Npower Championship Preview

It’s a 12.30pm kick off on Saturday April 28 for the final round of Npower Championship games in the 2011/2012 campaign.

Brian McDermott’s Reading have already been crowned champions of the division and will return to the Barclays Premier League next season, but who will join them?

Southampton are firmly in the driving seat for the second automatic promotion berth and their place in the top flight could be guaranteed prior to kick off if West Ham fail to beat Leicester City in midweek.

But should the Hammers win that crucial clash at the Walkers Stadium, Soton will have to earn a point at home to relegated Coventry in order to secure their fate.

Nigel Adkin’s side should have no problems dispatching the Sky Blues who have endured a woeful season - and even with the pressure potentially on a comfortable success for the Saints can be expected at long odds on.

The play-off picture is more or less settled ahead of the final set of fixtures; however Middlesboro can still join the party at the expense of Cardiff City.

Boro will need to win on the road at Watford and hope that Cardiff are beaten at Crystal Palace, but in truth that scenario looks unlikely and the Welsh outfit should hold onto sixth place.

With relegation matters resolved, the rest of the weekend’s matches should see a flurry of goals as teams hand opportunities to fringe members of their squads.

Leeds United vs. Leicester City immediately strikes as a possible goal fest and that notion is enhanced by the Whites pitiful defensive record at Elland Road.

Both clubs have nothing to play for and the match is likely to be played openly and fluently with a semi-serious approach towards giving both sets of supporters an entertaining affair to finish the 46 game marathon.

Jermaine Beckford’s return to West Yorkshire adds a little bit of spice to the occasion and he could well be amongst the goals which should be in abundance.

Leeds’ frontline will also be keen to finish off well and guarantee themselves a place in the squad next season – boss Neil Warnock has already promised a major overhaul and it appears as if nobody’s position is safe.

Barnsley saved themselves from the drop by the skin of their teeth but their defensive profile is also extremely poor and Brighton could get a lot of joy at Oakwell.

Gus Poyet’s side will be disappointed not to have made the play-offs but they can take out their frustrations on the Tykes who will just be glad that the campaign has reached its conclusion.

Over 3.5 goals wagers in both of the aforementioned fixtures will pay off a lucrative double and Birmingham vs. Reading may also be included into a high scoring treble bet.

The league winners will be determined to go out with a bang whilst Birmingham are likely to press on the front foot in preparation for the end of season play-offs.

Both teams have bags of quality in attack and nothing to play for in terms of position – a combination which should lead to another goal rich encounter on the Npower Championship’s final day.

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23/04/2012     © Frixo 2024