Wigan Athletic v Charlton Athletic
Buoyed by Tuesday night’s 1-0 win at Reading, Wigan are a shade of odds-on at 10/11 to make it back-to-back victories against 3/1 shots Charlton on Friday night. The draw is 5/2. Charlton also snapped a long winless streak in their last game, running out impressive 3-0 winners over Brentford, so both sides should be feeling confident here. Over 2.5 goals has collected in Charlton’s last three games and two of Wigan’s last three.
Top tip: Over 2.5 goals at 11/10
Middlesbrough v Leeds United
Middlesbrough host Leeds in front of the Sky Sports cameras on Saturday after moving top of the Sky Bet Championship with a 1-1 draw at Birmingham on Wednesday night. Boro are the odds-on favourites at 8/15 for the victory but they will have to be wary of a resurgent Leeds, who can be backed at 5/1. The draw is on offer at 3/1. Leeds have won four of their last five games and 11 of their previous 12 matches have seen under 2.5 goals. Eight of Boro’s last 11 matches have contained under the 2.5 goals mark so there’s no doubt about the top tip.
Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 4/5
Blackburn Rovers v Blackpool
Blackburn are feeling good after reaching the quarter-finals of the FA Cup last weekend. Rovers are the 1/2 favourites for victory at home to bottom-of-the-table Blackpool on Saturday as they look to make it three home wins on the spin. The Seasiders can be supported at 5/1 for the three points and the draw is on offer at 3/1. Blackpool drew 4-4 with Nottingham Forest in an incredible match last time out and that followed on from a 7-2 defeat at Watford last month. Goals have followed the Seasiders around recently so have a look at the 12/1 for six or more goals to be scored in this contest.
Top tip: Six or more goals to be scored at 12/1
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth
Brentford host Bournemouth on Saturday in an interesting clash between two teams with aspirations of winning promotion from the Sky Bet Championship. Visitors Bournemouth are the 11/10 favourites for the three points, Brentford can be backed at 11/5 and the draw is on offer at 5/2. Brentford’s form has stuttered in recent weeks with two defeats suffered in a row after a 1-0 victory at Leeds. Bournemouth are unbeaten in four matches but their last two outings have ended in draws. This could be close so the draw might pay out again.
Top tip: The draw at 5/2
Brighton and Hove Albion v Birmingham City
Brighton are the 11/10 favourites to beat Birmingham on Saturday and claim a vital three points in the battle for Sky Bet Championship survival. Blues can be supported at 12/5 for the win and the draw is on offer at the same price. Both of Brighton’s last two matches have finished without a goal and Birmingham have drawn four of their previous five games, two of them ending 0-0. The 0-0 draw this weekend can be backed at 9/1.
Top tip: A 0-0 draw at 9/1
Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday
Promotion-chasing Derby will be keen to get back to winning ways after Sky Bet Championship draws either side of an FA Cup defeat to Reading. The Rams are 8/13 in this one, with Sheffield Wednesday 9/2 and the draw 14/5. The Owls have won three and lost three of their last six away games in this division. Derby did the double over Wednesday last season without conceding a goal, while the sides played out a goalless draw in August.
Top tip: Both teams to score – No at 5/6
Huddersfield Town v Cardiff City
Huddersfield sit safely in mid-table but have plotted an unpredictable path with impressive wins and disappointing defeats all mixed together. One feature recently has been goals – both teams have scored in the Terriers’ last four games. Cardiff have followed a run of three league defeats with one of three draws. They’re 11/10 to lose this one and 12/5 to draw it, with a win available at the same price.
Top Tip: Both teams to score at 8/11
Ipswich Town v Reading
Ipswich got back on track after a three-game winless run with successive 2-1 victories of Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham. They’re evens to make it three wins in a row as they continue their bid to return to the Premier League against FA Cup quarter-finalists Reading. The visitors are 13/5 and the draw 5/2. Reading have been on a solid recent run with just three defeats in the last 12, but they have often reserved their best for cup competitions; three of their six wins in that run have been in the FA Cup.
Top tip: The draw at 12/5
Millwall v Fulham
Millwall are the 7/5 favourites for victory at home to Fulham on Saturday. The Lions sit in the Sky Bet Championship relegation places but have enjoyed success recently with two 1-0 wins claimed during their last four games. Fulham can be backed at 17/10 for the win and the Cottagers will be desperate to stop Millwall closing the gap to them in the Championship survival fight. The draw is a 12/5 chance. Fulham are without a win in their last six matches but it’s interesting to note that eight of their previous nine contests have seen both teams score. You can get 8/11 for both sides to net at the Den.
Top tip: Both teams to score at 8/11
Nottingham Forest v Bolton Wanderers
Nottingham Forest are the 10/11 favourites for victory at home to Bolton on Saturday afternoon. The visiting Trotters can be supported at 11/4 and the draw is priced up by Sky Bet at 5/2. Forest are unbeaten in three matches under new manager Dougie Freedman and were involved in an entertaining 4-4 draw at Blackpool last time out. Bolton lost 4-3 at home to Watford in their previous encounter and there have been 16 goals in Wanderers’ last three games. Have a look at over 4.5 goals at 9/2.
Top tip: Over 4.5 goals at 9/2
Watford v Norwich City
There is plenty at stake when Watford host Norwich at Vicarage Road on Saturday. Both clubs have serious promotion ambitions and it isn’t a surprise to see very little between them in the betting. Norwich are slight 6/4 favourites for the win, Watford can be backed at 8/5 and the draw is on offer at 12/5. Watford have won their last three matches on the spin and Norwich have the same record with three victories from their previous three outings. Expect there to be plenty of action and you can get 12/1 for both teams to score in both halves of the match.
Top tip: Both teams to score in both halves at 12/1
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rotherham United
Wolves are in danger of slipping out of the play-off picture after taking just five points from their last five games, but their one win in that run was an eye-catching 4-1 success at Huddersfield. They’re 5/6 to get the better of another Yorkshire side on Saturday, with the Millers 16/5 and the draw 13/5. Rotherham have been in some entertaining games recently, with a 4-2 win and 3-3 draw on the ledger in the last five alongside an impressive 2-0 win over Ipswich.
Top tip: Over 4.5 goals at 11/2
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