The last round of matches in the Sky Bet Championship prior to Christmas continue in what are expected to be freezing conditions across the UK on Saturday when nine fixtures take place overall in the second tier.
We are getting back to normal on the schedule department so we have a televised game to enjoy on Saturday. Six of the other eight matches will be able to be viewed via the red button service as well so on a cold day there is plenty of reason to put the feet up and watch some TV.
Saturday’s fixtures are as follows: (3pm unless stated – UK TV in brackets)
Bristol City v Stoke City
Burnley v Middlesbrough
Cardiff City v Blackpool
Coventry City v Swansea City
Huddersfield Town v Watford
Hull City v Sunderland
Preston North End v Queens Park Rangers
West Bromwich Albion v Rotherham United
Norwich City v Blackburn Rovers (5.30pm – Sky Main Event & Sky Football)
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Big Matches
We have to wait until the final match of the day for the TV game to come along and when it does it sees two of the top four at the start of the day on show when Norwich City play host to the team immediately above them in Blackburn Rovers. Before they are in action though the leaders Burnley will look to open up a six point gap at the top of the table when they welcome one of the form teams in Middlesbrough to Turf Moor. Watford are the only other team in the top five on show. They head to bottom of the table Huddersfield Town.
Best of the Rest
Queens Park Rangers begin another new era on Saturday afternoon when Neil Critchley takes charge of his first game as manager of the Londoners. They travel to sixth placed Preston North End while West Bromwich Albion go in search of a fifth win in succession when they host Rotherham United at The Hawthorns. There is a big match down the bottom of the table in Wales when Cardiff City host second bottom Blackpool while Hull City, one off the bottom three, welcome Sunderland to the MKM Stadium.
Betting
Sunderland were rocked late on against West Bromwich Albion on Monday night but I maintain West Brom are a whole lot better than they showed under Steve Bruce so they shouldn’t be too downhearted with that late turnaround. They have the chance to make up for it when they travel to a poor Hull City side on Saturday afternoon, a team who started the season well but are showing with each game that passes that such a run of form wasn’t in keeping with their campaign as a whole.
Since that early run of form came to an end the home form of Hull City has been a shambles. They have lost seven of their last eight matches at the MKM Stadium and even in the win in that time they were second best for long periods. Hull did return with a good draw against Watford last weekend but the Hornets lost a host of midfielders ahead of and during that game. That is the other thing to like about Sunderland, they have good squad depth and are expecting to have star striker Ross Stewart back here. I expect them to have too much for an average Hull side.
Tips
Back Sunderland (0AH) to beat Hull City for a 3/10 stake at 2.03 with Bet365
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