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English Championship
Round 22 of the EFL Championship offers 12 enticing fixtures with lots of money to be made

Round 22 of the EFL Championship offers 12 enticing fixtures with plenty of value to be found and money to be made. Table-toppers Wolves stumbled last time out, playing to a goalless draw on home soil against relegation-threatened Sunderland, giving title-contenders a chance to make up ground. The bottom-three clubs remain the same with Birmingham, Sunderland and Burton Albion all fighting for scraps. Let’s find out what’s expected to come of this weekend’s clashes.

Friday 15 December



24/10 Sheffield Wednesday | Draw 47/20 | Wolves 21/20 (21:45)

Sheffield Wednesday will take on league-leaders Wolves in Friday’s only contest. The hosts are winless in their last five matches, while Wolves have won their last three matches on the road, scoring five goals without conceding. This one is expected to go down to the wire, especially after the table-toppers played to a goalless draw at home against Sunderland last time out. However, Wolves are tipped to bounce back to winning ways. The away win is on the cards.

Saturday 16 December



12/10 Derby | 22/10 | Aston Villa 22/10 (17:00)

Derby and Aston Villa will lock horns at Pride Park Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Rams have won four of their last five games and will be determined to build on that. The Villains are unbeaten in their last five matches but have drawn their last two games. Derby are strong on their ground, while Aston Villa have been below-par on the road. Home advantage should be the difference with the Rams tipped to claim maximum points.

14/10 Birmingham | 43/20 | QPR 19/10 (17:00)

Birmingham are without a win in their last four matches, including back-to-back defeats. QPR are winless in their last six games with five defeats. They are also winless in their last 17 travels, which dates back to February. Nonetheless, Birmingham have scored the least goals on home soil – just six in 10 matches this season. The Under 2.5 Goals market is well worth a punt at 13/20.

39/20 Millwall | 43/20 | Middlesbrough 27/20 (17:00)

Millwall will be hoping to build on their hard-earned goalless draw at Aston Villa last weekend when they welcome Middlesbrough to the Den on Saturday. They were impressive in their last home matches as they defeated title-chasing Sheffield United 3-1 in convincing fashion. Middlesbrough ended a poor streak of two losses on the bounce with a 2-0 home win over Ipswich last time out. Both sides are likely to attack the game and Both Teams to Score looks a good bet at 9/10.

15/20 Bristol City | 26/10 | Nottingham 33/10 (17:00)

Bristol City have been in top form in recent weeks with three consecutive wins and they have won the last three meetings at home against their opponents. Nottingham have travelled dismally with seven losses from 10 matches, including three defeats on the spin. Bristol City are gunning for the title and will be hell-bent on bagging all three points. The home win should be backed. 



18/10 Sunderland | 23/10 | Fulham 27/20 (17:00)

Sunderland and Fulham will go toe-to-toe in what is likely to be a cagey affair. The Black Cats are second from bottom on the standings with a measly two wins from 21 matches but showed solidity and stubbornness last time out as they held Wolves to a 0-0 draw. Fulham have been in great form in recent weeks with three wins from their last four matches. The sides are tipped to share the spoils.

29/20 Ipswich | 23/10 | Reading 7/4 (17:00)

Ipswich are off the back of a 2-0 defeat away to Middlesbrough but prior to that loss, they had won consecutive matches. Reading held title-contenders Cardiff to an entertaining 2-2 draw on Monday night, stretching their unbeaten run to five matches. The last five meetings between the sides have produced 17 goals at an average of 3.4 per game. The Totals – Over 2.5 Goals – market is tipped at 9/10.

1/1 Bolton | 22/10 | Burton Albion 26/10 (17:00)

Bolton and Burton Albion will do battle in a relegation dog-fight on Saturday afternoon. The home side are 21st on the table with only goal-difference separating them from the bottom three teams. Burton Albion are at the foot of the table and will be desperate not to drop anymore points. Both sides have managed just three victories after 21 games played and this will present a great opportunity for their survival hopes. Another low-scoring affair is likely and I’m backing Under 2.5 Goals at 13/20.

5/4 Preston | 9/4 | Sheffield United 2/1 (17:00)

Preston have been excellent in recent weeks and are now unbeaten in their last five matches, including back-to-back wins. Sheffield are winless in their last four games with two defeats on the bounce. The home side have shown better form in recent weeks but Sheffield United are bound to turn things around, especially if they want to remain in the hunt for the title. The last three meetings at Deepdale have ended all square and another stalemate looks likely.

23/20 Leeds | 23/10 | Norwich 22/10 (17:00)

Leeds are just four points off the play-off places and will be determined to make up some ground this weekend. Norwich have been a bit of a lost cause this season with just seven wins from 21 matches – disappointing from the Canaries who were in an around the play-off positions last term. Leeds have struggled at home with only four wins from 10 games. However, Norwich have lost their last three travels and that doesn’t look like improving here. The home win should be taken.

11/20 Brentford | 31/10 | Barnsley 4/1 (17:00)

Brentford are undefeated at home since their opening match of the campaign, a run of nine games on their ground. Barnsley are without a win in their last six matches, including five straight losses, scoring just twice and conceding 13 times. The home team should be added to all multiples.

6/10 Cardiff | 26/10 | Hull 9/2 (17:00)

Cardiff are the only team unbeaten at home this season. They have won seven and drawn three of their 10 games on their ground, including three consecutive victories. Hull are off the back of a hard-fought 3-2 home win over Brentford. However, it is their away form that has been a problem. The Tigers have managed just one win from 10 travels and should go down. Back the home team to come out on top.


TREBLE @ 4/1

Bristol City Win 15/20

Brentford Win 11/20

Millwall vs Middlesbrough BTTS 9/10


Written by Aaron Crowie