Championship Predictions > Mar 16th & 17th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

The Championship has a midweek schedule coming up and with everything heating up as far as promotion and relegation is concerned there's lots to think about. What bets are you all putting down for these games? 

[StevieDay1983]

Cardiff vs Stoke

The midweek games in the Championship offer up some interesting clashes. Cardiff take on Stoke in a 7pm GMT kick-off on Tuesday night at the Cardiff City Stadium. It's a game between two teams that have faint hopes of qualifying for the play-offs and the result in this game could go a long way to deciding whether these teams fulfil their ambitions for the season or not.

Cardiff suffered their first defeat under Mick McCarthy on the weekend in the 2-1 loss to Watford at home. It was a game I was quietly optimistic we could take something from and we were so close. I'm still wondering how Dillon Phillips let that shot go in. The keeper has bailed us out enough over the past half a dozen games though so we can't be too harsh on him. Scoring goals is still something the Bluebirds can rely on having hit the back of the net in 11 of their last 12 league games. Just 1 win in the last 4 league matches has seen the club drop to 8th place and 7 points off the play-off pace now though. Wing back remains a problem area for the team with Joe Bennett and Joel Bagan both out injured. Perry Ng returned to the side on the weekend but who will take that left sided spot for this game? The individual performance in that role could determine how balanced our team is and affect the team performance as a whole.

Stoke might not have the best away record in the division but they know how to grind out results on the road having lost just 6 of their 18 away league games. Michael O'Neill's men are in 11th place and 13 points adrift of the play-offs. The Potters have been criticised for not turning possession into goals with their play in the final third often lacking potency. The team have lost 4 of their last 5 league matches with the fans getting fed up that a squad packed with names such as Joe Allen, John Obi Mikel, Nick Powell, Tyrese Campbell, James McClean, and James Chester aren't performing better. It's now 10 away league games without a win and they have lost the last 4 on the road.

As somebody that grew up supporting Cardiff in the 1990s I still have this feeling that Stoke are a bogey side for us. I still vividly remember James O'Connor breaking our hearts at Ninian Park in the old Division Two Play-Off Semi-Final second leg in 2002. However, we've only lost 1 of the last 5 meetings and that includes beating them 2-1 at their place back in December. I have to feel we can win a game like this.

Cardiff to Win @ 2.38 with SBK

Total Goals Scored Under 2.5 @ 1.62 with RedZone

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Queens Park Rangers

Queens Park has 7 wins, 4 draws and 7 losses at home this season, the performance is not very good. Moreover, the last home game was 0-1 to Huddersfield, whose strength was worse than his own. At the same time, he ended the previous two-game winning streak, and his morale was hit.

 

Millwall

Millwall beat Derby County 1-0 in the last round, improving morale. In the away game, they scored 7 wins, 6 draws and 5 losses in 18 games, much better than at home. And they have conceded less than 1 goal per game so far, the defense is relatively stable.

 

Verdict:

There is not much difference in strength between the two sides, but Millwall is in better condition and the away record is not bad. The 1X2 first odd is 2.25-3.20-3.20, seems lacked of confidence to the home team. Millwall should at least take 1 point in this game.

 

Queens Park Rangers VS Millwall

Pick: Millwall or draw

[yossa6133]

Done a single on Reading to beat Birmingham 1.3/1 bet365. Brum might get a boost from a change of manager but ultimately I just don't think the players are good enough. Reading looked decent against Forest and are a fair price.

[yossa6133]

Norwich looking awesome, this is painful already.