Championship Final Day-Take Sheffield To Go Up
It’s a hugely important day in the Championship with three teams in with a chance of clinching the final automatic promotion slot. Reading and Birmingham play each other while Sheffield United visit Crystal Palace and their old boss in their final match , so lets look a the games.
Reading need to take all three points from their match with Birmingham, while the Blues could still get promotion if they manage to draw and Sheffield United fail to win (are you following this-it’s got more twists and turns than an episode of Inspector Morse) their match away at Crystal Palace.
Birmingham have been in decent form away from home and are undefeated in four while Reading’s home form of late has left a lot to be desired and they haven’t won in seven games. Statistically Reading have a good record against Birmingham and at 5/4 (Coral) to win they look a decent price.
With only one win in their last five meetings with Reading, Birmingham look to be up against it in trying to take all three points but their current form is better than Reading’s and so the 21/10 (Bet365) does look tempting. With so much at stake for both teams, we don’t expect a great game and we’re actually going to go for the draw 12/5 (Skybet) which means Birmingham will have t sweat it out and wait for the Sheffield United result. We’re tipping Kevin Doyle 11/2 (Skybet) to be first goalscorer.
Sheffield United are in great form and have only lost one of their last eight games, that’s the complete opposite of opponents Crystal Palace who have only managed one win from their last eight games. United need to win and hope Birmingham don’t pick up all three points from their match. Sheffield United are priced at 8/13 (Paddypower) and we think that’s a decent price. Palace are 4/1 (Bet365) to spoil the party, but that looks unlikely to us.
Palace have only won one of their last six home games against Sheffield United and so we’re going for an away win that could see Sheffield United promoted. Our pick to be first goal scorer is Craig Beattie 11/2 (Coral).
Burnley are another team who need three points to clinch a play-off place and they have a home match against Bristol City. Burnley have only lost four times at home all season and they should pick up all three points here. The 1/2 (Bet365) about Burnley looks worth taking when you consider Bristol City haven’t won in seven games and have lost their last five away .
Preston are Burnley’s nearest challengers, and they are at home to out of form QPR. Anything other than a home would be a shock, but QPR have managed a draw on their last three visits and we think it could just be worth taking a chance on that result again. The correct score of 1-1 7/1 (Skybet) is a bet worth a small stake.
Roy Keane’s first home match in charge of Ipswich should bring a win against Coventry. We’re taking both teams to score in this match at 10/11 (Skybet). The correct score of 4-1 is 40/1 (Skybet) and we think that’s worth a little bet.
Norwich need to win if they are to have a chance of avoiding the drop and they can win away at Charlton.
Our prediction is a win for Norwich Evens (Coral).
We’re going for Plymouth to beat Barnsley at 11/5 (Ladbrokes) and we’re having a bet on a 2-0 correct score at 18/1 (Skybet).