Where to put your money this weekend...
Friday October 17, 2014
Rotherham United v Leeds United
Rotherham are 21/20 favourites to claim Yorkshire bragging rights over Leeds on Friday night while the visitors are 5/2 to pick up the three points they need to haul themselves closer to the play-off places. Both sides drew their last Championship games 1-1 prior to the international break and it’s 12/5 about the points being shared at the New York Stadium and 5/1 for the same scoreline. It’s 4/6 that under 2.5 goals are netted in this encounter, while both teams to score is priced at 5/6. Rotherham duo Alex Revell and Matt Derbyshire are 11/2 joint-favourites to open the scoring and 6/4 to net anytime while the visitors’ Soulemane Doukara is 13/2 and 2/1 in the same markets.
Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals at 11/4
Saturday October 18, 2014
Cardiff City v Nottingham Forest
High-flying Nottingham Forest are 19/10 outsiders to maintain their promotion push with a victory in Saturday lunchtime’s televised game at Cardiff. The hosts are 13/10 favourites to triumph in Russell Slade’s first game in charge while the draw can be backed at 12/5. Despite sitting second in the table, Forest haven’t won any of their last four league games but they still remain unbeaten, with three of those draws being goalless. They’ll be hoping to bounce back to winning ways although punters may be tempted by the 15/2 on another goalless encounter. For those expecting goals, Cardiff’s Kenwyne Jones is 11/2 to grab the opener and 6/4 to net anytime, while Nottingham Forest hotshot Britt Assombalonga is shorter at 9/2 and 5/4 in the same market.
Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals at 3/1
Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers
Bottom side Bolton will be hoping Neil Lennon makes an instant impact as their new manager but the Trotters are 11/5 to make his first game in charge with a victory at Birmingham, who are 6/5 to take all three points. Considering Wanderers have lost all five of their Championship away games, a draw will be regarded as a step in the right direction and this result can be backed at 12/5. With Birmingham sitting just two places above the relegation zone, this could be quite a cagey game and it’s 5/6 about there being under 2.5 goals. Birmingham’s Clayton Donaldson is 5/1 to score the first goal and 11/8 to net anytime while Bolton duo Joe Mason and Jermaine Beckford head the betting the visitors.
Top tip: Clayton Donaldson to score first at 5/1
Bournemouth v Charlton Athletic
Bournemouth return to action from the international break looking to pick up where they left off following a 2-1 win at Bolton last time out and the Cherries are priced up as 8/13 favourites to see off Charlton on home soil. The travelling Addicks, who are still unbeaten, have four more points than their opponents and sit four places higher in the table but are nevertheless regarded as 9/2 shots to bag their fifth win of the league season and 14/5 to earn a point. None of Charlton’s last six games have featured more than two goals and it’s 5/6 that this clash follows suit with less than 2.5 scored, while both teams to score is 4/5 . Bournemouth’s two-goal hero at Bolton - Callum Wilson – is 7/2 to strike first on Saturday and 10/11 to score anytime.
Top Tip: Callum Wilson to score a brace at 9/2
Brighton & Hove Albion v Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough are marginal 2/1 outsiders to continue their good run of form with victory at Brighton, who are 11/8 to make home advantage count by taking all three points. Fifth-placed Boro are unbeaten in their last six Championship games although they might find a Seagulls side who have drawn their last four league outings, tough to beat and a share of the spoils is a 9/4 chance. Only four goals have been scored in those last four Brighton games so it’s little surprise to see under 2.5 in this clash as short as 4/7. Seagulls duo Sam Baldock and Craig Mackail-Smith are 6/1 to score first and 7/4 to net anytime, while Kike leads the way for Middlesbrough at the same odds.
Top tip: Kike to score anytime at 7/4
Fulham v Norwich City
Fulham’s mini revival was ended with defeat at Middlesbrough before the international break and they are 19/10 outsiders to return to winning ways against joint Championship leaders Norwich on Saturday and 12/5 to take a point. The Canaries are 11/8 favourites to pick up their seventh win of the campaign and it’s not hard to see why considering they have triumphed in four of their five away games so far this season. Norwich are the highest scoring side in the division with 21 goals from 11 games while Fulham have the worst defence having so far shipped 22 – evidence which may prompt punters into backing the visitors at 6/5 to score two or more and maybe even 4/1 to net three or more. You can get 4/7 about both teams finding the net in the match and 5/4 that at least one side fail to score.
Top tip: Norwich to win and over 2.5 goals in the match at 5/2.
Huddersfield United v Blackpool
Following a 3-0 defeat at the hands of local rivals Leeds, the Terriers are unbeaten in three games and go into this one as 4/5 favourites with Sky Bet. Chris Powell seems to be moving things in a positive direction and will hope to add another three points against the second-bottom Seasiders. The latter can be backed at 15/4 but the draw could be the best option considering Jose Riga’s side have found a bit of form lately with impressive efforts at Middlesbrough and then at home to Cardiff.
Top tip: The draw at 12/5
Ipswich Town v Blackburn Rovers
The Tractor Boys are 21/20 chances for this one at Sky Bet and they reside in the top six of the Championship after an unbeaten run of seven matches. Daryl Murphy has been pretty potent in front of goal during that run and is 9/2 to open the scoring at Portman Road. Old boy Jordan Rhodes returns to face his old club and is 5/1 to score the first goal of the game – he missed a penalty against Huddersfield on his most recent outing. Rovers can be backed at 12/5 and the draw is 5/2.
Top tip: Daryl Murphy to score anytime at 5/4
Millwall v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Wolves boss Kenny Jackett takes his team back to the club where he formerly managed and Sky Bet make the visitors 7/5 to claim the three points. Three of their last five games have ended in a stalemate and that outcome is a 23/10 chance. Millwall have not won in six games and can be backed here at 19/10 with manager Ian Holloway dismissing newspaper reports of instability at the club. Perhaps the international break will have freshened things up and a point each looks the call.
Top tip: The draw at 23/10
Reading v Derby County
This duo met towards the end of last month in the Capital One Cup and it was the Rams who came out on top at home 2-0. That was part of a five-game run for the Royals which has not seen them win and they are 19/10 with Sky Bet to put the record straight. Derby (11/8) last lost a game in the middle of August and are one of the form teams of the division in fourth place. Bar the goalless draw with Millwall last time, Derby have goals in them while Reading’s matches also seem to contain plenty of action so another exciting encounter looks on the cards.
Top tip: Back over 2.5 goals at 4/5
Sheffield Wednesday v Watford
It has been a turbulent couple of weeks for the Hornets and they are 11/5 chances with Sky Bet to get off to a winning start under new manager Slavisa Jokanovic. This could be quite a stern test though as Wednesday have been in pretty good nick bar a 7-0 Capital One Cup defeat at the hands of Manchester City. The Owls can be backed at 6/5 with the draw trading at 12/5 and this looks quite a tough one to call. With Jokanovic still likely to be finding out about his new side, it could just pay to side with a cagey outcome.
Top tip: Back under 2.5 goals at 4/5
Wigan Athletic v Brentford
You have to go back to the end of August to find the last time Wigan won a game but Sky Bet still make them most likely to come out on top here at even-money. Brentford can be backed at 11/4 and it seems to be boom-or-bust with them at the moment with form figures of WWLLWLW over their last seven League games. The Bees could just be worth an interest in Sky Bet’s Double Chance market at 8/11 until their hosts start to show a bit more.
Top tip: Brentford in the Double Chance market at 8/11.