Today I will be previewing 5/6 of the Championship games. The bets are just my favourite selection from each game- the only bets I’m placing are the 2 bets of the day!
Blackburn v. Hull
10th place Blackburn host a Hull side sat in 20th, 1 point above the drop zone. Rovers have started the season solidly with 9 points in 6 games, only losing once- a 2-1 home defeat to league leaders West From. Hull are on 5 points, winning 1, drawing 2 and losing 3 of their 6 games. Grant McCann’s side have struggled for goals thus far, only scoring 4- all 4 coming in an opening day thumping of Preston. That makes it 5 league games in a row without scoring for the Tigers who will be hoping to buck this particular trend tonight in Lancashire.
Tony Mowbray has his side set up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with holding midfielders Lewis Travis and Joe Rothweill shielding the defence, allowing marauding full backs Harry Pickering and Ryan Nyambe to bomb forward. Chilean Ben Brereton- Diaz has continued where he left off after a fine Copa America, scoring 3 and assisting 1 in his 6 starts this season. Whilst this Rovers squad lacks depth, they have exciting and energetic in Tyrhys Dolan and Reda Khadra who can have impacts on the game off the bench.
BTTS has landed in all 7 of Blackburn’s games in all competitions Recently promoted Hull come into this game off the back of 2 0-0s against two teams who were in the play-offs last season in Bournemouth and then Swansea. Similarly to Mowbray, McCann sets up in a 4-2-3-1. The Tigers have been solidly defensively thus far, having the 3rd best defensive record of teams outside the playoffs. This gives McCann some optimism despite his sides impotency infant of goal. Young ball playing centre back Jacob Greaves has been instrumental in their sturdy defence, with the 21 year old continuing his fine development over the years. Another youngster who has come on leap and bounds is Keane Lewis-Potter, with the 21 year old being involved in 50% of Hulls goals this season.
Hull have picked up 2 yellows in each away game this season Blackburn average 3 yellows per home game- 2nd highest card total in league Referee John Brook averaged 3.25 yellows and 0.15 reds a game last season.
Score Prediction: 1-0 Blackburn
Bet: 20+Booking points each team – 2.38 SkyBet
Blackpool v. Huddersfield
Another team fresh off promotion, 19th place Blackpool welcome 9th place Huddersfield to Bloomfield Road. Blackpool secured their first win back in the championship in impressive style, beating title favourites Fulham 1-0 in front of a jubilant home crowd who will be on fine form again tonight. Huddersfield suffered a tight 2-1 defeat to Stoke last time out and will be hoping this away trip ends in a victory. Critchley favoured a 4-4-2 against Fulham and is likely to favour this formation again. Dribbling maestro Josh Bowler has been a bright spark for the Tangerines, with his 49th minute goal the difference against Fulham. Tough tackling Kevin Stewart and twinkletoes Ryan Wintle provide nice balance in midfield. Goals have been as struggle for Blackpool, with Critchley’s side only scoring 5 goals thus far, only 1 at Bloomfield Road. In fact, only 4 goals have been scored at Bloomfield Road in 3 league games this season.
Huddersfield on the other hand love scoring and conceding goals, with 10 goals scored and 9 against. Their 3 away games has seen them score 4 and concede 4, with BTTS landing in all 3. Huddersfield have been reliant on goals from defence, with Toffolo, Pearson, Sarr and Colwill accounting for half their league goals. Lewis O’Brien and Sorba Thomas have been two of the best players in the league, and will be hoping for a more clinical strike force to finish the abdundance of chances they create.
BTTS has landed every Huddersfield away game BTTS- NO has landed every Blackpool home game
Blackpool average 2 yellow cards per home game
Huddersfield average 2.67 yellow cards per away game
Blackpool average 2.67 cards against in home games
Huddersfield average 1.67 cards against in away games
Huddersfield average 2.50 yellow a game
Blackpool average 2.17 a game (excluding reds)
Referee Thomas Brammel averages 4.66 cards a game this season
Corner Stats: Blackpool games average 10.50 corners a game (11 at home- 3rd most in league)
Huddersfield games average 9.33 corners a game.
Score Prediction: 1-1
Bet: Each team 20+ booking points – 2.50 SkyBet & Over 9.5 asian corners -1.925-Bet365
Bournemouth v. Queens’ Park Rangers
Two of the most entertaining teams in the league lock horns as Bournemouth face off against QPR. Both sides are in the playoff places, with Scott Parkers Bournemouth in 5th and Mark Warbuton’s QPR in 4th. Bournemouth have scored 11 and conceded 5, winning 3 and drawing 3. QPR have the same record (3 wins and 3 draws) but have scored 14 and conceded 8, edging ahead of Bournemouth on goals scored. This has all the makings of a mouthwatering tie.
The Cherries recorded a resounding 3-0 victory over Barnsley on Saturday, restricting visitors to only 2 shots. Goal machine Dom Solanke continued his fine start to the season, notching his 4th. Parker boasts a midfield full of graft and tenacity, with Billing, Pearson and Lerma all not shy of putting a tackle in. The experienced Gary Cahill will be a welcomed arrival in the centre of defence. Bournemouth also boast immense talent out wide, with the Reliable Adam Smith at right back, emerging Jordan Zemura at left back and the talented David Brooks and Jaidon Anthony on the wings. New signings Ryan Christie, Jamal Lowe and Morgan Rogers will all be vying for a spot in an already stacked team. QPR are arguably the most entertaining side to watch in the league, with Saturdays 3-3 draw at Reading testament to their vulnerabilities at the back and attacking potency. With Warbuton favouring a 3-4-1-2, their is plenty of flair and pace in the side, most noticeably from Ilias Chair. Rob Dickie has been the stand out centre back in the league this year, with his ability to drive out of defence a massive help in Warburtons possession football. Charlie Austin, Lyndon Dykes and Andre Gray can all provide goals.
QPR have the most goals in the league – scoring 3 in every single away game
QPR average 4.50 corners a game
Bournemouth average 4.67- 5 per home game
QPR only average 3 per away game
QPR average 7 corners against a game (most in league)
QPR games average 11.50 corners a game
Bournemouth average 9
QPR concede 5.67 corners per away game
Bournemouth concede 4.33 a game
Score Prediction: 2-1 Bournemouth
Bet: Bournemouth to win & BTTS – 3.3 William Hill (available most bookies similar price)
Sheffield United v. Preston
Recently relegated Sheffield United will be hoping to continue the momentum of the 6-2 victory over Peterborough into a home against mid table Preston. Slaviśa Jokanović side have disappointed so far, with the sole victory being the 6-2 drubbing of Peterborough. Before this game, the only league goal had been in the 2-1 home defeat to Huddersfield. After losing their first 3 games of the season, Preston have recovered well, winning 2 and drawing 1 of their last 3 games.
Jokanović showed his tactical versatility against Peterborough changing to a 4-2-3-1 formation, handing Morgan Gibbs White and Illiman Ndiaye first starts. All of the front 4 were involved in at least 2 goals, with Gibbs-White grabbing a goal and an assist, Ndiaye getting 2 goals and an assist, Osborn grabbing 2 goals and club legend Billy Sharp laying on 3 assists for his teammates. After a slow start to the season, this may be a turning point and they will be hoping to continue the momentum in a very winnable home game against Preston.
Frankie McAvoy has steadied the ship after a disastrous opening to the season, losing 4-1 to goal-shy Hull, 2-1 to struggling Reading and 1-0 to defensively weak Huddersfield. This has been followed up by 3 impressive performances. However, the jury is still out for this Preston side. A midfield duo of Ryan Ledson and Ben Whiteman is one of my favourite in the league. Sepp Van Den Berg has impressed after his loan spell from Liverpool and Daniel Iverson has been fantastic in goal. The concern for North End is a lack of out and out goal scorer which may be their downfall this season. It is the worst time to face a Sheffield United side full of confidence, it will take a lot to escape Brammell Lane with any points.
Preston average 4.67 corners against in away games
Sheffield United average 8.33 corners per home game – the highest in the league
Score Prediction: 2-0 Sheffield United
Bet of the day: Sheff Utd Win – over 3 Sheff Utd Corners
Reading v. Peterborough
Two teams who are in the relegation zone face off as Reading host Peterborough. Both teams have the worst defensive record in the league, with Reading conceding 16 and Peterborough conceding 14. Reading have scored 10 to Peterboroughs 6. With both teams wanting a win, this has the makings of an end to end skeptical.
Reading will be disheartened after a 3-3 draw against QPR, conceding in the 79th minute and the 91st minute. To make matters worse, they are without goalkeeper Rafael who injured himself punching a whiteboard after the game. The inexperienced Luke Southwood will step in which is bound to disrupt an already out of sorts defence. In attack, John Swift, Ovie Ejaria and Alen Halovic is an exciting attacking 3, so attack is certainly the best form of defence for Velijko Paunović. Reading haven’t had a goalless first half in 10 games.
Darren Ferguson is a manager prided on his defensive style of play, but this has gone out the window with this Peterborough side. Whilst goals have been hard to come for thus far, he boasts a plethora of attacking talent, with Sirki Dembele, Sammie Szmodics, Joe Ward, Jack Marriott and last seasons top scorer Jonson Clarke- Harris. Fresh off a 6-2 defeat to Sheffield United, Fergsuon will want a quick start to unsettle an expecting Reading crowd.
Over 2.5 goals has landed in 100% of Reading games
Over 2.5 goals has landed in 67% of Peterborough games
BTTS has landed in 5/6 Reading games and 3/6 of Peterborough games
BTTS and over 2.5 has landed in 5/6 Reading games and 3/6 Peterborough
BTTS in both halves has landed in 50% of Reading games
Score Prediction: 2-2
Bet of the day: Over 2.5 goals – 1.86 Paddy Power
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