James Buttler looks ahead to Boxing Day's Championship action and picks out the best bets with a treble.
Blackburn v Sunderland
It’s fourth-placed Sunderland taking on fifth-placed Blackburn on Boxing Day. Blackburn lost their last match to a late goal at Millwall to end a run of six straight wins. Sunderland have won three of their last four league matches. Two form sides and something has to give, but then there is the draw, which we often ignore.
The draw is 9/4 with BetFred and I’ve been around the houses to find something better and I keep coming back to these sides finishing a point apiece as there really isn’t anything between them. Sunderland’s 3-2 win at Swansea was their first away win in five on the road, but their slump seems to have ended and they can certainly travel home with a point from this one.
Sheffield United v Burnley
This could be a cracker with top-of-the-table Sheffield United playing third-placed Burnley with four points separating the sides. The Clarets are unbeaten in nine Championship matches and they’ve won their last three on the road. The Blades are unbeaten in 11 in the league and their home form is brilliant with a draw being followed by nine straight wins to nil.
The draw could be a play in this one at 11/5 with UniBet because both sides could scarcely bring better form into this one, but the home side’s fortress Bramall Lane mentality might just swing it.
This game doesn’t promise many goals, so let’s stick to a bet that’s consistently won on Betting Radio this season – Sheffield United to win and Under 2.5 match goals, which remains a very appealing 7/2 with Betfair as the bookmakers don’t seem to have woken up to the fact that it is winning pretty much every week.
Stoke City v Leeds United
With the other four sides in the top five of the Championship table playing each other on Boxing Day, second-placed Leeds United’s trip to The Potteries gives them a great chance of stretching the gap to those below and potentially even ending the day on top of the table.
Full disclosure, I’m a Leeds fan, and these are the matches I fear most – the ones they are supposed to win. Stoke have no wins in eight matches, whereas Leeds are just one defeat in their last eight. Leeds away form isn’t as strong as that at Elland Road and losses at Blackburn and Millwall, plus disappointing draws at Bristol City and Preston have harmed their campaign. Yet this is Stoke we’re talking about. They are not a good side, so I’m playing Leeds to win and over 2.5 match goals at 11/8 with Bet365.
James’ Championship Treble
If you put all three selections into a threefold the price is 34/1 with Bet365.
Please gamble responsibly and Merry Christmas.