SKY BET: WEEKEND CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW

Sky Bet look ahead to this weekend's Championship fixtures: 

Ipswich Town v Norwich City:

Ipswich are 7/4 to return to winning ways after a difficult pair of away games that saw him take just one point from a possible six. They face a confident Norwich side rated 8/5 chances after two impressive wins against Blackburn and Watford at Carrow Road. Goals are surely likely in this game with Norwich scoring six in their last two and Ipswich drawing 2-2 in midweek, a scoreline that would see a return of 12/1 in this derby clash. Norwich’s Lewis Grabban has already found the back of the net three times this season and is 11/2 to score first. Ipswich forward David McGoldrick is available at the same price.

Top Tip: David McGoldrick and Lewis Grabban both to score in the match at 6/1.

Blackburn Rovers v AFC Bournemouth:

This clash is between two teams that were tipped as outsiders for promotion before the season started. Blackburn are 11/8 to take all three points and will hope for more goals from Rudy Gestede after his double in the 2-1 win over Blackpool last weekend. A second Gestede brace of the season is priced up at 9/1. Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth won three in a row before losing to Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and are 19/10 to bounce back with victory at Ewood Park. Bournemouth new boy Callum Wilson has three goals already to his name this term and is 5/1 to score first. 

Top tip: Both teams to score in the first half 7/2.

Brentford v Birmingham City:

Brentford enjoyed their first win of the season in midweek at Bloomfield Road against Blackpool and are 11/10 for further victory when they meet Birmingham. The Blues have only had one win themselves this season and will be looking to bounce back after they conceded a 90th minute equaliser against Ipswich in midweek. Birmingham are 13/5 to get their first away win of the season and the draw is available at 12/5.  Goals could just be hard to come by in this game and a 0-0 draw is an 8/1 chance. 

Top tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals 11/4.

Brighton and Hove Albion v Bolton Wanderers:

After a convincing first win of the season away at Leeds in midweek, Sami Hyypia’s Brighton will be looking to carry momentum into their game against Bolton. The Seagulls go into the contest as 21/20 favourites. Bolton have only taken one point from a possible nine so far. Dougie Freedman’s men will have to brush themselves off after a home defeat to Middlesbrough in midweek and are 14/5 underdogs to take all three points on Saturday. Both teams to score in the first half is available at 4/1.

Top tip: Both teams to score in the first half at 4/1.

Derby County v Fulham:

Neither of these sides have made the start they might have wanted to the campaign. Derby have won one of their three Championship games so far, most recently losing away at Charlton in midweek. The Rams are odds-on favourites for victory against a Fulham side without a point this season. Felix Magath’s men are 15/4 underdogs at Pride Park and the draw is 13/5. Derby striker Chris Martin is the 4/1 favourite to score the first goal of the game, while Fulham’s top contender in the same market is big-money signing Ross McCormack at 13/2.

Top tip: Under 2.5 goals at 5/6

Huddersfield Town v Charlton Athletic:

Both of these teams enjoyed impressive midweek wins and will be looking for another three points on Saturday. Huddersfield are waiting to appoint a permanent manager but didn’t look like as team with no guidance when posting an impressive win at Reading on Tuesday. The Terriers also have a wealth of strikers they can call upon that will help them out in this transitional period and go into Saturday’s game as 23/20 favourites for victory. Charlton spent most of last season at the wrong end of the table but look a completely different team this time around winning two difficult games on the bounce. They are 12/5 to win at Huddersfield. There could be goals in this match so take a look at 5/2 for over 3.5 goals.

Top tip: Over 3.5 goals at 5/2

Middlesbrough v Sheffield Wednesday:

Middlesbrough head into this clash as 17/10 favourites to make it two victories in a row, having bounced back to winning ways at Bolton in midweek.  Their opponents Sheffield Wednesday, who are 100/30, would be higher than Boro in the league had they not conceded a last-gasp equaliser at home to Millwall so the unbeaten Owls will be eager to pick up their second win of the campaign this time. The draw at the Riverside can be backed at 12/5. In the goals markets, it’s 11/10 that more than 2.5 are scored (4/6 under) while both teams to find the net is available at 10/11.

Top tip: Back the draw at 12/5

Millwall v Rotherham United:

Millwall have started the season well with two wins and a draw, which they achieved last time out at Sheffield Wednesday thanks to a last-gasp equaliser from Magaye Gueye, so they’re unsurprisingly favourites at 19/20 to chalk up another victory against newly-promoted Rotherham. The Millers, well beaten 2-0 by Watford on home soil in midweek, are 3/1 to bounce back with a win while the draw is 23/10. With just five goals scored between the sides so far, under 2.5 goals is regarded likely at 8/11 (over 2.5 is evens) while it’s 10/11 that at least one of the sides fails to score. 

Top Tip: Draw and under 2.5 goals in the match at 11/4

Nottingham Forest v Reading:

Nottingham Forest sunk early leaders Bournemouth on Tuesday night to take top spot and are 19/20 favourites to maintain their good start with a win over a Reading side who were stunned by Huddersfield in midweek. The Royals are 14/5 to respond with an away win while the draw is 5/2. Forest are the joint highest scorers so far with six goals so they are 10/11 to net another two or more on Saturday and 100/30 to notch three or more. Over 2.5 goals in the match can be backed at 5/6 – the same price as under – while both teams to score is 4/6.

Top Tip: Draw and over 2.5 goals in the match at 10/1 

Watford v Leeds United:

Watford are warm favourites at 8/11 to pick up their third Sky Bet Championship win of the season when they return to Vicarage Road to host Leeds after two away games. United travel down on the back of a home defeat to Middlesbrough – their second loss of the season – so they’re regarded outsiders at 7/2 to claim all three points, with the draw priced at 14/5. The three league games involving the Hornets have heralded eight goals so backing over 3.5 in this clash might tempt several punters at 2/1 while the home side are odds on at 5/6 to net two or more themselves. 

Top Tip: Over 3.5 match goals at 2/1

Wigan Athletic v Blackpool:

Despite being one of the pre-season favourites for promotion and the title itself, Wigan are still searching for their first win but they are nevertheless hot favourites at 2/5 to get the job done against Blackpool. The Seasiders, who were always expected to struggle this season, sit bottom of the table with three straight defeats so you can back them at 8/1 to spring a surprise and 100/30 to earn a draw. The Latics are 4/7 to net twice or more in the match while more than 3.5 goals in the match is available at 9/4 and the both teams to score price is odds against at 11/10.

Top Tip: Over 3.5 match goals at 9/4