Football Championship Preview 12th May

The second leg of the Championship play-offs take place Sunday and Monday, here is our guide to the best of the bets from these games.

As ever bookmaker have over-reacted to the result of the first leg pushing the prices of both Watford and Crystal Palace to get promoted out to very generous levels. Watford are just one down with a home game remaining while Palace have the scoreline still level. Neither side should be as high as they are in the markets and as such I would recommend a little interest in both. The Hornets can be backed at 9/2 (BETVICTOR/betway) while Palace are as big as 6/1 (BETVICTOR). Brighton are 15/8 (paddy Power/STAN JAMES) for promotion as are LEICESTER (888 SPORT/ladbrokes).

The first of the two qualifying games is the one on Sunday afternoon (12:30 GMT) and features Watford at home to Leicester. A David Nugent goal was the difference between these two sides in the first leg. Watford can take heart from the fact that they created a couple of great chances and Troy Deeney will be back for this game and Hornets fans will hope he makes the difference. Watford are 13/10 (GENERAL) to win on the night and will be boosted by the head-to-head record which has seen them win four of their last five meetings with Leicester at Vicarage Road. Leicester did win at Forest on the last day of the season to book a place in the play-offs though that is their only win in their last nine away games. Leicester are 23/10 (BETVICTOR/STAN JAMES) for victory here while the draw is available at 12/5 (GENERAL). We talked before about the return of Troy Deeney and he could be crucial for Watford having netted five times in his last eight appearances and he is 6/4 (ladbrokes) to score anytime in this game. David Nugent who netted his first goal in his last 17 games in the first leg is available at 5/2 (ladbrokes) in the anytime scorer market. The bet here is in backing the time of the first goal coming after the 28th minute which is 23/20 (BETVICTOR) as Leicester will set their stall out to defend. Watford fans and players might have to be patient as they wait for that elusive goal.

Brighton take on Crystal Palace on Monday night with this tie poised at 0-0. Palace are 9/4 (BETVICTOR) to qualify while Brighton are the strong 1/2 (CORAL) favourites to go through to the Wembley final. Palace though will take heart from the head-to-head record that shows they have won two and lost just one of their last four visits to Brighton. In terms of the game that night Brighton are a best priced evens (william hill) while the draw is 5/2 (TOTESPORT/betfred) and a Palace victory is 7/2 (bet365/paddy Power). The Seagulls will be confident themselves as they have been excellent at home this year going ten games unbeaten (winning seven and drawing three of these). The first scorer market is headed by Leonardo Ulloa who has grabbed eight in his last fourteen for Brighton and is 5/1 (paddy Power/ladbrokes). The bet though has to be Kevin Phillips in the anytime scorer market at 3/1 (bet365) as in the absence of Glenn Murray he could be handed a start. As the veteran showed on the last day of the season he is the man for getting goals at the right time.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Watford to win promotion, 9/2 (BETVICTOR/betway)
SILVER: Crystal Palace to win promotion, 6/1 (BETVICTOR)
BRONZE: Kevin Phillips to score anytime v Brighton, 3/1 (bet365)

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12/05/2013     © Frixo 2026