A big weekend in the Championship begins with nine fixtures on Saturday afternoon and after two matches already this week it will be interesting to see who has what left and whether form plays out or the surprise results keep on coming.
As with the majority of Saturdays we have a TV match to enjoy over the course of the day as well as a couple of streams of the other matches so we can follow as much of the action as is possible over the course of the day.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (3pm unless stated)
Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United (12.30)
Birmingham City v Luton Town
Huddersfield Town v Barnsley
Hull City v Derby County
Middlesbrough v Fulham
Millwall v Stoke City
Nottingham Forest v Reading
Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers
West Bromwich Albion v Charlton Athletic
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Big Matches
The televised offering this weekend comes from Hillsborough where two sides with their eye above them rather than below meet when Sheffield Wednesday host Leeds United in a match which has the caveat of Garry Monk taking on his former side. The leaders West Bromwich Albion are in action on Saturday as well. They host a Charlton Athletic side who have started the season well but for who this looks a real test.
Best of the Rest
Preston North End are the other members of the top six who are in action on Saturday afternoon. They host rivals Blackburn Rovers in a match where there will not be a huge amount of love lost between the two. At the other end of the table two of the bottom three meet at the John Smith’s Stadium where Huddersfield Town host Barnsley in a Yorkshire derby while the other team in that zone, Stoke City, head to The New Den to face their former manager Gary Rowett and his Millwall side. Elsewhere Nottingham Forest will look to recover a bad week when they host improving Reading while Fulham go to Middlesbrough looking to pick up three points.
Betting
I’ll go with the one bet across the course of Saturday afternoon where I’m taking on a side who I’m convinced are nothing like as good as their league position suggests they are. That team is Derby County who just don’t look anything special to me and I think their results flatter them. They would not have beaten Luton a couple of weeks ago but for two horrendous errors from the visiting goalkeeper and they were extremely fortunate to beat Wigan in midweek.
Hull City are nothing special but I don’t think you need to be to beat this Derby County side. What they do have is a lively front three and if they can play to their normal level then Derby are going to have a few issues. Derby haven’t won any of their last five away games and as I’ve just highlighted, a couple of their home wins have flattered them. I’ll take the chance that this Hull forward line exposes them for what they are.
Tips
WON – Back Hull City to beat Derby County for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Betfred
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