The EFL Championship action is coming thick and fast with yet another set of fixtures taking place this weekend, starting with a clash on Friday the 18th of August.
Championship sides across England and Wales are being put through the ringer this week having to play three games in the space of eight days or less. While it’s still early doors in the 2017/18 season, this battle of attrition could see a few sides get a jump on the rest, which could be crucial in both the battles for promotion and to avoid the drop. We’ll take a look at all of the games taking place this coming weekend below.
Friday 18 August
Burton 18/10 | Draw 21/10 | Birmingham 15/10 (20:45)
The first game we’ll look into is Friday night’s tie between Burton and Birmingham. The hosts are yet to pick up a point this season and remain rooted to the foot of the table. Their defence has been shambolic, conceding seven goals at an average of just over two per game. Their attack has been just as bad with the Brewers only able to find the back of the net once in their opening three games.
Birmingham have enjoyed a much more fluid start to the season and sit mid-table, having bagged four points from their opening three fixtures. The Blues will be slightly disappointed with their last outing as they were held to a goalless draw by an unimpressive Bolton outfit. My money is on Birmingham atoning for their uninspired midweek display by bagging the three points against Burton. Get on the away win at 15/10!
Saturday 19 August
Sheffield United 7/10 | Draw 26/10 | Barnsley 37/10 (13:15)
18th-place Sheffield United play host to 17th-placed Barnsley in Saturday’s opening encounter. United come into this one off the back of successive defeats, but it must be noted that they went down to form sides Middlesbrough and Cardiff.
Barnsley, on the other hand, managed to register a victory midweek as they beat Nottingham Forest 2-1. Both of these sides have shipped quite a few goals this season, and both have solid attacking units which is why I’ll be backing Totals – Over 2.5 – Goals market at a healthy 8/10.
Nottingham Forest 43/20 | Draw 9/4 | Middlesbrough 12/10 (16:00)
Fourth-placed Middlesbrough will be looking to make it three wins from four matches when they take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground. Forest have lost just one game this term with their defeat coming against Barnsley midweek.
I quite like the away win here. Middlesbrough looked really good against Burton this past Wednesday and I think they’ll be able to register their second win in the space of four days. Get on the away win at a kind 12/10!
Preston 23/20 | Draw 22/10 | Reading 23/10 (16:00)
Preston will be looking to bounce back from their 1-0 defeat to Derby County when they play host to a Reading side that beat Aston Villa 2-1 in the midweek set of fixtures. That was Reading’s second victory of the season which will have given them a massive confidence boost heading into Saturday’s match.
Preston have only conceded one goal this term and their attack has been rather toothless with the Lillywhites only finding the back of the net once. And while Reading have been far more adventurous on attack, I still think we’ll see another low scorer involving Preston. As such, I’m all over the Totals – Under 2.5 Goals – market, which is currently trading at 15/20.
Bristol City 9/10 | Draw 49/20 | Millwall 11/4 (16:00)
Bristol City will be looking to bag the full three points when they take on a Millwall side who have only managed to claim one point from their opening three games.
Both sides come into this one off the back of high-scoring affairs with Bristol drawing 2-2 with Brentford and Millwall going down 3-4 to Nottingham Forest. I think we are in for another high scorer here, and I’m all over the Totals – Over 2.5 – Goals market at 15/20!
Fulham 8/10 | Draw 26/10 | Sheffield Wednesday 29/10 (16:00)
The Cottagers play host to the Owls in the next game we’ll be taking a look at. The hosts come into this one off the back of a goalless draw against Leeds while the visitors make the trip having drawn 1-1 with a very strong Sunderland side.
I was extremely impressed with Wednesday’s showing against Sunderland, which is why I’m not going to back the straight win here as they are sure to give Fulham a decent game. Instead, I’m backing the Both Teams To Score – Yes – market at 13/20!
Ipswich Town 17/10 | Draw 47/20 | Brentford 14/10 (16:00)
It’s all downhill from here as we pass the midway point of this preview. Saturday’s next 16:00 kick-off sees high-flying Ipswich take lowly Brentford. The Tractor Boys are undefeated thus far and will be looking to bag their fourth win of the campaign while Brentford will be looking to add to their one-point tally.
Ipswich have failed to beat Brentford in the last five fixtures between the sides with Brentford winning twice and the other three games ending in draws. I think that’s set to change this weekend, and I’ll be having a solid strike on the in-form hosts.
Aston Villa 5/4 | Draw 22/10 | Norwich 21/10 (16:00)
Struggling Aston Villa take on Norwich City at Villa Park this Saturday. The Villians have failed to live up to the hype that surrounded them during pre-season as they have only managed to claim one point from their opening three games. Norwich have a lot more to show from their opening three fixtures and currently sit 10th on the log with four points to their names.
Villa have been diabolical thus far and it’s got to the point where I simply cannot back them anymore. I won’t be having a strike on this game as Villa have to bounce back at some point, but for the life of me, I cannot tell you when that will happen. The smart move here is to avoid this game like the plague. If you must have a strike, I recommend backing the away team at 21/10.
QPR 31/20 | Draw 43/20 | Hull City 17/10 (16:00)
Eighth-placed Hull City make the journey to the capital this weekend to take on a QPR side who have enjoyed a much more successful start to the campaign than I expected. The hosts have claimed four points from their first three fixtures, with their only loss to date coming against Norwich this past Wednesday evening.
Hull also come into this one off the back of a midweek defeat as they went down 2-3 to Wolves. I think we may be in for a bit of a goal fest here, which is why I’m leaning towards the Both Teams To Score – Yes – Market, which can be backed at a solid 17/20 at the time of writing.
Bolton 24/10 | Draw 9/4 | Derby 11/10 (16:00)
What was once a staple fixture in the Premier League will be played out in the English second tier this Saturday with Bolton Wanderers locking horns with Derby County. The hosts are yet to win this term but they have registered two draws from their opening three fixtures. Derby have enjoyed a much more profitable start to the 2017/18 season, winning one and drawing one of their three matches.
Derby are unbeaten in their last seven games with Bolton – three have been won by this weekend’s visitors while the other four ended in draws. Get on the away win at just over even money.
Wolves 19/20 | Draw 23/10 | Cardiff 28/10 (16:00)
Pacesetters Cardiff take on second-placed Wolves in what is sure to be an epic encounter. Both of these sides have won their opening three games, with Wolves’ latest victory coming against Hull and Cardiff’s coming against Sheffield United.
You could hold a gun to my head and I still couldn’t tell you who is going to win this one. I’m going to play it safe and back the Both Teams To Score – Yes – market.
Sunderland 27/20 | Draw 22/10 | Leeds 19/10 (18:30)
The final game of what has been a monstrously long Championship week sees Sunderland take on Leeds. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 1-1 away draw to Sheffield Wednesday while the visitors make the trip having drawn 0-0 at home to Fulham.
I quite fancy Sunderland to get the job done here. They will be desperate to claim the three points and keep up with league’s pacesetters. And while Leeds are a quality outfit, I just think Sunderland have a bit more class about them. Get on the home win at 27/20!
TREBLE TIPPED @ 13/2
Bristol v Millwall Over 2.5 Goals – Yes (15/20)
QPR v Hull BTTS – Yes (17/20)
Sunderland Win (27/20)
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
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