James Buttler looks ahead to Sunday's Championship action and picks out the best bets with a treble.
Middlesbrough v Cardiff City
Boro in fifth are unbeaten in their last five Championship matches and their last four at home, although their 3-3 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday from a 3-0 scoreline at half-time will still be smarting. Michael Carrick’s team are a test for anyone and won’t have given up hope of automatic promotion despite being nine points off second spot.
Cardiff are at the wrong end of the table, in 23rd, but have shown small signs of fight with just one defeat in their last five league matches, with a win away at Watford and three draws in that period. It’s a big ask to expect the Bluebirds to gain much from their travel to The Riverside and, if your’re putting together an acca, Boro at 8/13 to take all three points looks a very decent play. In fact, let’s leave it there as Boro are a bit up and down in terms of goals scored at home, so the price on them to win avoids any complications.
Bristol City v Derby County
Bristol City are in 10th, but their recent home form has been strong.
Three wins and a draw in their last four at Ashton Gate and Anis Mehemeti has bagged a brace in two games during that period. The Albanian also scored in The Robins last away matches and has nine goals this campaign and is certainly worth a look to score anytime this weekend at 18/5 – there’s no way he should be 10th listed in this market!
Derby also concede a few goals on their travels and only won one of their 14 away games in all competitions this season. In amongst three away defeats they did pick up a credible 0-0 draw at Burnley, but a Bristol City win looks the most likely result. You can get City at EVS to win, which is fine for our Saturday treble, but I’m also playing a Bristol City win with Mehemeti anytime at a very tempting 8.2/1.
Sheffield Wednesday v Millwall
Wednesday are finding their form at Hillsborough with successive wins over Stoke City and Derby County and they play a Millwall side that has only tasted victory once in 11 away league trips this season. The Owls have moved up to ninth in the Championship table and at 6/5 look a good bet this weekend.
I don’t think you need to get more fancy here. At a price of better than double your money on a team playing well against a side that can’t buy a win away from home, that’ll do me. So, Wednesday at 6/5 goes into the acca for Saturday afternoon as their progress towards the playoff paces gathers pace.
James’ Championship Treble
If you roll Boro, Wednesday and Bristol City into a treble and it comes to 5.5/1 with Unibet.
Please always gamble responsibly.