Football Championships 12th Jan

After a shock FA Cup exit to non-league Macclesfield Cardiff will look to bounce back in the Championship when they entertain Ipswich this weekend. The Bluebirds are the 7/10 (bet365/BetVictor/william hill) favourites for the game as they have taken 36 from a possible 39 points from their home games.I think bookmakers have priced this game about right and will instead look at a bet in the goalscorer market. David McGoldrick was a goal-scoring machine at Coventry before making the move to Ipswich at the start of January. McGoldrick might not start but most bookmakers allow for void bets if the first goal is scored before your player enters the pitch. 10/1 (BetVictor/Blue Sq/888 Sport) on him to score first looks good value as does the 10/3 (william hill) on him in the anytime scorer market.

Second placed Hull are in action in the live evening game as they host Sheffield Wednesday and you can read more about that in our preview of the live Saturday games while the Friday night live game sees Wolves and Blackburn do battle.

Palace are in third place in the Championship and they face a tricky looking game with Burnley. With a number of injury worries the London side offer no value at 15/8 (bet365/BetVictor). Glenn Murray,Wilfried Zaha and Danny Gabbidon are doubts while Paddy McCarthy is a long term absentee and Kagisho Dikgacoi is on African Nations Cup duty. Those who think Burnley can do the business can get them at at 13/8 (paddy Power/Coral/william hill) though the draw remains a real risk to this bet. Middlesbrough are level on points with Palace and have a home game with sixth placed Watford. Boro are the 23/20 (general) favourites as they look for their sixth straight home win in all competitions and a ninth in their last ten at the Riverside.

Also flying high are Leicester and they are 3/4 (BetVictor/William Hill/betway) to get all three points from their visit to struggling Bristol City. City have shipped 30 goals in their last 11 home games and Chris Wood must fancy his chances of netting here. Wood has grabbed six in his last four games (including two braces) and is 11/10 (boylesports/betfred/BetVictor) to score anytime or 5/1 (general) to score two or more goals.

At the bottom of the table Barnsley are in a mess having been turned down by both Sean O’Driscoll and Terry Butcher this week. Most people will have this down as a walk in the park for Leeds at 17/12 (pinnacle) against a side with just one from their last 15 in the league. A word of caution though the Tykes were spirited against Burnley in the cup last week and this game is of huge regional importance to them. Barnsley have lost just one of their last seven against Leeds and that 1-0 defeat in October is considered by many to have come somewhat against the run of play. I am not rushing to back Barnsley at 11/5 (ladbrokes) just suggesting that the price on Leeds could be a coupon buster.

I watched Peterborough take on Norwich in the cup last weekend and was hugely disappointed in them having taken them for an upset. They afforded their Premier League opponents so much time and space that the Canaries must have thought the winter break was in effect. Darren Ferguson brought in two players from Man U this weekend and tore into his team. I would expect a reaction and at 11/4 (Coral) in the draw no bet market look worth siding with against a Forest side that have won just one in their last six.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Peterborough to beat Nottingham Forest in draw no bet market, 11/4 (Coral)
SILVER: Chris Wood to score v Bristol City, anytime 11/10 (boylesports/betfred/BetVictor)
BRONZE: Chris Wood to score 2 or more v Bristol City, 5/1 (general)

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12/01/2013     © Frixo 2024