Watford and Derby County kick things off in the EFL Championship this weekend with a fixture at Vicarage Road on Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, Brentford will be looking to return to winning ways when they take on Coventry City at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium. There are plenty of other matches to enjoy in the second tier but which sides will be celebrating after this round of fixtures?
Watford v Derby County
19:45, Sky Sports, Vicarage Road
Xisco Munoz’s Watford and Wayne Rooney’s Derby meet at Vicarage Road this Friday. With both teams in good form, we should be in for an interesting night in Hertfordshire. It is a tough one to call with both sides having built up good levels of momentum, but home advantage might just swing things Watford’s way.
The Hornets have the best home record in the Championship, having won 11 of their 15 league matches at Vicarage Road. The Rams have won five of their last six games but we fancy Watford in this one as they have performed more consistently throughout the season and possess more quality on the pitch. The home win is priced at odds of 17/20 which looks like value to us.
Coventry City v Brentford
12:30, Sky Sports, St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium
On Saturday afternoon, Coventry welcome Brentford to St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium. After suffering two shock defeats in a week, the Bees will be desperate to get back to winning ways in this one. Can they find a return to their previously exceptional form or will Coventry cause their blip to turn into a slump?
Before last Sunday’s 2-0 home reverse to Barnsley, Brentford had gone 21 Championship matches without defeat. The Londoners lost again in midweek, with rivals Queens Park Rangers getting the better of them at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium. However, we are backing Brentford to hit back in style this weekend as they have been excellent for the vast majority of the season. Put some money on the visitors to win both halves at a fine price 9/2.
Bristol City v Barnsley
15:00, Ashton Gate
Bristol City start life after Dean Holden with a game against Valerien Ismael’s Barnsley at Ashton Gate this Saturday. The Robins’ loss in midweek was their sixth successive league and cup defeat and they now have the worst form in the division.
Bristol City have been playing really badly of late and have lost 10 of their last 13 Championship matches. Barnsley have got back on track with wins over second-placed Brentford and mid-table Blackburn Rovers. We fancy the Tykes to make it three victories in a row this Saturday. Check out the away win and both teams to score at odds of 15/4.
Cardiff City v Preston North End
15:00, Cardiff City Stadium
Mick McCarthy’s Cardiff City entertain Alex Neil’s Preston North End at the Cardiff City Stadium on Saturday. The Bluebirds are in stunning form under new management and have won four and drawing two of their last six matches. They are now knocking on the door of the playoff places, though they are still six points adrift of breaking into the top six.
Before McCarthy arrived, Cardiff had lost six league and cup matches in a row. However, they head into Saturday’s clash with Preston having won four games on the spin. We’re confident they’ll make it five and we’ll be backing City to win with a -1 goal handicap on home soil at odds of 5/2.
Huddersfield Town v Swansea City
15:00, John Smith’s Stadium
Steve Cooper’s Swansea City are flying high at the moment, and the Swans will be looking for another three points when they take on Huddersfield Town at the John Smith’s Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The away team are the clear favourites to get the victory as Huddersfield scramble for points to stay above the relegation zone.
Swansea are in scintillating form and have picked up seven wins and two draws from their last nine games in the league. They are the Championship’s form side at present and we fancy City to secure another three points on Saturday. Swansea have won 2-0 on 10 occasions this term so we wouldn’t be too surprised to see that result pop up again. The 2-0 Swans victory here is priced at odds of 17/2 which looks just about worth a punt.
Millwall v Wycombe Wanderers
15:00, The Den
Millwall welcome bottom club Wycombe Wanderers to The Den this weekend. The Lions are in good form having won three games in a row and lost just one Championship game since 2nd January.
After three straight draws, Millwall went on to secure successive wins over Sheffield Wednesday, Reading and Birmingham City. The London side should be too strong for Wycombe at The Den. Take a look at the decent odds of 7/4 for Millwall to win with a -1 goal handicap.
Norwich City v Rotherham United
15:00, Carrow Road
Norwich City are back in control of the Championship title race, as the Canaries are now four points above Brentford and five clear of Swansea City. This Saturday, Norwich will be looking for another three points when Rotherham United visit Carrow Road.
Norwich are sitting pretty at the summit, while the Millers hover just one point above the drop zone. City should seal a comfortable home win here. Take a punt on Daniel Farke’s men to be winning at half time and full time at a very fair price of 11/8.
Nottingham Forest v Blackburn Rovers
15:00, City Ground
Nottingham Forest and Blackburn clash in an intriguing Championship encounter at the City Ground. Both teams will be looking to bounce back from midweek defeats.
Forest’s results have been good lately, with just Middlesbrough and Swansea getting the better of them since mid-December. Rovers have had a slump in form, losing three on the spin, but we fancy the sides to cancel one another out in this one and for the game to end all square at odds of 12/5.
Queens Park Rangers v Bournemouth
15:00, Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
Mark Warburton’s QPR will be hunting down a sixth win in seven Championship games when they face Bournemouth at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium this Saturday. However, the Cherries are unbeaten under interim boss Jonathan Woodgate.
Rangers have turned their fortunes around by taking 15 points from the last 18 on offer. As for Bournemouth, since Woodgate took over as caretaker manager, they have won three and drawn one of four league and cup fixtures. This is a tough one to call, so back the draw and both teams to score at a reasonable price of 10/3.
Reading v Middlesbrough
15:00, Madejski Stadium
Both Reading and Middlesbrough picked up vital victories in midweek. Will we see a winner when the pair lock horns at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday afternoon?
Before Tuesday’s 2-0 win at Ashton Gate, Reading had taken just one point from their last three games. As for Boro, they had drawn one and lost four of five before their victory over Huddersfield in midweek. This could go either way, but we are just siding with the home win at odds of 29/20.
Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City
15:00, Hillsborough
Sheffield Wednesday have had a mixed bag of results of late having lost four and won three of their last seven matches. This weekend, the Owls entertain Birmingham City, who have lost 10 of their last 14 games across all competitions.
On the whole, Neil Thompson has done a fine job as interim manager of Sheffield Wednesday, though the Owls could do with a win after two defeats in three. We can see Wednesday nicking a tight game on home turf, so take a punt on the hosts to win by a one goal margin at 11/4.
Stoke City v Luton Town
15:00, bet365 Stadium
Stoke City and Luton Town meet at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday. After a rare win in midweek, can the Potters follow that up with another three points?
Stoke’s win over Sheffield Wednesday on Tuesday was their first victory since 19th December. Luton have had a decent season, but the Hatters head to the Potteries having lost four of their last six games in the league and cup. Stoke are available at odds of 6/5 to win this one which looks just about good enough for us.