The latest midweek round of matches in the Championship concludes on Wednesday evening when the last five fixtures take place over the country as the second tier table begins to take shape at the start of what is a ridiculously crazy schedule.
As with the matches on Tuesday, all five matches on Wednesday will be available to be watched on the red button on Sky Sports but there is one match in front of the channel which the focus will be centred on.
Wednesday’s fixtures are as follows: (All 7.45pm kick off – Red Button unless stated)
Cardiff City v AFC Bournemouth
Queens Park Rangers v Preston North End
Sheffield Wednesday v Brentford (Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
Stoke City v Barnsley
Watford v Blackburn Rovers
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Preview
The main channel televised offering comes from Hillsborough where all eyes are likely to be on the visitors Brentford to see if they can move into the top half of the table and end any talk of Said Benrahma once and for all. They take on a Sheffield Wednesday who would actually be a point above Brentford in the table were it not for their point deduction. As it is they could move to within a point of a level ledger if they come away from a victory from this one.
The biggest match in terms of the top end of the table may well come down in Wales where Cardiff City host third placed AFC Bournemouth in what will be a distinct clash in styles. There will be similar at Vicarage Road where low scoring Watford take on a Blackburn Rovers who are full of goals. The other two matches on Wednesday night sees QPR host Preston North End and Stoke City taking on Barnsley.
Betting
I’m not going to go too mad here but there is one bet which I like which is for Stoke City to beat Barnsley. I’ve seen both these sides with my own eyes this season and although Stoke are one of those growing number of teams in this league that if they were playing in my back garden I’d draw the curtains on, they are very effective at what they do and I don’t envisage them losing too many matches when they get the first goal, partly because they defend so deep but also because if they do come under pressure at any point Nick Powell will just fall to the floor and get the game stopped!
They take on a Barnsley team who I think a lot of people thought would go well heading into the new season. Luton played them on the opening day and the Tykes were poor but I didn’t think they’d be winless four matches later. Since then Gerhard Struber has left for the bright lights of the Big Apple and those doubts that were there when they were struggling last season before he came in are back. To be fair to Barnsley they got a wonderful draw against the leaders Bristol City at the weekend via a 102nd minute penalty but Michael Sollbauer was stretchered off with a head injury in that incident and I’d be amazed if he passes all the protocols in time for him to play here. He’s a big cog for Barnsley defensively and they are going to need their defence to be on song against a bunch of man mountains. Chasing the game for so long against Bristol City at the weekend might lead to a few tired Barnsley legs here and so while Stoke’s home record has a lot of improvement in it I think that can begin with a win here.
Tips
Back Stoke City to beat Barnsley for a 3/10 stake at 2.00 with Coral
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