 | Draw 2/1 | Aston Villa 18/10
Ah Aston Villa, how you let me down last week. The Villains were my absolute banker and they somehow conspired to be held to a 1-1 draw with Hull. Cardiff got the campaign off to a much brighter start as they beat Burton 0-1 away from home.
The Welsh team looked extremely strong at the back, only allowing Burton three sights at goal. I think this one is destined to end in a draw as both sides have strong defences. Get on the stalemate at 2/1!
Derby 5/4 | Draw 2/1 | Wolves 9/4
Both Derby and Wolves come into this one off the back of solid results with the hosts holding Sunderland to a draw at the Stadium of Light and the visitor getting a win over a much-fancied Middlesbrough outfit.
I can’t separate these two sides so I’m going to avoid the straight win market and revert to one of the exotics. My tip – Totals Under 2.5 goals market, which is available at 11/20.
Millwall 19/20 | Draw 23/10| Bolton 11/4
Millwall and Bolton clash at The Den this Saturday in what is likely to be a rather tight affair. The hosts come into this fixture off the of a 1-0 away loss to Forest while the visitors make the trip having gone down 2-3 to leads in the highest scoring game of the opening week. Both teams look rather frail at the back which is why I’m inclined to back the Totals – Over 2.5 Goals – market at even money.
Barnsley 14/10 | Draw 43/20 | Ipswich 37/20
Barnsley will be looking to bounce back from their 3-1 defeat to Bristol City when they take on an Ipswich side that beat Birmingham 1-0 last week.
I really wasn’t impressed by Barnsley last week. They let Bristol’s midfield run riot and some of their defending was atrocious. As such, I’m all over the Ipswich win at 37/20!
Leeds 1/1 | Draw 9/4 | Preston 26/10
Saturday’s penultimate fixtures will see Leeds United play host to Preston North End. The hosts got their season off on the right foot as they ran out 2-3 victors away to Bolton Wanderers.
Preston also managed to register a win in the opening gameweek, beating Sheffield Wednesday 1-0.
I quite fancy the Leeds win at even money. They showed a lot of spirit last week and they should be a much tougher prospect at home.
Middlesbrough 9/10 | Draw 23/10 | Sheffield United 31/10
I’m going to keep this one short and sweet as I can only see a Boro victory here. Yes, Middlesbrough failed to impress last week going down 1-0 to Wolves but they are still a quality outfit, who should have little trouble dispatching of a limited Sheffield United side. Back the home win at 9/10!
Sunday 13 August
Norwich 8/10 | Draw 51/20 | Sunderland 31/10
Our final fixture of gameweek 2 sees Norwich take on Sunderland. The Canaries come into this one having drawn 1-1 with Fulham in the opening gameweek, while the Black Cats make the trip off the back of identical result against Derby. This is mainly based on price than anything else but I’m going to have a flutter on the away win at 31/10 as a small stake could net a decent profit.
DOUBLE TIPPED @ 26/10
Leeds Win 1/1
Middlesbrough Win 9/10
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
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