James Buttler looks ahead to the tenth round of Championship action and picks out the best bets, including a treble.
Sheffield Wednesday v Burnley
Third placed Burnley could go as high as top of the Championship table if they can beat 15th placed Sheffield Wednesday. Wednesday were slow out of the traps this season and Danny Rohl's Owls have won only four points from their first six matches, managing a victory on the opening day and conceding 12 goals over the next five outings. But impressive wins over West Brom and Coventry and a draw at Bristol City have made them three matches unbeaten.
But Burnley are now six unbeaten and Scott Parker’s team have taken 18 points from their nine matches this season. Solid defensively, the Clarets are marginal favourites on Saturday, and the scary thing for the rest of the promotion candidates, they have only scored five goals in their last seven games. You feel there is plenty more to come.
That points me to unders on the goals, so let’s start the Saturday treble with Under 2.5 match goals at 8/11.
Millwall v Derby
Millwall drew with West Brom before the international break and Derby won at home against QPR. The 18th placed Lions have taken two wins from their opening nine matches, certainly not the start they were hoping for. Duncan Watmore has five goals, which is a plus, and with four out of the next five league matches at The Den, this is the time where Neil Harris will be expecting the results to come.
Newly promoted Derby may be in 12th place but they’ve lost all four of their away matches this season. Paul Warne will need far more on their travels, and their home form has been strong, winning all but one of their five games. He will be buoyed by the knowledge that Derby have taken two wins and a draw from their last three Millwall away contests, but this Derby team likes home comforts and Millwall don’t do warm, fuzzy and cosy.
For me, this is a Millwall win at 11/10, and I’m throwing in a goal for Watmore, which takes the price up to 21/4. For the treble, I’m just including a Millwall win.
Queens Park Rangers v Portsmouth
Portsmouth are yet to win this season and QPR haven’t won in five. QPR are in the relegation zone, Portsmouth sit in a place below them, with only Cardiff City worse off. So, two out of form teams, two points apart, morale not high and I could carry on and tell you just how poor they really are.
I think it’s safer to take a very uncertain outrights market out of the equation and I’m looking for something more tangible to hang my betting hat on. QPR are two wins and two draws at Loftus Road, but they’ve scored in all four matches. Portsmouth are two draws and two defeats on the road and on their last away trip they were thumped 6-1 by Stoke City, but they’ve score seven goals in those four matches and bagged at least one in every game.
So, regardless of the result, these teams score in their respective capacities, and Both Teams To Score on Saturday afternoon is 4/5. I’ll take that.
James’ Championship Tips
Under 2.5 match goals in Sheff Wed v Burnley at 8/11
Millwall to win at 11/10
Both Teams To Score in QPR v Portsmouth at 4/5
That makes a treble of 5.2/1 with Bet GoodWin
As always, please gamble responsibly.