In a balanced Championship edition, Leicester are 19th after 18 games played, but having only 5 points less than their opponents, despite being separated by 11 places in the standings. This says a lot about the balance from this league. They are coming after an away defeat against Bristol City and they are looking to bounce back against Forest tomorrow. Striker Roman Bednar was loaned from WBA and could make his debut tomorrow. Also, ex Liverpool goalkeeper, Chris Kirkland, was loaned from Wigane and he’s looking forward to getting his career back on track. Their main scorer this season, Andy King, is a big doubt, but they are hopeful to recover him in time.
Play off material
Nottigham Forest is having a decent season so far being settled in the play off zone. They have lost only 3 times this season and this could have guarantee them a higher position, but they can’t find the ways to win too often. They are the masters of draws so far, drawing in half of their games played so far (9 out of 18). They’ve managed to conclude maybe the biggest Championship transfer so far, signing Arsenal’s Aron Ramsey in a loan deal. He is fit to play and will make his debut tomorrow, along with another loan signing, Marcus Tudgay from Sheffield Wednesday. Their last game was a morale boosting away win at Cardiff and they will have Nathan Tyson and Kelvin Wilson back, compared to the trip to Cardiff. Blackstock, McGoldrick and Darlow are definitely out, while McKenna, Anderson, Moloney and Earnshaw are doubtful.
A tight game
These two teams are more or less equal, with a plus for Forest. The visitors will be boosted by their Cardiff win and Ramsey’s arrival and I doubt they will fail to recover at least 2 of their doubtful players. Under these circumstances, they are able to put a very strong challenge at Leicester and I don’t understand why the hosts are made such a favorite. A bet on Forest not to lose looks very decent under these circumstances, but not more than small-medium stakes, since Championship is well known as a league where logic and common sense don’t come together too often.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2 AH (+0.5)
Odd: 1.85
Bookie: Pinnacle
Coventry’s fans are probably satisfied with the previous part of their season and the job Aidy Boothroyd hads done during a very short period of time, even though there has been a question whether his hiring was the right move or not, so it seems they could turn into a team that is fighting for the playoffs from a team that has been battling to avoid relegation in the past seasons. They’re currently in the 9th spot, with 2 points less than the 6th places side of the league since they’ve won 18 points in the previous part of the season. Their current form is really good as well, as their squhas recorded 2 wins over the past 3 matches, losing their only game to Cardiff in the very ending of the game.
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Huge problems on the road
Unlike the home team,it’s really hard to say that Barnsley’s fans are happy with their current team’s spot in the standings. Over the past few seasons, Barnsley had quite a few problems on the road and it seems like Mark Robins has still not managed to figure that problem out as his side is winless on the road since February. That means Barnsley mostly has to rely on their home form, which is obviously too much for this squad. Moreover, what’s worse, is that their side easily drops down after conceding the first goal in their matches, and the best proof for that is the clash against Burnley, when they conceded 3 goals during the 2nd half over a very short period of time. The South Yorkshire side has been known as one of the main candidates to relegate to a lower division before the start of the season and there’s no doubt their season will be very hard if their season on the road won’t improve soon.
The hosts are huge favs
A home win is expected in this clash. Barnsley hasn’t defeated Coventry in the past 77 years and when we add their horrible form on the road to that, we get only one conclusion – home win.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-0.5)
Odd: 2.02
Bookie: Pinnacle
Swansea has become recognized for their attractive football style in the past couple of seasons and when they lost Paulo Sousa duri9ng the summer, there was a question about would that style be changed. What was even more worrying Is the fact Brendan Rogers had a desperate period as a manager still managed to learn his lesson and Swansea fans are currently very happy as their club is heading into the right direction. Stephen Dobbie and Scott Sinclair have scored 9 goals so far in the previous part of the season and that’s one of the main reasons of their previous success. In their last 8 matches, Swansea was defeated only one and in their last clash they’ve drawn against QPR, so it can be expected the Swans will enter this clash full of confidence.
Reborn
Leicester has slowly started climbing in the standings after their catastrophic start of the season. Ever since Paulo Sousa had left the club, the Foxes had won 7 points in 3 matches and that’s a significant improvement for a team that was in the last place in the standings at one point. Sven-Goran Eriksson still has a lot of work, but it’s very easy to see their performance has improved drastically. Their new acquisition, Darius Vassell, will probably not play as he isn’t fully ready, while Matty Fryatt and Llotd Dyer could return to the starting lineup after their suspension and the return from the injuries.
Potential surprise
Swansea is one of the rare sides that haven’t lost a single match on their home field so far, but that statistic could easily change the course of this match. Swansea is having an excellent season but the visitors are arriving full of confidence and with a new manager, so they can easily get back home undefeated from this away game.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2 AH (+0.5)
Odd: 1.76
Bookie: 188bet
Everyone knew that the relegation fight for Crystal Palace would be a very rough task for any manager this season. The club has survived the last summer somehow and whoever arrived to work as their manager knew he’d have to work with limited resources on board. George Burley took the job, maybe due to the fact his reputation dropped after a failure with Scottish national team but he does have solid experience at this level no matter their results weren’t too good, so it’s hard to believe anyone else could’ve achieved more. With the budget Burley’s got, it’s clear why the squad is mostly composed of the youngsters. Although this young side has got quality, the lack of experience and huge oscillations in their performances are obvious. After a draw against Cardiff, a loss to QPR had followed in the added time, which indicates they’re a side lacking experience.
Not enough quality on the bench
Milwall’s starting lineup is very good for this level of competition but what does represent a problem for them is the fact they don’t have enough quality subs on the bench. When the injuries and suspensions take their toll at one point, or when their best players are out of form, Milwall enters huge problems. Manager Kenny Jackett is aware about this situation and will try to strengthen the squad with the loans from some EPL clubs, but isn’t in a hurry to do that. A 2-week break certainly gave enough time for their team to regroup and refresh. Kevin Lisbie and Darren Carter will probably return to the squad, while the striker Steve Morison has traveled with the Welsh national squad, but didn’t start the match. Milwall is physically and mentally very tough squad, and that’s always necessary for recording a good result in the local derby.
The visitors have the better team
Millwall has got the better squad than their hosts, plus they’ll be supported by about 5,000 away fans. Although their recent form wasn’t too great, it seems like they’re more than capable of recording a win this time. They have a good record at the Selhurst, in the last 5 league matches recording 3 wins, while their last meeting ended as a draw.
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Prediction:
Tip: 2
Odd: 2.85
Bookie: Pinnacle
Reading has started the season in a solid way and will surely be contenders in the playoff race the next spring. This weekend they will face Swansea who is also fighting for a promotion spot. Reading is undefeated in their last 4 matches they played at the Madejski Stadium, recording 3 consecutive wins against Crystal palace, Barnsley and Ipswich, while Nottingham Forest managed to snatch a point. In the previous part of the season, Kebe showed the most of all scoring 4 goals, while his biggest support has been McAnuff and Howard.
Bad away
Swansea has also started out well but their solid position in the standings is only due to their great home form, where they took 13 points so far. On the road, the Swans have been desperate, recording only one win so far, against Watford three weeks ago. Before that clash, they haven’t recorded a win for 8 consecutive matches scoring only 4 goals during that time. Striker Dobbie and midfielder Scott Sinclair scored 4 goals each in the previous part of the season, and will represent a big threat to the hosts’ defense in this class.
A continuation of the runs
There are a few teams that one should never bet when playing as hosts, and Reading is one of them. Reading is playing really well at home, while the visitors are horrible on the road, so I see this one as a nice moneymaking opportunity.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1
Odd: 2.20
Bookie: 888sport
Cardiff has always been a dominant home team,but this season they are much likely to be a `typical` home team. They are almost unbeatable in Wales having had both of their losses away from home,which were back to back defeats. Craig Bellamy is very likely to miss 3rd straight game along with midfielder Olofinjana. Jay Bothrody,however,did not stop the engines regardless of who he`s partnered. Andrew Keogh is likely to partner him up-top,meaning that Cardiff still has a lot to replace their absentees.
Burley`s side looks too short
Crystal Palace have snapped their 2 games unbeaten run this weekend by a 5 goal defeat to Derby County. Things have not gone better for Palace since weekend : Last seasons top scorer Darren Ambrose has been joined by this season`s top scorer James Vaugham in absent list. Vaughan will miss cause he`s suspended. These two absentees will leave Palace too short up-top and will make their task even tougher against Cardiff who conceded just 7 goals so far this season and seem to have built a good partnership at the back.
A clear home win.
Both teams have missings but hosts have a lot to replace. Moreover,hosts are on a better run,made a better start to season and the hosts have the quality on their side. With no potent threat up-top,Palace look nowhere near being competitive for a win against Cardiff in Wales.
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 AH (-1)
Odd: 2.00
Bookie: StanJames
QPR had a great start and are currently 1st after 8 matches, having 7wins and 1 draw. Their goal difference is 22:2 and that is very impressive for the Championship. At home they have played 4 matches and have won them all with goal difference of 12:0. Now they meet a strange side in Millwall and i expect from QPR to continue their dominance in this match by winning comfortably.
Millwall with good start.
Millwall had a good start of the season, they won their 1st 2 games with goal difference of 7:0. However since then they play on ups and downs, they are currently 4 matches without a win in the Championship including a very bad loss at home to Watford 1:6 which will still be in their minds and the team overall is currently low on confidence as they were eliminated from the cup and haven`t won for 4 matches in the Championship.
QPR to win comfortably
I expect a comfortable win for QPR, they made a terrific start in the Championship and look like they are on their way to the Premiership if they continue to dominate like this. Neil Warnock is doing a great job there and i expect from him to take them up. Many of the other favorites are underperforming at the moment and losing points so now is the moment for his team to get a good advantage on the 1st place and get a big streak of wins. So i expect a win for QPR with at least 2 goals difference.
GL!
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Prediction:
Tip: 1 EH (-1)
Odd: 2.88
Bookie: Paddy Power
Watford have enyoed their 3 games winning streak. Striker Danny Graham has been a major part of this great form with his goals along with another forward Marvin Sordell. But they are not reliable and solid enough at the back.
Two strikers back.
Swansea will have two front-men Scott Sinclair and Stephen Dobie back. Both players missed Swansea`a 3:1 defeat in Nottingham last week but especially Scott Sinclair was on sensational form while Swansea knocked P`Boro out of Carling Cup. Now they are back on their scoring ways and Watford is more than a good opponent to see how good they are with their forwards.
Both to score but a winner at the end.
Watford look favourites here. But their defensive woes might lead troubles against influential Swansea forwards. Swansea had no clean sheets on road so far. Something like 2-1 home win or a goal draw at 2 is quite possible.
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Prediction:
Tip: Over 2.5
Odd: 2.00
Bookie: StanJames
In all Derby’s matches this season, at least 3 goals were scored. They defeated Leeds by 2:1 on the road, but then suffered losses to Cardiff and Coventry by identical scorelines. The arrival of Nigel Clough didn’t bring any expected results and there are a lot of problems within the squad, regarding the continuity of their good performances. Striker Commons badly wants to end the negotiations about the new contract, which have obviously prevented him to play much better. The good news are that Derby scored at least a goal in the last 12 matches played at home, and only Swansea managed to keep a clean sheet back in February.
Fantastic start
QPR started the new season well by beating Barnsley at home by 4:0, then they won against Sheffield United by 3:0 and the last weekend Scunthorpe was beaten as well, when the R’s won by 2:0. Mackie, Helguson and Taarabt all scored twice each with Taarabt recording 4 assists as well so it can be said the Moroccan is in terrific form and is currently their main team foundation. Rangers have an excellent record against Derby at the Pride Park, not being defeated in the last 5 matches, recording 3 wins and 2 draws.
Goals in the first place
Championship is a very unpredictable league and no matter of the variable performances Derby has been showing, it is certain their side has got enough quality to score at least a goal in this match and adding excellent QPR’s form, the over 2.5 stands out as a good bet. Good luck!
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Prediction:
Tip: Over 2.5
Odd: 2.18
Bookie: 188bet
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