SKY BET: CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Sky Bet Preview ahead of this weekend's Championship fixtures.

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Sheffield Wednesday v Nottingham Forest

Two teams that have got off to flying starts this season clash in Saturday’s early kick off live on Sky Sports. Stuart Gray’s Owls look a completely different side to the one that finished 16th last season, collecting eight points from their first four games. Wednesday are 9/5 to this match, while Nottingham Forest look to be on the promotion charge and can be backed at 6/4. The draw is 9/4. Under the watchful eye of club legend Stuart Pearce the Reds have won all but one of their first four games. The secret to the success of both teams is their strikers. Wednesday’s Atdhe Nuhiu and Forest’s new boy Britt Assombalonga both have four goals each this season. You can get 11/2 for both strikers to net on Saturday.

Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 9/4

Brighton and Hove Albion v Charlton Athletic

Brighton appear to have bounced back after a disappointing start to the season by winning two games in a row in the Sky Bet Championship. The Seagulls are 5/6 for the win and Charlton, who are looking to keep their momentum from a strong start going, are 16/5. The arrival of Joao Carlos Teixeira on loan from Liverpool has given Brighton more of a threat going forward and the Portuguese has made a great early impression. He is 12/5 to score in 90 minutes on Saturday. Charlton have drawn both their away games this season and another Athletic away point can be backed at 5/2.

Top Tip: 1-1, 2-2 or 3-3 draw at 7/2

Derby County v Ipswich Town

Derby looked impressive last week in their 5-1 win at home against Fulham after a mixed start to the season. The Rams are 8/11 to pick up another three points at Pride Park, while Ipswich are 4/1 for the win and the draw can be backed at 5/2. Derby’s Chris Martin has returned to form and has three goals to his name this season, it’s 13/2 for Martin and Ipswich’s star striker David McGoldrick to score on Saturday.  Both teams have scored the majority of their goals in the second half this season and 3+ goals in the second half is available at odds of 4/1.

Top Tip: 0-0 at half time at 15/8

Leeds United v Bolton Wanderers

The drama continues for Leeds with three defeats on the spin, including the disappointment of a dramatic loss to local rivals Bradford in the Capital One Cup. Things aren’t quite going to plan for Bolton either as they wait for their first win of the Sky Bet Championship season. There are positives for both teams with the arrival of Billy Sharp giving Leeds an extra attacking threat and Bolton’s Jermaine Beckford scored two in Wanderers’ midweek cup win at Crewe. You can get 15/2 for both strikers to score on Saturday.  Leeds are priced up as Sky Bet’s 6/4 favourites for the win, Bolton can be backed at 9/5 and the draw is 9/4.

Top Tip: Both teams to score in first half at 4/1

Middlesbrough v Reading

Middlesbrough have been playing entertaining football under manager Aitor Karanka but have lacked consistency with two wins and two defeats so far in the Sky Bet Championship. Karanka, a former colleague of Jose Mourinho, likes his team to play attacking football and Boro can be backed at 4/5 to win on Saturday. Reading boss Nigel Adkins is also known for his positive passing style of play, but his young side have struggled to find form this season, losing 4-0 away at Nottingham Forest last weekend. The Royals are 100/30 to pick up three points on Saturday and the draw is 13/5. A game like this with two teams that like to push forward is bound to produce goals so expect an entertaining contest.

Top tip: Both teams to score in both the first and second half at 16/1

Millwall v Blackpool

place sit Blackpool, who are yet to gain a point this season. You can get 15/4 for the Seasiders to get up and running with a victory and the draw is 11/4. Blackpool are improving so expect a closer contest than some would expect.^rdTwo teams that finished one place apart from each other last season at the bottom end of the table have had very different starts to the new campaign. Millwall got off to a great start getting six points from their first three games, but fell just short last weekend losing 1-0 at home to newly-promoted Rotherham. However the London club sit ninth in the Sky Bet Championship, just one point away from the play-off places and can be backed at 7/10 for the win on Saturday. All the way down in 23

Top Tip: A 1-1 draw at 11/4

Norwich City v Bournemouth

Lewis Grabban - Norwich’s top scorer this season - faces the club he left for Carrow Road this summer on Saturday. The Canaries forward has scored four goals so far this season that has seen his side win three in a row and rocket up to third. Norwich are 11/10 for another three points. Bournemouth haven’t struggled without the goals of Grabban as new signing Callum Wilson has started in style. The Cherries are 12/5 to win on the road and the draw is available at the same price.

Top Tip: Lewis Grabban and Callum Wilson to score 11/2

Rotherham United v Brentford

Rotherham and Brentford have had good starts to the Sky Bet Championship season after winning promotion from League 1. Under the guidance of Steve Evans, the Millers have won two games out of four, most recently an impressive away win at Millwall. The Millers are 13/10 for three points at home. Brentford have managed a respectable five points from their first four games and are 2/1 for the win on Saturday. The draw can be backed at 23/10. Both teams like to score late in the game and if the price is 7/4 for no goals in the first half at the weekend.

Top Tip: 0-0 draw at half-time at 7/4

Watford v Huddersfield Town

Watford fans have reasons to be optimistic these days. Not only are they sitting second in the Sky Bet Championship with three wins from their four games, but prolific striker Troy Deeney has just signed a long-term contract with the club. The Hornets are 7/10 for victory on Saturday. Huddersfield have the goals from Nahki Wells to give them some hope, the striker has four to his name already this season. The Terriers can be backed at 18/5 to win on the road and the draw is 11/4.

Top Tip: Troy Deeney and Nahki Wells both to score at 6/1

Wigan Athletic v Birmingham City

Wigan were one of the favourites to go up at the start of the season, but only taking four points from their first four games isn’t the start Athletic fans were hoping for. Uwe Rosler’s men beat Blackpool for their win of the term last weekend and are 8/13 to follow up with another victory.  Birmingham look to have made progress after staying up on the final day of last season and are 9/2 for the win on Saturday. The draw can be supported at 11/4. Neither team has a prolific goalscorer and both have strong defences so goals may be hard to come by.

Top Tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals 100/30.

Wolverhampton Wanderers v Birmingham City

Wolves have made a flying start on their return to the Sky Bet Championship, winning three of their four games and conceding only one goal. Blackburn fans also have reasons for celebration as it seems that a proposed move for their top striker Jordan Rhodes to Hull is now off and Rovers have won two of their last three games. Wolves are 21/10 for the win, Blackburn are 5/2 and the draw is 12/5. Expect a close game between two strong teams.

Top Tip: 0-0 at half time 7/4