Norwich v QPR
The first of our April 6 Championship betting tips and predictions is for Norwich v QPR. We’re getting into the business end of the Championship season now and teams are battling for points at both ends of the table as they look to strengthen their promotion bids or distance themselves from what’s turning out to be an ugly relegation battle. Norwich is top of the tree going into the weekend and they can extend their lead when hosting QPR on Friday night, live on Sky Sports. The Canaries are on a winning run and have opened a five-point gap over nearest rivals, Leeds. Extend that to eight and it’ll be as good as over. We expect that to happen and throw our cash on the home win at 4/9 (Bet365).
A Poor QPR
QPR have probably done enough to avoid being relegated this season and start the round down in 17th, their stats showing 12 wins and eight draws against 19 defeats. They are eight better than Rotherham and the bottom three, but well off the pace of a top-half finish. The Hoops have claimed just two of the last 15 points available to them and were beaten by lowly Bolton at home last time, a result very few predicted. That defeat alone shows just how poor QPR have been this term and we can’t trust them to bounce back, even at Unibet’s 6/1.
Our Tip: Norwich to win – 4/9 at Bet365
Birmingham v Leeds
The Blues are another side who don’t have an awful lot to play for on the back of a disappointing campaign but that meant they took their eye off the ball towards the tail-end of winter and have been sucked down into 18th as a result. Birmingham started the week five points better than the bottom-three, with confidence at rock-bottom following an extended run of defeats. They lost again last time and when in with a side chasing automatic promotion, there’s not enough in the 27/10 (Ladbrokes) to tempt us into an away win. The draw goes 5/2, top price at Bet365.
Dreaming of the Top
While Birmingham is hurting, Leeds fans allow themselves to dream of playing top-flight football next season. They still have half a chance of winning the title but that’s a big ask as Norwich are showing no signs of slowing down. Holding ground and finishing in the top-two is a more realistic goal for the Elland Road crew and they can take a step closer to the top-tier with an away win, Leeds have won four of their last five and can be trusted again here at 21/20 (BetFred).
Our Tip: Leeds to win – 21/20 at BetFred
Preston v Sheff Utd
You’ll find Preston down in 10th at the start of the week, 15 wins, 12 draws and a dozen defeats giving 57 points. They remain in with a chance of pushing for a playoff spot, however, and have just two points to find to match Derby in sixth and threaten an extended season. The locals won three on the bounce but were beaten last weekend, ending on the wrong side of a 2-1 away to Reading, an upset that ruined a fair share of accumulators on the day. They are 21/10 at Bet365 to bounce back and, as they have ambitions of their own, that’s a fair price.
Promotion in Reach
Sheffield United find themselves in third, on the edges of automatic promotion. The very least The Blades can expect this season is a play-off finish, but they’d much prefer to avoid the drama of that and book their place in the Premier League by ending in second, throwing Leeds to the lions. Like their opponents, United’s winning run ended last weekend when losing and, at this stage of the season, that dented their hopes. Will they bounce back to winning ways at the first time of asking. A lot of character is needed but they look a little short at 5/4 (Ladbrokes). Have an interest play on the home win in what should be a tense match.
Our Tip: Preston to win – 21/10 at Bet365
Millwall v West Brom
The pressure is building on Millwall as The Lions find themselves in a fight to retain their place in the Championship. Back in pre-season fans dreamt of pushing for promotion but they are stuck in a relegation battle and there’s just a point between the locals and Rotherham at last count. Millwall has lost four and won one of their last five, a 3-2 defeat at Elland Road last weekend the latest of them. Millwall showed their desire that day but it was another match where they impressed but came out of it empty-handed. The home win is 7/4 second favourite at Bet365, a draw priced 11/5 with the same bookie.
A Chance at Top Two
Three wins on the bounce have thrown West Brom into contention for a top-two finish and they won’t give up on that until it’s mathematically impossible although, to be fair, it does look a big ask at this point. Leeds are six points ahead and there’s no margin for error in the remaining few games. It looks like The Baggies will have to settle for play-off football and they are experienced enough to know finishing as high up the table as possible will increase their chances of going up. We have them backed for the away win at 8/5 with Unibet.
Our Tip: West Brom to win – 8/5 at Unibet
Sheff Weds v Aston Villa
We look to have a game on our hands here as Sheffield Wednesday and Aston Villa go toe-to-toe in the last chance saloon. The Owls are running out of time as they bid to break their way into the play-off places and avoid finishing outside of the prizes with nothing to show for their efforts. A slow start to the season continues to haunt them but the locals are just three off Derby at the time of writing. Backers will find Sheffield priced at 21/10, top price at Bet365, with the draw a 23/10 poke.
On Form
Aston Villa is the form side of the Championship at the minute and that’s something we never thought we would find ourselves writing. An extended run of wins has catapulted them up into fifth, but they still have work to do if they are to hold their ground and fight off the attentions of the sides around them in the pecking order. At present, there are just six points between Aston Villa and Hull City down in 12th. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating finish. Back the visitors at 7/5 (888sport).
Our Tip: Aston Villa to win – 7/5 at 888sport
Brentford v Derby
The last of our April 6 Championship betting tips is for Brentford v Derby. Brentford appears to have thrown away any chance they had at putting pressure on the play-off places, taking just one point from their last three games. They are now nine behind their opponents and unless they can score a convincing win here, it’ll all be over. Even with three points, it looks highly unlikely. The Bees have been chalked up as 19/20 favourites with Bet365 and that comes as a bit of a surprise to us. The draw goes 13/5 (Bet365), which looks a better bet.
Hanging On
Derby is unbeaten in four, showing two wins and a couple of draws, but they are hanging onto the play-offs by the skin of their teeth and would love the end of the season to come about now. The Rams are just a point ahead of Bristol City and one behind Aston Villa. Any two of eight or nine teams could finish in the play-offs at this point. We’re happy to stick with the away win and will back them at a price we think is bigger than it should be. Take Derby at 11/4 (Ladbrokes). That’s good enough to back as a super single for a decent stake, or it’ll do a job in your weekend accumulators.