Championship Play-Off Predictions > May 17th

[StevieDay1983]

[StevieDay1983]

The Championship season now enters the play-off stages of the competition. It's Bournemouth versus Brentford and Barnsley versus Swansea. Who are you guys backing to win these first legs? The odds and ratings are above. 

[StefanBB]

Bournemouth vs Brentford

The home side slipped down to 6^th place after a poor finish in the regular stage. The Cherries suffered three straight defeats and allowed Swansea and Barnsley to push them a bit down on the table. Luckily for the hosts, this bad streak didn’t jeopardize their playoff spot, but they need to fight with in-form Brentford for a place in the finals. Prior to this drop in form, Bournemouth celebrated six times in a row, and Jonathan Woodgate wants to get back the team on the winning track. However, Dominic Solanke and the lads failed to score in the previous three games, and they need to improve finishing. Bournemouth has been pretty confident at the home ground, but they tied two defeats at Vitality Stadium. They need to put much better performances to get a chance for being promoted to the Premier League.

On the other hand, the visitors have been on excellent momentum lately. The Bees booked four straight victories and secured the 3^rd spot ahead of the playoffs. Thomas Frank’s side conceded only once during that streak, and their defense has been pretty disciplined lately. Brentford is the most productive side in the Championship, and the away side netted 79 times in the regular stage. Ivan Toney and the lads haven’t lost 12 times in a row, so the visitors hope to continue their unbeatable streak. They have been the second-best away team in the competition, losing only five times in 23 outings. Brentford want to keep up where they left off and get back home undefeated.

Full-Time Winner Odds & Prediction

Brentford has been in much better form lately, and the visitors are slight favorites ahead of this tie. These two sides met each other three weeks ago at the same venue, and Brentford celebrated a 1:0 win. We might see a similar scenario again, and we believe the away side will beat their rivals once again.

Goals Market Prediction

Bournemouth has been struggling in front of the oppositions’ net lately, while Brentford is pretty tough to beat in the back. Since the stake is high in this game, we don’t expect to see too many goals. It is going to be a tight clash that shouldn’t go over a 2.5 margin.

Brentford to win @ 2.50

Under 2.5 FT @ 1.70

Correct score 0:2 @ 12.00

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Bournemouth AFC

It it out of expectation that they suffer a three-match losing streak recently, which makes them down to the sixth in the table of the League.

 

Brentford

Instead, they get a four-match winning streak, causing them in high morale. They have scored 7 goals but conceded only one goal during that time.

 

Verdict:

There is a gap between Bournemouth AFC and Brentford. And Brentford are in form now. In addition, Brentford have defeated Bournemouth AFC for twice this season. Thus Brentford have the trend to win.  

 

Prediction: 0-2, 1-2

[ALEXXXXXXXX]

Barnsley

They are not in form, which have been winless for two matches. They do not play well in home game recently, getting 2W-3D-2L. And they have even been defeated by Sheffield Wednesday at 1-2 as host.

 

Swansea City

They play well on both offensive and defensive, with 1.22 scoring goals and 0.85 conceding goal in average of this season. Besides, they also play well as traverller, with 70% unbeaten rate in away games this season.

 

Verdict:

Swansea City have never been defeated by Barnsley in past head-to-head clashes. Swansea City are good at away games and Barnsley are weak in home game. So Swansea City are more likely to win.

 

Prediction: 1-2, 1-1

[StevieDay1983]

Bournemouth vs Brentford

The first legs of the Championship play-offs take place on Monday night with the first of the double header being the 6pm BST kick-off between Bournemouth and Brentford at the Vitality Stadium. Both teams are dreaming of playing in the Premier League next season but only one will progress to the final. Can either gain an advantage in this first 90 minutes of football in this tie?

Bournemouth have had an interesting season so far. The Cherries took the controversial decision to replace Eddie Howe with his assistant manager Jason Tindall for this campaign back in the second tier of English football. That didn't go so well with the club struggling to stay in and around the play-off places. Tindall was relinquished of his responsibilities and replaced with Jonathan Woodgate back in February. It's a decision that divided the fans but the former Middlesbrough manager has done the business with the club finishing in 6th place and 7 points inside the play-offs. The team can boast the 4th best home record in the league but did lose their last 3 league games including both of their most recent two home games in the league.

Brentford will have a point to prove after their gut-wrenching loss to Fulham in last season's play-off final. Thomas Frank has managed to pick his players up and led them to 3rd place in the league and just 4 points short of automatic promotion. The Bees were unbeaten in their last 12 league games of the season including winning their final 4 matches with 3 clean sheets kept during that run-in. The team has benefited from the 31 goals scored by striker Ivan Toney who is the latest player to be delivering the goods for Brentford up top after the performances of Ollie Watkins and Neal Maupay over recent years. History doesn't look kindly on Brentford in the play-offs though with the club failing to earn promotion in all 9 of their previous attempts.

Head-to-head records don't exactly breathe hope into the hearts of Bournemouth fans with their club having lost all 3 of their most recent meetings with Brentford including both matches this season. If you're going on form then you have to back the away side but the play-offs have a funny habit of throwing form out of the window. That's why it's a bit mystifying that people claim you need to gather some momentum going into the play-offs because the stats don't necessarily show that's true. I still think Brentford should win this tie but Bournemouth could well give them a game here.

Brentford Draw No Bet @ 1.96 with SBK

BTTS @ 2.05 with SportNation

[StevieDay1983]

Barnsley vs Swansea

The second Championship play-off semi-final first leg taking place on Monday night is the 8:15pm BST kick-off between Barnsley and Swansea at Oakwell. It's a clash between a home side who were tipped by many to battle relegation this season and a travelling team that will be keen to lay to rest the ghost of last season's hot-tempered play-off semi-final defeat to Brentford.

Barnsley were fourth from bottom when head coach Valerien Ismael took over the reigns at the club back in October. The former Hannover 96 and Wolfsburg manager has done an incredible job at leading the club to finish 5th in the table and 8 points inside the top 6. The Tykes did end the season with inconsistent results but they did only lose 1 of their last 11 league matches at home. It's probably fair to say that most neutrals would love to see the Yorkshire side defy the odds and earn promotion here but they have a big challenge ahead of them.

Swansea started the season very impressively as they quickly looked like becoming favourites for automatic promotion. Steve Cooper earned the plaudits for picking his players up after last season's play-off heartache but he has also attracted his fair share of criticism for the approach he has to management with his players slated for their theatrics and unnecessary aggravation during games. The Swans won't care about that and they certainly won't care that they are up against the people's choice in Barnsley. The team's results in the second half of the season have tailed off and with just 3 wins in their last 11 league games they don't exactly come into these play-offs brimming with confidence. You also have to think that having won just 1 of their last 5 league games at home that the pressure is on them to do the business in this away leg.

Head-to-head results don't exactly read well for Barnsley fans with their club having failed to win any of their previous 12 meetings with Swansea. That run includes two 2-0 losses in the league this season. However, there is a ray of hope from history. The last time Barnsley did defeat Swansea was in the 2005/06 League One Play-Off Final winning 4-3 on pens after a 2-2 draw. Unfortunately, as much as I'd love to witness the romance of Barnsley winning this tie I think Swansea will be too strong.

Swansea Draw No Bet @ 2.68 with SBK

BTTS No @ 1.77 with SBK

[yossa6133]

Not had a bet but I'd go for Bournemouth to beat Swansea in the final. Don't trust the Brentford defence for the biggest games.

[harry_rag]

Bournemouth v Brentford:

20 points on 4-6 cards shown at 11/10 Hills

20 points on Groeneveld to score at 4.2 on BF

15 points on Billing to score at 5.91 on BF

20 points on Forss to score at 3/1 Uni

Not expecting a huge cards make up here but think the chances of between 4-6 are slightly better than the odds imply.

Solanke and Toney perhaps the most obvious scorers but happy with those 3 at prices where one would show a profit.

[harry_rag]

1 hour ago, harry_rag said:

20 points on Groeneveld to score at 4.2 on BF

One in! A rare in play bet for me; 8 points on Mbuemo to score at 9/1 Hills. Was on my shortlist pre game but didn't start. Not bad at that price with half an hour to play.

[harry_rag]

Barnsley v Swansea: 

12 points each on Mowatt to score at 7.84 and Lowe at 6.24, both on BF.

Swerving the market leaders as prices look fair at best and going for a couple of more appealing longer shots.

[harry_rag]

And 5 points (free bet) on Bidwell to get an assist at 8/1 Hills.

Bookings bet on the last game earned me a freebie to be used on this game. Not much appealing so went for this.