The Sky Bet Championship officially returns from the break for the World Cup on Saturday with nine fixtures taking place at various times due to the impact of the England quarter final that is dominating the evening.
One of the nine matches will be live on TV for us in the UK to enjoy and with no Premier League action on Saturday, the other eight are likely to get more focus than usual in the other ways to keep up with the Championship.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (3pm unless stated; UK TV in brackets)
Blackburn Rovers v Preston North End (12pm – Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
Rotherham United v Bristol City (12.30pm)
Reading v Coventry City (2pm)
Blackpool v Birmingham City
Middlesbrough v Luton Town
Millwall v Wigan Athletic
Sheffield United v Huddersfield Town
Stoke City v Cardiff City
Swansea City v Norwich City
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Big Matches
There is a Lancashire derby for us to enjoy over the course of the early part of Saturday when Blackburn Rovers look to move to within a couple of points of the leaders Burnley when they welcome Preston North End to Ewood Park. Preston took ages to score a goal at the start of the season and will hope to come back in faster fashion here. When they are done, Sheffield United have the chance to move top of the pile for 24 hours when they entertain the bottom side in the division in the form of Huddersfield Town.
Best of the Rest
Norwich City are the only other members of the top six in action on Saturday and they have a lengthy trip to Swansea City who are one of a number of teams who could move into the top six with a win over the course of the day. Millwall are another of those and they will be the opponents for Kolo Toure’s first match in the Wigan Athletic dugout. Luton Town are another team who can move into the top six. They head to Middlesbrough for Rob Edwards’ first game in charge. If a lot of results go their way then the winner of the match between Reading and Coventry City could also move into the top six. The break came at a good time for Blackpool and they’ll hope to turn their form around when Birmingham City visit the seaside.
Betting
I think Millwall have a big advantage going into Saturday. Wigan Athletic might have played a friendly behind closed doors somewhere since the World Cup began but they have kept it fully under wraps if they have. If they haven’t then this will be the first chance Kolo Toure has to see if his first few days on the training pitch is bearing fruit where it really counts. If there hasn’t been a friendly his players, who prior to the win over a slumping Blackpool side in their last match before the World Cup had lost six of their last seven matches, are entitled to be a bit rusty.
That won’t be the case for Millwall who had a competitive hit out last week and although they were well beaten by Sunderland in the end, had they taken one of a few chances they created in the first half things could have been much different there. That was only the second defeat for Millwall in their last 10 matches and only leaders Burnley and third placed Blackburn have taken more home points than the Lions at The Den this season. Millwall should be a lot more up to speed than their opponents here and I think that can show on the scoreboard when the full time whistle gets blown.
Tips
Back Millwall to beat Wigan Athletic for a 3/10 stake at 1.91 with William Hill
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