Owls stay in the top flight coul be endangered

After the first part of our guide to the Championship yesterday which looked at the race for promotion, here is our second part looking at the relegation, top scorer and special markets.

It was very tight at the bottom of the Championship last season with just seven points seperating Peterborough in third bottom to Derby in tenth. Bookmakers make Yeovil the favourites to go down with ladbrokes the only firm who have them bigger than evens going an industry best priced 11/10. History though suggests that even at 11/10 this is not a price to get involved with as only four promoted clubs have been relegated in the first Championship season and only one in the past five seasons. Fans of Yeovil can have hope for the season especially with a shrewd man in charge in Gary Johnson.

A number of teams will be in danger of going down though the one that perhaps represents the best value is Sheffield Wednesday at 6/1 (GENERAL). The Owls took just three points from their last five games which was a final day win against Middlesbrough. It was a result that saw them finish four points above Peterborough. The club have made limited moves in the transfer market so far and have yet to address a problem scoring goals as they were the third lowest scorers in the division last season.

Jordan Rhodes is 9/1 (888 SPORT/unibet) to finish as topscorer in the Championship and after 28 goals last season I would not look too far past him in this market. I am amazed to see him still at Blackburn and could see him move in January so I will not be backing him. I expect player such as Jose Ulloa at 16/1 (CORAL), Grant Holt 16/1 (GENERAL) and Troy Deeney 25/1 (CORAL/william hill) to run him close.

With firms paying out quarter the odds on the top four then I think some each-way value could be had. Last season the fourth scorer netted twenty times and I like the look of Yann Kermorgant who is as big as 150/1 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes). The Charlton striker netted 12 goals in this division last season with nine of these coming at the turn of the year I think he can make that evolution as a player. The 150/1 looks even better value when you consider that CORAL are as short as 50/1.

In the special markets I like the group and match bets as you can highlight a team you like against another you do not care for. I will look at season matchbets in a special column later on this week but for now it is the four-six team groups that interest me. CORAL have a special six team section in place in which Charlton are 9/2 to see off Derby, Middlesbrough, Birmingham, Sheffield Wednesday and Blackpool. The Addicks finished at least four points ahead of these sides last season and none of the clubs have made moves in the transfer market to suggest they could go ahead of Charlton. Take the 9/2 on a side who ended the season eight games unbeaten and just outside the play-offs and have in Chris Powell one of the brightest young managers in the Football League.

I would even consider backing them at 10/1 (BETVICTOR/STAN JAMES/188 BET) to finish as the top London club as they will finish ahead of Millwall and QPR and Watford both have elements about them that could the season not go as well as expected.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Charlton to win Group C, 9/2 (CORAL)
SILVER: Sheffield Wednesday to be relegated, 6/1 (GENERAL)
BRONZE: Yann Kermorgant to finish as topscorer, EW, 150/1 (BETVICTOR/ladbrokes)

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31/07/2013     © Frixo 2026