After a dramatic night in the Sky Bet Championship on Friday evening to open up the latest weekend of action, the remainder of this game week takes place on Saturday where three valuable points are up for grabs for 20 teams.
As always at this stage of a season in the Championship there is so much to play for and we’ll see the promotion fold in the spotlight in the TV game which kicks off the day. The usual ways will be required to keep up with the other matches.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (3pm unless stated; UK TV in brackets)
Fulham v Blackburn Rovers (12.30 – Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
Bristol City v Birmingham City
Derby County v Barnsley
Hull City v West Bromwich Albion
Middlesbrough v Luton Town
Preston North End v AFC Bournemouth
Queens Park Rangers v Cardiff City
Reading v Millwall
Stoke City v Blackpool
Swansea City v Coventry City
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Big Matches
It is top against fourth in the early kick off on Saturday afternoon when Fulham will look to move 11 points clear at the top of the table for a few hours at least when they entertain a Blackburn Rovers side who are beginning to fall over their own feet a little at present. A month or so ago they looked to be pushing for automatic promotion but they could end the day clinging on to a play-off berth. AFC Bournemouth will look to move back into second spot when the rest of the games kick off. They will be out to avoid defeat at Preston North End to do that. At the other end of the table Derby County host Barnsley in a match which is likely to define the relegation picture.
Best of the Rest
There is a huge match in the race for the play-off places at the Riverside as Luton Town, who filled the final spot heading into the weekend, travel to Middlesbrough who sat two places below them in the table. QPR are the other side in action in the top six. They host a Cardiff City side who might well be there for the taking. Coventry City and Millwall are currently on the fringes of the top six looking in. They head to Swansea City and Reading respectively with the Royals looking for three points to ease their relegation fears.
Betting
This is a tricky looking card. There is no doubt the best bet came on Friday evening which I took advantage of but there is one I like over the course of Saturday. I always thought Bournemouth would be too good for this division this season and their January spending only reinforced that. They are odds on to get automatic promotion and can show their credentials away to Preston North End, who are on the upturn under Ryan Lowe but who are struggling for wins at home.
Preston are without a win in six at home with their best work under Lowe at the minute coming away from Deepdale. That will change in time because Lowe is a fantastic coach but right now Bournemouth have the talent to take advantage of those vulnerabilities. They are strong offensively and decent enough defensively, which to be fair they will need to be because there is a physical threat to the Preston attack. Bournemouth had a two month spell where they won just two out of 10 matches but they have snapped out of that to win their last four and can make that five with victory here.
Tips
Back AFC Bournemouth (-0.25AH) to beat Preston North End for a 3/10 stake at 2.01 with BetVictor
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