A crucial weekend in the Sky Bet Championship concludes on Monday when two more matches take place in the division which will have an impact on those looking to leave the competition at the top and those wanting to remain in it at the bottom.
The good news about Monday is that both matches will be available to watch on the TV for us in the UK. The first one is on the red button for those who have that service while the second one is on the main channel.
Rotherham United vs Middlesbrough (13.00 – Sky Red Button)
The opening match of Monday comes from the New York Stadium where Rotherham United will go in search of another season of Champions League football when they play host to a Middlesbrough side who are waiting for the play-offs to come around.
Rotherham suffered late disappointment on Thursday night when Cardiff City got the better of them but despite that you would imagine the Millers will be safe if they can avoid defeat here. A win guarantees their safety but a point would mean Reading would need to overturn three points and eight goals on the final day which is unlikely. We saw last Monday that Middlesbrough boss Michael Carrick is already into the mode of getting minutes into those who need them ahead of the play-offs so we can expect a bit of rotation from his team here. That might give Rotherham more of a chance of winning the game but I still wouldn’t want to trust them with three days turnaround. Given that Rotherham would be favourites to win at relegated Wigan on the final day, this is enough of a free hit for them to have a right good go here. Middlesbrough don’t do clean sheets as a rule but they are rarely shut out too so the 4/5 on both teams to score looks attractive enough to me.
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Blackburn Rovers vs Luton Town (17.30 – Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
The second match of the afternoon pits two of the top nine against each other when Blackburn Rovers host Luton Town with the season being on the line for the home side who know that a defeat here will as good as end their top six hopes. The visitors are already assured of a top six finish.
Blackburn go into this match as the favourites but that can only be on their need to win basis because this is a team who have failed to win any of their last eight matches dating back to the FA Cup quarter final. I think it is fair to say that the performances of Blackburn haven’t necessarily resembled their poor results but they urgently need to flip that around. They need to win regardless of how they perform. Luton have no such worries. They are going to finish in the top four and as far as followers of this site are concerned if they match the Middlesbrough result from earlier in the day we will get the place part of the outright bet on the Hatters.
If Luton were not waiting for the play-offs to come around I would be all over them here as their away record under Rob Edwards is fantastic but they might make some changes which leads me to taking the same bet I took last Monday which is for Marvelous Nakamba to make more than four tackles. He made five in the win over Middlesbrough and with Blackburn having to send men forward, and the likes of Sammie Szmodics and Ryan Hedges a threat through the middle there will be plenty of attacks for the Aston Villa loanee to repel. I mentioned on Monday night the incredible record Nakamba has when it comes to tackles against teams who will have most of the ball against Luton and I expect the Zimbabwean to clock up another five here.
Tips
Back Rotherham United vs Middlesbrough – Both teams to score for a 3/10 stake at 1.80 with William Hill
Back M.Nakamba – Over 4 tackles for a 3/10 stake at 2.25 with William Hill
Back them here:
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