Championship predictions and best bets: Middlesbrough to take a step closer to Premier League with Good Friday win | Football News
Our soccer betting professional and high tipster Jones Knows provides up his perception on each Sky Bet Championship match on Good Friday and shares his best bets.
Middlesbrough vs Millwall, Friday 12.30pm, dwell on Sky Sports
Are Middlesbrough wobbling on the worst potential time?
They’ve received simply two of their final seven Championship matches, which means a seven-point hole to Ipswich now stands at simply two. And who is that this developing on the rails? It’s solely Millwall, who can leapfrog Middlesbrough by taking three factors. It’s getting severe up there.
One key facet to Boro’s type of late is that the underlying knowledge throughout the final seven video games remains to be very robust. Over these seven video games they’ve received each anticipated targets battle very comfortably and their xG supremacy determine is +1.4 per recreation which is a mighty return. One you’d affiliate with a crew profitable a title.
With a little little bit of variance due of their course they need to get again on the promotion prepare right here.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Birmingham vs Blackburn, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
If you are searching for a punchy angle into this one, the first-half markets could possibly be the place to play, particularly with Birmingham’s tendency to come flying out of the traps at St Andrew’s.
There’s a actually robust knowledge angle right here that makes the 6/4 with Sky Bet on Birmingham to be profitable at half-time stand out as a wager price your consideration.
No crew within the Championship can higher their anticipated targets determine earlier than the break, which sits at a chunky 18.58. And it isn’t simply underlying knowledge doing the speaking. Only Hull City and Ipswich have scored extra house targets earlier than half-time, placing Birmingham proper on the high desk when it comes to turning that try into present stress.
This is not about backing Birmingham outright over 90 minutes, the place inconsistency can creep in. It’s about isolating a clear power of quick begins and attacking a particular market that performs proper into it.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Charlton vs Bristol City, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
There are some appointments in soccer that make you sit up and take discover. Then there are some that make you scratch your head and surprise what on earth is happening.
Enter Roy Hodgson.
His arrival at Bristol City – 44 years after he first left the membership – has all of the hallmarks of a transfer designed to generate headlines fairly than rapid outcomes.
Hodgson himself has admitted he does not know a nice deal in regards to the present squad, which is hardly ideally suited preparation heading into a aggressive Championship fixture. Add the very fact he inherits a group stretched by accidents and you’ve got acquired a supervisor bounce that appears susceptible fairly than revitalized. Home win it’s at 23/20 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Leicester vs Preston, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
Motivation is every part at this stage of the Championship season and you will not discover a larger distinction than what we have right here.
On one facet, you’ve got acquired Leicester City scrapping for his or her lives. On the opposite, Preston North End drifting in the direction of the ending line with little or no left to play for.
Leicester’s state of affairs is easy: outcomes are every part.
Performances can take a again seat if wanted: it is about digging in, discovering moments and getting factors on the board. That’s the place the affect of Gary Rowett might show pivotal. Throughout his profession, he is constructed a popularity for setting groups up to grind out outcomes, notably in high-pressure conditions identical to this one. It’s not at all times fairly, but it surely’s usually efficient.
A low scoring house win please.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0
Norwich vs Portsmouth, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
No crew has earned extra Championship factors since Christmas than Norwich City, posting 12 wins from 17 matches as Philippe Clement has overseen a outstanding turnaround.
The Canaries have stored seven clear sheets in 12 league video games, conceding simply 5 targets in that run. The outcomes have been backed up by the info.
Yet the market is dangling Evens with Sky Bet in opposition to struggling Portsmouth, who’ve misplaced three on the spin, 5 of their previous six and have simply been pumped 6-1 by QPR. Ebou Adams, Pompey’s key man, can also be out with harm for the journey to Carrow Road. The house win is a very beneficiant value.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-0 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Norwich to win (Evens with Sky Bet)
Oxford vs Hull, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
This is a good match-up for Oxford when it comes to set-pieces. They’ve created 3.6 price of anticipated targets from set-pieces of their final 5 video games – accounting for over 65 per cent of their whole xG output. So that is a crew that provides you a nice run on your cash once you’re backing the same old set-piece primarily based markets.
Hull have conceded the second most xG from set-pieces this season at 18.05 and have conceded 15 targets by way of that route. Michal Helik is the person to again then at 10/1 to rating with Sky Bet.
He’s had six photographs in his final 5 begins, together with opening the scoring in Oxford’s 3-1 win at Preston. Helik has additionally scored thrice in seven begins in opposition to Hull.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Michal Helik to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
QPR vs Watford, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
Both groups to rating and over 2.5 targets charges as a cracking wager right here at Evens with Sky Bet.
Loftus Road is the highest-scoring Championship venue this time period, averaging 3.47 targets per recreation with 79 per cent of these contests producing over 2.5 targets.
Both groups to rating have clicked in all 4 of Edward Still’s matches accountable for Watford on the highway with the per-game common coming in at a wholesome 3.25 targets. Both groups are anticipated to convey the noise and attacking intent in what could possibly be a enjoyable and goal-heavy encounter.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Over 2.5 targets & BTTS (Evens with Sky Bet)
Sheffield United vs Swansea, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
There’s a robust case for opposing clear sheets at Bramall Lane proper now and that leads us properly into a juicy goalscorer angle.
The hosts have gone 9 video games at house with out a clear sheet.
Whether it is structural points or lapses in focus, groups are discovering methods by them with alarming regularity. So, if you happen to’re purchasing within the anytime goalscorer market, it is smart to latch onto the highest goalscorer within the division at 11/4 with Sky Bet to fireplace once more in Zan Vipotnik.
The Swansea striker has 17 targets this season and there’s nothing fluky in regards to the return. His motion within the field is sharp, he will get repeat probabilities and he is proven he will be medical when these alternatives fall his method.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports+
Stoke City have quietly changed into probably the most watchable – and backable – groups within the division over the previous few weeks, and a lot of that may be traced again to the return of the stylish Million Manhoef.
Since he got here again into the fold seven video games in the past, Stoke’s attacking output has discovered a new gear. The numbers inform the story: Those seven matches have averaged a hefty 3.7 targets per recreation, with six of the seven clearing the over 2.5 targets line. That’s not a coincidence, that is a crew enjoying with extra intent and danger. It’s main to cumbersome targets outputs.
The key right here isn’t just backing targets blindly, however aligning that development with a Stoke facet who’ve the sting in high quality and momentum over a rudderless Sheffield Wednesday.
That’s why the ten/11 with Sky Bet for a Stoke win and over 2.5 targets makes loads of enchantment.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1
West Brom vs Wrexham, Friday 3pm, dwell on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Backing center-backs to get on the scoresheet stays a actual favourite scoring pastime of mine.
George Campbell is enjoying with confidence and arriving within the field with an try to rating on the minute – as seen by his return of three targets in his final six video games. It’s a sample pushed by elevated attacking accountability from set-pieces and a crew enjoying with renewed vitality underneath new boss James Morrison. He has breathed life into a facet that seemed destined for bother not too way back. Suddenly, West Brom are enjoying with goal, perception and have given themselves a real shot at survival.
Campbell is 10/1 with Sky Bet to rating.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Coventry vs Derby, Friday 8pm, dwell on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
There’s a time in each promotion push the place the equation turns into crystal clear: simply win video games and the remaining takes care of itself.
That’s precisely the place Coventry City discover themselves. Charging in the direction of the Championship title, they know 11 factors from their ultimate seven matches might be sufficient to sign a return to the Premier League for the primary time in 25 years. It’s a goal that sharpens the thoughts and, as a rule, brings out decisive performances.
Friday third April 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Derby will level to a strong away document of 9 wins on the highway within the Championship. But dig a little deeper and there’s a clear crimson flag.
None of these victories have come in opposition to groups beginning this spherical within the high half. They have a tendency to lose their method up in opposition to the best groups on this division. At 11/8 with Sky Bet, backing Coventry to win and over 2.5 targets seems to be just like the candy spot. If they do get on high, historical past suggests they will not simply edge it, they will look to put the sport to mattress in model.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (11/8 with Sky Bet)
Jones Knows’ best bets…
1pt treble on: Norwich to win, over 2.5 targets & BTTS in QPR vs Watford & Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (8/1 with Sky Bet)
1pt on Michal Helik to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
1pt on George Campbell to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
0.5pt double on Helik & Campbell to rating (100/1 with Sky Bet)
