Football Championships 18th Jan

Leicester and Middlesbrough meet on Friday night in a battle of two promotion hopefuls in the Championship and it is the Foxes who are the 8/11 (general) favourites. This seems a fair price as Leicester enter the game having won their last four in all competitions netting 13 and conceding just one. The recent head-to-head record though suggest Boro might have a chance of grabbing a draw as they have done so on three of their last four visits to Leicester. The draw is a best priced 22/7 while a Middlesbrough victory is a 9/2 (pinnacle) chance. This looking for a bet could do worse than sticking with in-form Chris Wood who has netted an incredible nine goals in his last five games and is evens (general) to score anytime, 5/1 (Totesport/betfred) to score two or more and 20/1 (general) to grab a hat-trick.

Leaders Cardiff play Blackpool on Saturday evening and we have previewed that game in our guide to the live action. Second placed Hull will look to keep the pressure on them when they travel to Peterborough. After a shock defeat against Sheff Wed last week Hull take on a Posh side who have lost three of their last four in all competitions. Bookmakers make the Tigers 13/10 (sportingbet) favourites while a Peterborough victory is 12/5 (bet365/paddy Power/pinnacle) and the draw is 44/17 (pinnacle).

Palace are currently fourth in the Championship and are going well under Ian Holloway though injuries are threatening to undermine their promotion push. This weekend they go up against Bolton in a game that has a real buzz about it because it pitches Dougie Freedman the Bolton boss against his former side Palace. It should be a great game to be at though not one I could recommend betting on with any confidence.

Derby are a very good home side with seven wins and four draws from their 13 home games this season and I think they look worth siding with at 7/5 (general) to gain all three points in the East Midlands derby. Forest have lost three and drawn one of their last four games and a win against Peterborough does not paper over the cracks. Nigel Clough has his side established and as he more than anyone will know how important this game is as a source of local pride. County have won the last three meetings between these sides and with good home form look worth siding with here.

Another side worth siding with are Sheffield Wednesday who let us down in midweek when we backed them in the FA Cup however back in the league I think they can do the business over Wolverhampton. The Owls have four wins and a draw from their last six games in the Championship including an impressive win at high-flying Hull last weekend. Wolves are under new manager Dean Saunders and while he might eventually do the business he has to halt the alarming lack of confidence that has seen the Midlands side win just one of their last six games. The Owls can be backed for victory at 7/5 with Coral.

One player who is in demand in the transfer window is Matej Vydra who is wanted by current loan club Watford, current club Udinese and a host of teams from around the globe. The Czech forward has grabbed 14 goals this season and six in his last five games appeals here at 11/10 (boylesports/betfred/BetVictor) in the anytime goalscorer market. Huddersfield are the opposition on Saturday and they have one of the worst away records in the division conceding 25 goals in 13 games this season.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Derby to beat Nottingha Forest, 7/5 (general)
SILVER: Sheffield Wednesday to beat Wolverhampton, 7/5 (Coral)
BRONZE: Matej Vydra score anytime v Huddersfield,11/10 (boylesports/betfred/BetVictor)

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18/01/2013     © Frixo 2024