We preview the midweek English League Championship action that’s taking place this coming Tuesday and Wednesday.
FIFA’s absurd decision to yet again call for a week of international football at the beginning of December has forced the FA to stage midweek Championship fixtures. It’s not the worst thing to ever happen, however, as we now have two sets of fixtures to look forward to this coming week. Anyway, let’s get to the nitty gritty of this piece!
Tuesday 15 August
Birmingham 7/10 | Draw 5/2 | Bolton 38/10 (20:45)
Birmingham bounced back from their opening day defeat to Ipswich Town with a 2-1 home victory over Bristol City. The Blues conceded the first goal of the game but strikes from veteran Craig Gardner and Jaques Maghoma saw the deficit overturned.
Bolton managed to grab a point this past weekend as they held Millwall to a 1-1 draw at The Den. Wanderers are yet to win a game this term, however, and are only averaging half a goal per fixture. Birmingham should bag the three points here looking extremely devoid of ideas once they get in and around the 18-yard area. Get on the home win at 7/10!
Brentford 21/20 | Draw 51/20 | Bristol 9/4 (20:45)
Brentford will be desperate to bag their first points of the campaign when they play host to Bristol City this Wednesday evening. The hosts come into this one off the back of successive defeats, going down 1-0 to Sheffield United in the opening round and 3-4 to Forest this past weekend.
Bristol also come into this one off the back of a defeat as they went down 2-1 to Birmingham. I’m going to avoid the straight win market here and instead go with Both Teams to Score – Yes – at a reasonable 5/10.
Cardiff 19/20 | Draw 47/20 | Sheffield United 26/10 (20:45)
The season’s earlier pacesetters Cardiff City will take on Sheffield United in what looks to be a rather intriguing match. The Welsh outfit made it back-to-back wins this past weekend as they hammered Aston Villa 3-0.
United didn’t fare as well this past gameweek as they went down 1-0 to Middlesbrough. Cardiff have really looked good during the opening salvos of the season and my money is on them making it three victories on the trot. Get on the home win at 19/20!
Barnsley 16/10 | Draw 47/20 | Nottingham Forest 15/10 (20:45)
Barnsley will be looking to claim their first points of the season when they take on an undefeated Nottingham Forest outfit at the Oakwell Stadium. The hosts conceded three goals in their opening two games with Forest shipping the exact same amount.
Both teams have decent goal scoring records and their porous defensive records lead me to believe that we will see goals here. Get on the Totals – Over 2.5 – Goals market at 7/10!
Middlesbrough 9/20 | Draw 31/10 | Burton 11/2 (20:45)
Middlesbrough bounced back from their opening day defeat to Wolves by beating Sheffield United 1-0 in gamweek 2. Burton were unable to get off the mark last week as they suffered their second consecutive defeat going down 4-1 to Hull City. The heavy loss sees them at the foot of the table due to their inferior goal difference.
This should be an absolute walk in the park for Middlesbrough who are not merely a class above their opponents but a few grades. The home win is my banker for the week. And if you’re feeling bold, by all means, have a strike on the Middlesbrough -1 handicap.
Millwall 11/10 | Draw 9/4 | Ipswich Town 49/20 (20:45)
Millwall and Ipswich Town go head-to-head at The Den on Tuesday evening and the hosts will be desperate to register their first win of the season after being held to a 1-1 draw by Bolton. Ipswich enjoyed a much more fruitful gameweek 2 outing as they beat Barnsley 1-2.
I think there’s great value in the away win here. Yes, Millwall have been resolute at home but I feel as though Nottingham have enough firepower to overcome The Lions in their own Den. Get on the away win at a kind 49/20!
Leeds 14/10 | Draw 23/10 | Fulham 7/4 (20:45)
Leeds entertain Fulham in the next Tuesday evening fixture. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 0-0 draw with Preston while the visitors will be a lot more happy with their 1-1 draw with Reading as the result came away from home.
Both sides have been able to conjure up goals this season with Leeds scoring three in their opener and Fulham scoring in both of their first two games. As such, I’m on the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market, which is currently available at a decent enough 13/20.
Hull 31/20 | Draw 2/1 | Wolves 18/10 (20:45)
Wolves will be looking to make it three wins from three outings when they take on Hull City at the KC Stadium this Tuesday. The hosts won’t be pushovers, however, as they are also yet to lose a game this season with the only blip on their record being their opening day 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.
This one is way too tight for me to call. As such, I’m going to avoid the straight win market and back Both Teams to Score – Yes – at a solid 9/10!
Derby County 9/10 | Draw 47/20 | Preston 28/10 (20:45)
Tuesday’s penultimate fixture sees Derby County play host to Preston. The Rams come into this one off the back of a 1-0 loss to QPR, while Preston make the trip off the back of a 0-0 draw with Leeds.
Neither of these two sides have the strongest of strike forces which mean a low-scoring affair should be expected. As such, I’m on the Totals – Under 2.5 – Goals market, which is currently trading at a healthy 7/10.
Reading 18/10| Draw 2/1 | Aston Villa 15/10 (21:00)
Reading and Aston Villa will bring the curtain down on Tuesday night’s action when they square off at the Madejski Stadium. The hosts are yet to register a win this term and come into this one off the back of a 1-1 draw with Fulham.
The visitors are also winless and make the trip having gone down 3-0 to Cardiff City. Villa have to come good at some point and I think Wednesday night may prove to be the turning point in their season. Get on the away win at 15/10!
Wednesday 16 August
Norwich 8/10 | Draw 26/10 | QPR 31/10 (20:45)
Winless Norwich take on QPR this Wednesday night and I seriously cannot understand why they are so short against a QPR side that has performed well above expectation.
The Hoops are yet to taste defeat this term beating Reading 2-0 in the opening round and then drawing away to Sheffield Wednesday. It’s a bit of a speculator but I’m going to throw R20 on the QPR win as I think they are in much better form than Norwich.
Sheffield Wednesday 1/1 | Draw 9/4 | Sunderland 26/10 (20:45)
I’m not going to waste your time with a long winded write up here as 26/10 on the Sunderland win is the best value you’re going to get all season and you really need to get on this market ASAP as it’s likely to disappear quick sticks.
The Black Cats turned the corner last weekend as they beat Norwich 1-3 away from home. I can see them following that result up with a win against a Sheffield side who currently lie 17th on the log.
QUAD TIPPED @ 15/1
Middlesbrough Win 9/20
Birmingham Win 7/10
Hull v Wolves BTTS – Yes 9/10
Sunderland Win 26/10
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
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