Championship betting tips: Sunderland to slip up, Blackburn to bounce back
Matchday 38 is upon us, and with every passing game the stakes get even higher in this ever-chaotic Championship season.
On Friday, Bristol City host Norwich City in what should be a cracker, before Leeds United travel to Queens Park Rangers and Coventry City welcome Sunderland on Saturday.
Sunday then sees the battle of the Sheffields as Wednesday and United clash at Hillsborough.
Sports News Blitz resident Championship tipster Ethan Pitts picks a handful of the best bets ahead of the action.
Bristol City vs Norwich City
We start the weekend by travelling down to Bristol for a Friday-night encounter that has all the minerals to decide a future play-off place.
Bristol City have been somewhat of a success story this season under Liam Manning.
In the past, they have always had the ability to mount a play-off push, but the consistency has never really been on song. However, is this the year we finally see the Robins grab their chance at Premier League football?
Currently sitting in 7th, Bristol have drawn or won in nine out of their last 10 Championship matches, and I can’t see this trend coming to an end on Friday.
Norwich come into this game in a bad run of form, though, winless in six out of their last seven matches. A recent lack of consistency from the Canaries means their play-off hopes now hang in the balance.
My second selection here is based on analysis of both teams’ corner games.
In their last four home matches, Bristol City have played with an attacking freedom that has resulted in a higher volume of corners. Ultimately, this has allowed them to have more corners than their opponents in each of those games.
Adding on to this, Norwich have had the least corners in a game in seven out of their last eight away matches.
Suggested bet: Bristol City to draw or win and have the most corners at 1/1 (Bet365)
Coventry City vs Sunderland
Next, we head down to the Midlands as Coventry City play host to promotion-chasing Sunderland.
What a turnaround Coventry have had under Frank Lampard.
No matter the opinion you have of the former Chelsea midfielder, there is no doubting his credentials as a manager at this level. After he led Derby County to the play-offs last time, could history repeat itself?
Coventry have won six out of their last seven games at home, and Lampard has made the Coventry Building Society Arena a fortress again.
On the other hand, Sunderland have fallen off a little in recent times. The Mackems have only won two out of their last five, losing ground in their hunt for an automatic promotion place.
This will be a tight game and truth be told it could go either way. However, I can’t not back the Sky Blues in this instance at such generous odds.
Suggested bet: Coventry City to win at 13/8 (888sport and Betfair)
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Plymouth Argyle vs Derby County
After that, we see Plymouth Argyle play host to Derby in what promises to be a huge game at the bottom of the Championship table.
As the season starts to wind down, it’s becoming more and more apparent who is likely to be at risk of relegation.
Both teams have picked up some massive results in recent times, which has shaken up the relegation battle immensely.
Plymouth have only lost five times at home this season – a surprise considering their current league position – while Derby have only won one game away from home all season.
The hosts are coming off the back of a huge win away to Portsmouth and are taking on a team that haven’t won away since November.
For those reasons, the odds of Plymouth winning seem incredibly tasty this weekend.
Suggested bet: Plymouth Argyle to win at 2/1 (William Hill and Betfred)
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Blackburn Rovers vs Cardiff City
To conclude, a struggling Cardiff City side travel down to Ewood Park, with both sides in desperate need of three points.
This last month has been massively damaging to both sides.
Cardiff haven’t won in four games and now sit just one point above the relegation zone. On the other hand, Blackburn’s play-off ambitions currently hang by a thread after no wins in four.
Indeed, Blackburn remain without a win under new manager Valerien Ismael.
They do, however, rank in the top 10 for home form this season and face a team who have won just the one game away from home all term.
Cardiff recently lost to a Luton Town side who had only accumulated five points on the road up to then and that will have psychologically decimated them.
The odds of Blackburn beating a weak and depleted Cardiff side are very appealing. Simply put, there is no better chance for Ismael to open up his winning account as manager.
Suggested bet: Blackburn Rovers to win at 11/10 (William Hill and 888sport)
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