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| The English second tier resumes this Friday after a two-week long break for the international window |
The English second tier resumes this Friday evening after a two-week long break for the international window. Welsh outfit Cardiff currently occupy top spot on the log, having won all five of their fixtures. While at the other end of the table, Bolton, Brentford and Norwich sit in the relegation zone.
Friday 8 September
19/20 Derby | Draw 47/20 | Hull 11/4 (20:45)
12th-placed Derby Count welcome eighth-placed Hull City to the Pride Park this Friday evening. The Rams have won two of their games thus far which is the exact same amount as the Tigers. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 3-1 defeat to Sheffield United while Hull beat Bolton 4-0 in the last round before the international break. Both teams have been in the goals this term which leads me to believe we are in for a high-scorer here.As such, I’m on the Totals – Over 2.5 – Goals market at even money.
Saturday 9 September
11/20 Leeds | 28/10 | Burton 5/1 (16:00)
Burton will be looking to draw away from the relegation zone when they take on high-flying Leeds United at Elland Road. The hosts have got their campaign off to a solid start and are yet to taste defeat. Burton, on the other hand, have only won one game thus far while losing three of their five fixtures. Leeds are in red-hot form and I can’t see them slipping up against lowly Burton.Get on the home win at 11/20.
1/1 Fulham | 24/10 | Cardiff 5/2 (16:00)
League leaders Cardiff City will be looking to maintain their unbeaten run when they travel to Craven Cottage to take on Fulham. The Cottagers have currently sit in 12th-place on the standings but have only lost once this term. I think the away win offers great value here. Yes, Fulham have been a rather tough side to break down but Cardiff’s lethal front line should be able to get the better of Fulham’s defence.Get on the away win at a very kind 5/2.
19/20 QPR | 47/20 | Ipswich 28/10 (16:00)
Two of the league’s form sides will meet at Loftus Road this Saturday. QPR come into this one with two wins and a draw to their names while Ipswich make the trip having won four of their five fixtures. Both teams are scoring and conceding at over a goal per game which is why I’ll be having a dabble on the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market at a solid 8/10!
13/20 Preston | 26/10 | Barnsley 38/10 (16:00)
Seventh-placed Preston play host to 15th-placed Barnsley this Saturday. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 2-0 loss to Cardiff while Barnsley make the trip having registered an impressive 3-0 victory over Sunderland. I think we may well be in for an upset here. Barnsley will be high on confidence after beating Sunderland and I think they may just make it back-to-back victories over much-fancied opponents. My advice here is to have a small strike on the away win.
1/1 Aston Villa | 49/20 | Brentford 5/2 (16:00)
Aston Villa will be looking to kick-start their flailing campaign when they play host to 23rd-placed Brentford this Saturday. And while Villa have been extremely poor, they should be able to see off a very weak Brentford outfit, especially considering the Villians will be at home. Even money on the home win offers great value in my opinion.
28/10 Bolton | 9/4 | Middlesbrough 19/20 (16:00)
Bolton will be looking bounce back from their 4-0 hammering at the hands of Hull City when they play host to a Middlesbrough outfit that comes into this one off the back of a 0-0 draw with Norwich. Bolton are yet to win a game this term and I think that trend is set to continue here. Get on the away win at a handy 19/20.
21/20 Sunderland | 22/10 | Sheffield United 26/10 (16:00)
Sunderland will be looking to up the ante when they take on high-flying Sheffield United this Saturday. The Black Cats currently occupy 16th position on the log and have only won one of their five fixtures. Conversely, Sheffield United have won three of their five fixtures and currently sit fifth on the standings. I quite fancy the away win here. Sheffield have been in solid form and Sunderland may have a few players carrying slight niggles with a plethora of their squad involved in international action during the break.
27/20 Reading | 23/10 | Bristol 37/20 (16:00)
It’s 11th-placed Reading taking on 13th-placed Bristol City in the next game we’ll take a look at. The hosts come into this one off the back of a 2-0 victory over Birmingham while the visitors make the trip having drawn 1-1 with Aston Villa. Both teams have been decent in front of goal this term so the Both Teams to Score – Yes – market certainly catches the eye. You can currently back this market at 13/20.
15/20 Wolves | 5/2 | Millwall 34/10 (16:00)
Wolves and Millwall lock horns this Saturday at the Molineux Stadium. The hosts currently occupy fourth spot on the log and have only lost once this term, while the visitors find themselves in 17th-place with only one win to their names. With records like that, I simply cannot help but back the home win at a handy 15/20.
8/10 Norwich | 26/10 | Birmingham 31/10 (16:00)
Norwich will be looking to claw their way out of the relegation zone when they play host to 20th-place Birmingham City. The away side did some smart business during the final few days of the transfer window, bringing in Arsenal’s Jon Toral on a permanent deal. The combative midfielder should help sure up what has been a rather porous Birmingham defence. It’s a bit of a speculator but I’m on the away win here. Both sides have endured poor starts to the campaign but Birmingham seem to have a bit more about them than their opponents. A small strike on the away win is my tip here.
17/20 Sheffield Wednesday | 24/10 | Nottingham Forest 31/10 (18:30)
The final fixture of the week sees 16th-placed Sheffield Wednesday take on sixth-placed Forest. Despite their lowly position, Sheffield have only lost one of their opening fixtures. Forest have also been rather tough to break down this term and have won three out of their five fixtures. I really think we’re destined for a draw here. Wednesday have already registered three draws this term and I would not be surprised to see another.
TREBLE @ 11/1
Aston Villa Win 1/1
Cardiff Win 5/2
Wolves Win 15/20
Written by Darry Worthington
