We’ve had a look at the outright market for the Sky Bet Championship but there is still time to look at some of the other ante-post offerings, the first of which is the top goalscorer one, a market which is always popular among punters.
We saw last season that literally anyone can top score in this division, as Teemu Pukki bagged himself 29 goals in the previous campaign for leading honours. He was the first player in three seasons to play for a promoted club when he top scored.
Recent Winners
2018-19 – Teemu Pukki
2017-18 – Matej Vydra
2016-17 – Chris Wood
2015-16 – Andre Gray
2014-15 – Daryl Murphy
2013-14 – Ross McCormack
2012-13 – Glenn Murray
2011-12 – Rickie Lambert
2010-11 – Danny Graham
2009-10 – Peter Whittingham & Nicky Maynard
Market Leaders
Aleksandar Mitrovic is the 6/1 favourite to land the top scoring honours this term. When Fulham were promoted from this division a couple of seasons ago it was him coming in during the January window and scoring goals for fun which completely transformed them. He didn’t have the impact he would have liked for them in the Premier League last season but he looks to be something of a worthy favourite this term.
Neil Maupay was one of the leading scorers in the division last season and given that many of those who were high up in the scoring charts have departed the league either with their club getting promoted or they have secured their own move, you’ve got to think the Brentford marksman is a solid contender here. The only issue would be whether he completes the season in the division. He is a wanted man and you feel at some point someone will take a chance on him. If he is in the Championship in May his 12/1 price will look big but will he be?
Leeds forward Patrick Bamford and Huddersfield striker Karlan Ahearne-Grant are both 16/1 to top score. The big question over the Elland Road man is whether he’ll still be the main man when Kemar Roofe returns from injury while the latter has to overcome a potential lack of creativity in their ranks. He was a star for Charlton but is up in level from that so you’d have to say there are question marks over both of them.
Britt Assombalonga and the aforementioned Roofe are both 20/1 to be the top scorer this season. Roofe is missing the start of the campaign due to injury which immediately puts me off taking him. Assombalonga is more interesting now he has a manager who seems to have an intention to attack. It would be no surprise if he comes alive under a change in manager, as we’ve seen many do who lose the Pulis shackles.
Profile
If you look at the list of top scorers above, we don’t need to be on someone who is going to play for a promoted side which offers up a lot more options from a betting point of view. That said it stands to reason that the teams higher up the table are going to score more goals so in theory players for those clubs are going to be more likely to top score.
I think the thing to concentrate on is the need to be the main man. If we can be on a penalty taker as well then that is all the more sweet as he’ll get a few cheap goals in that manner. When you narrow it down using those trends the market is a little easier to manage.
Betting
Although my own team are in this division I can’t see beyond Fulham forward Aleksandar Mitrovic top scoring this term. I think injury could be the only thing that denies him. He’s near enough certain to be in the league all season as Fulham have given him a massive new contract, and he isn’t going to go short of chances with the likes of Cavaleiro, Knockaert, Sessegnon and Cairney creating havoc for him. He’s the best striker in the league and while I don’t like taking too many favourites in ante-post bets I can’t ignore the Serbian even at 6/1.
Barnsley might not be the best side in the Championship but they play a nice style of football and they’ll open teams up at certain points so it could be worth siding with Cauley Woodrow at a huge price for a small stake. He scored better than one in two for the time he played for Barnsley last season and with some extra pace put into the side around him the chances should flow nicely. He might have to share duties with Kieffer Moore but the former Rotherham man isn’t completely reliable on the injury front. At 100/1 I don’t mind a throwaway bet on a talented striker.
Tips
WON – Back A.Mitrovic Top Goalscorer for a 3/10 stake at 7.00 with Betway
Back him here:
Back C.Woodrow Top Goalscorer (e/w) for a 0.5/10 stake at 101.00 with BetVictor (1/4 1-4)
Back him here:
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