All EFL Championship clubs are scheduled for league action in midweek. On Tuesday night, Preston North End host Watford, while in-form Cardiff City make the trip to Kenilworth Road to face Luton Town. League leaders Norwich City play on Wednesday, as Daniel Farke takes his high flying Canaries to Coventry City, while west London rivals Queens Park Rangers and Brentford also do battle.
Preston North End v Watford
19:00, Sky Sports, Deepdale
Alex Neil’s Preston entertain Xisco Munoz’s Watford at Deepdale on Tuesday evening. Both sides picked up impressive wins last weekend, but who will prevail in this one?
After one win in six, Preston were the second favourites at Ewood Park last Friday, though North End went on to pick up an superb 2-1 victory. As for the Hornets, they thumped Bristol City 6-0 at Vicarage Road in a dominant display. Watford have been far from impressive on their travels this term, but we fancy the away side to get the points at Deepdale. They have enough quality to take the game by the scruff of the neck and with confidence high, the odds of 11/20 look decent enough value.
Stoke City v Sheffield Wednesday
19:00, Sky Sports, bet365 Stadium
At the bet365 Stadium on Tuesday, Stoke City entertain relegation-threatened Sheffield Wednesday. The Potters will be desperate for a win having picked up just one victory from their last 15 league and cup fixtures. Any hopes of making it into the playoffs will be dashed if Stoke’s form doesn’t pick up soon.
Stoke have struggled of late, while Wednesday have shown a big improvement under caretaker boss Neil Thompson. The Owls have won six of their last nine games in the Championship, and Wednesday are available at odds 11/4 to win this one and potentially climb out of the relegation zone.
Bristol City v Reading
19:45, Sky Sports, Ashton Gate
Dean Holden’s Bristol City welcome Veljko Paunovic’s Reading to Ashton Gate on Tuesday. The pressure is really starting to mount on Holden, as the Robins have lost nine of their last 12 games in the Championship.
Reading will be looking to get back on track after home defeats to Brentford and Millwall put a dent in their promotion ambitions. Prior to those back-to-back losses, the Royals had won four and drawn three of seven matches. Bristol City have lost five in a row and have failed to score in four of those. We’ll be putting some money on Reading to win to nil on Wednesday at a fair price of 11/5.
Middlesbrough v Huddersfield Town
19:45, Sky Sports, Riverside Stadium
Neil Warnock’s Middlesbrough will be eager for a win on Tuesday after taking just one point from a possible 15 in recent times. Carlos Corberan’s Huddersfield Town visit the Riverside Stadium with the threat of relegation still very real after a recent winless run.
Boro made a fine start to their season, but Warnock’s men have certainly struggled of late, losing five of their last seven games in the Championship. Meanwhile, Town have lost six and drawn two of their last eight in all competitions. We can see Middlesbrough nicking a narrow home win in this one so we’ll be backing the hosts to win by a one goal margin at odds of 13/5.
Wycombe Wanderers v Derby County
19:45, Sky Sports, Adams Park
Bottom side Wycombe Wanderers host in-form Derby County at Adams Park on Tuesday. Wayne Rooney’s Rams are the odds-on favourites to win this one after seeing a turnaround in fortunes under the former England captain.
Despite an impressive victory at the John Smith’s Stadium last time out, Wycombe look destined for an instant return to EFL League One. Derby have won four of their last five and County should be too strong for the Chairboys in midweek. We like the look of Derby to win with a -1 goal handicap at odds of 12/5.
Luton Town v Cardiff City
20:15, Sky Sports, Kenilworth Road
Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff will be looking for a fourth straight victory when they travel to Luton on Tuesday. The Bluebirds have fired themselves into seventh after an excellent run of form and will be eager to get a little closer to the playoff places with another win.
Since McCarthy arrived, Cardiff are unbeaten in five, having won three and drawn two. The Bluebirds will back themselves to extend that run to six games with three points at Kenilworth Road. There is good value in the away win and both teams to score at a price of 9/2.
Coventry City v Norwich City
19:00, Sky Sports, St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium
Daniel Farke’s Norwich are back on top of the Championship table after last weekend’s results. The Canaries will want another three points when they take on Coventry at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium this Wednesday.
Coventry are a tough nut to crack at St Andrew’s and have lost only once there since October. However, Mark Robins’ troops have suffered five defeats in their last 10 games in the league. Norwich ended their winless run with a thumping 4-1 victory over Stoke last time out, and the leaders will surely win this one. Check out the solid odds of 21/10 for Norwich to be winning at half time and full time.
Millwall v Birmingham City
19:00, Sky Sports, The Den
Improving Millwall welcome Birmingham City to The Den this Wednesday. The Blues head to London having claimed just one win since 9th December, a run which means they are currently in 23rd position in the table.
Gary Rowett’s Lions have finally found some form, winning three and drawing three of their last six matches in the Championship. We think the home side will have enough to prevail here and you can get the Millwall win on Wednesday at the decent price of 5/4.
Queens Park Rangers v Brentford
19:00, Sky Sports, Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
West London rivals QPR and Brentford lock horns at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Wednesday. After their incredible unbeaten league record came to an end last Sunday, the Bees will be desperate to bounce back with a win in midweek.
Brentford’s 2-0 home loss to Barnsley at the weekend was their first Championship defeat since a 3-2 reverse at Stoke on 24th October. The Bees should hit back with three points at the home of their rivals on Wednesday. Brentford are the league’s top scorers, and we like the look of the away win and over 3.5 goals here at nice odds of 13/2.
Swansea City v Nottingham Forest
19:00, Sky Sports, Liberty Stadium
Steve Cooper’s high flying Swansea City are back in Championship action in midweek. On Wednesday, the Swans entertain Nottingham Forest at the Liberty Stadium with the home side looking to keep the pressure on the two sides above them in the table.
These two met in the Emirates FA Cup in South Wales at the start of the year, with Swansea running out emphatic 5-1 winners. City also beat the Reds at the City Ground in the reverse league meeting. Back Swansea to win with a -1 goal handicap at odds of 11/4.
Barnsley v Blackburn Rovers
19:45, Sky Sports, Oakwell
Fresh from their stunning win over Brentford, can Valerien Ismael’s Barnsley secure another three points when Tony Mowbray’s Blackburn make the trip to Oakwell on Wednesday? The Tykes are the favourites on their own patch.
After five league games without a win, Barnsley needed those points at the Brentford Community Stadium. Blackburn started 2021 in fine fettle, but Rovers have lost two on the spin since beating Luton on 30th January. Our money is on the home win here at a decent price of 31/20.
Bournemouth v Rotherham United
20:15, Sky Sports, Vitality Stadium
Bournemouth and Rotherham United square off at the Vitality Stadium on Wednesday. Caretaker boss Jonathan Woodgate has guided the Cherries to two wins and a draw from three games. Will Bournemouth stretch their unbeaten run to four matches in midweek?
The Millers can be a tough nut to crack under Paul Warne, but Bournemouth should come out on top on home soil. Take a punt on the hosts to prevail and both teams to score, which is available at a price of 5/2.