We are now moving into the business end of the season and the race for qualification to the Premiership is really heating up. Newcastle and Brighton are clinging to the top two spots, but below them there are several strong sides bang in form. There are 10 fixtures this weekend, featuring most of the top sides, and there is plenty of value to be had, specially in our green listed bookmakers
Barnsley v Huddersfield
Huddersfield are on fire in the Championship, having won their last seven games in a row. Sandwiched among that was a highly creditable 0-0 draw with high-flying Premiership team Man City, and they are surging with confidence at present. Their midweek win over fourth placed Reading was hugely impressive and it moved them four points ahead of the Royals. Huddersfield are now just four points off an automatic promotion spot and Brighton will be looking very nervously over their shoulders. Barnsley are doing reasonably well but are unlikely to make the playoffs and will be disappointed by their 2-0 defeat against Brighton last time out. Another quirk of their results is that Barnsley are strong on the road but poor at home, having lost six times already in front of their own fans this season. Huddersfield are the form team of the league and really should beat them, making odds of 2.15 with William Hill, Betfred and Bet Stars looks very tempting indeed.
Brentford v Rotherham
Brentford surprised everyone with a 2-1 win over Sheffield Wednesday midweek. Wednesday were flying and had won four on the bounce, but came unstuck as Brentford battled to a fantastic win. Now they face Rotherham, who are bottom of the league, 15 points adrift of safety, and surely already thinking about life in League One next season. The Millers have lost five of their last six and were routed by Cardiff last time out as they lost 5-0. Brentford should win this and 1.51 at Stan James looks good.
Wigan v Nottingham Forest
Nottingham Forest have endured a torrid time of late, losing three on the trot amid a goalkeeping crisis and sliding down the table. But that losing streak has to end somewhere and Wigan is the perfect place for them to get their season back on track. Wigan have the worst home record in the league and are in the relegation zone, so Forest will fancy their chances of getting a vital away point. The draw looks interesting at 3.40 with Bet365, but the best bet could well be both teams to score at 2.00 with 888 Sport. Both teams have scored in each of Nottingham Forest’s last five games. Wigan have conceded 18 goals in 16 home games, so you would fancy Forest to score, but Forest have conceded an enormous 36 goals in 17 away games, so you would definitely fancy Wigan to score too.
Brighton v Reading
Brighton have wobbled a little of late but they are clinging onto an automatic playoff place thanks to their superb home form. The Seagulls have the best home record in the league, having won 12, drawn three and lost just one of their 16 games. Reading are a decent team but have already lost seven times on the road this season, including
midweek against Huddersfield. Brighton are a team of similar ability to Huddersfield and should win this to extend their impressive home record. The 1.73 Bet Victor is offering looks a great price.
Norwich v Ipswich
A huge East Anglia derby takes place on Sunday and Ipswich come into the game on a four-game unbeaten run. That streak has included a win over Aston Villa and three draws against teams in the top five – Leeds, Reading and Brighton. They are clearly a tough nut to crack. Norwich have been in great form and have an outside chance of making the playoffs, but slipped up with a 2-1 defeat at Burton last time out. It should be tight, but home advantage could swing it in Norwich’s favour. At home they have excelled this season, winning 11 of 16 games. Ipswich have struggled on the road, losing half their games. The last three times these two teams have met at Carrow Road, Norwich have won. Admittedly, that is spread over a long period of time as Norwich keep getting promoted to the Premiership and Ipswich don’t, but Norwich won 2-0 in 2008, 4-1 in 2010 and most tellingly 2-0 in 2015. Norwich to win at 1.75 with Sky Bet looks good.
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