There are several thrilling games in the EFL Championship to look forward to in midweek, including the heavyweight showdown at the top of the table between Norwich City and Brentford. Among the many other interestingly looking games on show, Bristol City welcome Bournemouth to Ashton Gate, Swansea City travel to Stoke City and South Yorkshire sides Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham clash.
Cardiff City v Derby County
19:00, Sky Sports, Cardiff City Stadium
Two in-form sides clash at the Cardiff City Stadium on Tuesday as Cardiff City welcome Derby County to the Welsh capital. After a draw with Middlesbrough last time out, the Bluebirds will be looking for all three points from this one as they continue their march towards to the playoff places. Since taking over, Mick McCarthy has guided Cardiff to six wins and three draws from nine and the former Republic of Ireland boss will want to extend that fine run here.
Derby, meanwhile, are in fine fettle under Wayne Rooney and have moved nine point clear of the bottom three. But we fancy the momentum is in Cardiff’s favour and we can see a home win here. You can get the Cardiff victory and both teams to score at a decent price of 4/1.
Coventry City v Middlesbrough
19:00, Sky Sports, St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium
Coventry City and Middlesbrough go head-to-head at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium on Tuesday evening. Boro are the slight favourites in this one despite having slipped up a couple of times of late.
The Sky Blues have lost four of their past seven league games, while Middlesbrough have won just two of their last nine in the Championship. With neither team in particularly good form at present, we can see this ending all square in Birmingham on Tuesday, with the draw priced at odds of 21/10.
Huddersfield Town v Birmingham City
19:00, Sky Sports, John Smith’s Stadium
At the John Smith’s Stadium on Tuesday, Huddersfield Town and Birmingham City meet in a big Championship relegation fixture. Town are in 19th position in the table as things stand, with the Blues two points behind in 21st place.
Both teams are very much embroiled in the relegation battle, which makes this fixture a huge one at the John Smith’s. The Terriers have lost four of their last five games, while Birmingham have picked up two wins from their last three matches. The away win here is available at odds of 11/5 which looks just about good enough value for us to back that outcome.
Millwall v Preston North End
19:00, Sky Sports, The Den
Gary Rowett’s midtable Millwall entertain Alex Neil’s Preston North End at The Den this Tuesday. Last weekend, the Lions’ impressive nine-game unbeaten league run came to an end at Oakwell when they went down 2-1 against Barnsley.
Millwall have turned their season around after a number of very good results and Rowett’s boys will be hoping to strike back after last weekend’s disappointing loss in Yorkshire. Preston have had a patchy season, although they thumped Huddersfield 3-0 on Saturday. Millwall are the draw specialists in the Championship at the moment, so back the stalemate and both teams to score at odds of 10/3.
Nottingham Forest v Luton Town
19:45, Sky Sports, City Ground
Nottingham Forest host Luton Town at the City Ground this Tuesday. These two are evenly matched on paper, with Town just one point ahead in the current Championship standings. Neither are very likely to feature in either the relegation battle or the promotion push, but a very good or bad run for either side could put them in the frame for either.
Forest are in good form and have won four of their last seven in the league. Chris Hughton’s boys have suffered just two league defeats since mid-December. We can see the hosts nicking this one against the unpredictable Hatters. Back Forest to win by a one goal margin at odds of 5/2.
Reading v Blackburn Rovers
20:00, Sky Sports, Madejski Stadium
Reading host Blackburn Rovers at the Madejski Stadium in midweek. After a precious 1-0 win at Rotherham United last time out, can the Royals follow that up with another big three points this Tuesday to maintain their position in the top six?
Reading have blown hot and cold of late, suffering four defeats from their last six games in the league. As for Blackburn, last weekend’s 1-1 home draw with Coventry stopped a run of five defeats. Three of Reading’s last four wins have come with clean sheets. All things considered, we think the best bet is to back the hosts to win to nil on Tuesday night at a decent price of 3/1.
Norwich City v Brentford
17:30, Sky Sports, Carrow Road
The top two in the Championship lock horns on Wednesday evening is what could be an enthralling match, as Daniel Farke’s Norwich entertain Thomas Frank’s Brentford. After recent results, the Canaries have opened up a seven-point lead at the top of the table.
Since a 2-0 defeat at Swansea a month back, Norwich have won five out of five league games. They would put one foot in next season’s Premier League with a win over the Bees on Wednesday and they will be pulling out all the stop to get a positive result. This should be a Championship cracker, so check out the tempting odds of 11/2 for the Norwich win and over 3.5 goals to be scored in the game.
Queens Park Rangers v Barnsley
19:00, Sky Sports, Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium
Queens Park Rangers and Barnsley meet at the Kiyan Prince Foundation Stadium on Wednesday evening. The in-form Tykes are the favourites with the bookies and are swiftly putting themselves in contention to make the playoffs.
QPR have been excellent of late, winning four and drawing one of their five games before last weekend’s narrow loss in Birmingham. As for Barnsley, they have won five in a row and are playing with confidence and conviction. The away win here is available at odds of 8/5 which looks a decent price to us.
Watford v Wycombe Wanderers
19:00, Sky Sports, Vicarage Road
After losing at Bournemouth, Xisco Munoz’s Watford will be looking to get back to winning ways at the first time of asking when bottom side Wycombe Wanderers visit Vicarage Road on Wednesday. As you would expect, the promotion-chasing Hornets are the clear favourites as they are stronger in all areas of the pitch than Wycombe, who are almost certain to be relegated before long.
Watford have the best home record in the division and have collected an impressive total of 38 points from 16 matches at Vicarage Road. In contrast, the Chairboys have the poorest record on the road in the Championship. As such it should come as no surprise that we’re backing Watford, but to up the odds a little we’re taking a punt on the home side to win with a -2 goal handicap at 13/5.
Bristol City v Bournemouth
19:45, Sky Sports, Ashton Gate
Since the sacking of Dean Holden, Bristol City have won back-to-back away games against Middlesbrough and Swansea (both by 3-1 scorelines). This Wednesday evening, Nigel Pearson’s Robins entertain Jonathan Woodgate’s Middlesbrough at Ashton Gate with both side harbouring promotion ambitions.
Before last week’s victory at the Riverside, Bristol City had lost seven league and cup games on the spin. Bournemouth picked up a crucial win over Watford last time out but we fancy Bristol City to nick this one. Back the home win and both teams to score at a fair price of 7/1.
Sheffield Wednesday v Rotherham United
19:45, Sky Sports, Hillsborough
South Yorkshire sides Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham square off in a huge Championship fixture at Hillsborough on Wednesday. The Owls are in 23rd place in the table with 28 points to their name, with the Millers a point and a place above them.
Rotherham eased to a 3-0 win at the New York Stadium in the reverse game back in October but Paul Warne’s men head into this one having lost five games in a row. As for Wednesday, they are not exactly flying at the moment and have suffered four successive defeats. This fixture could go either way, but our money is going on a narrow away win. Back the 1-0 Rotherham victory at odds of 8/1.
Stoke City v Swansea City
20:15, Sky Sports, bet365 Stadium
On Wednesday night at the bet365 Stadium in the Potteries, Michael O’Neill’s Stoke entertain Steve Cooper’s Swansea. Both sides will be looking for a win after some poor results of late.
Swansea have had a sensational season so far, but the Welsh side have lost three of their last five games in all competitions. Nevertheless, we fancy Cooper’s boys to get back to winning ways in midweek. There is good value in the odds of 4/1 for the visitors to be winning at half time and full time in this one.