Our soccer betting professional and prime tipster Jones Knows provides up his perception on each Sky Bet Championship match on Good Friday and shares his best bets.
Middlesbrough vs Millwall, Friday 12.30pm, stay on Sky Sports
Are Middlesbrough wobbling on the worst potential time?
They’ve gained simply two of their final seven Championship matches, which means a seven-point hole to Ipswich now stands at simply two. And who is that this developing on the rails? It’s solely Millwall, who can leapfrog Middlesbrough by taking three factors. It’s getting severe up there.
One key facet to Boro’s type of late is that the underlying information throughout the final seven video games continues to be very robust. Over these seven video games they’ve gained each anticipated targets battle very comfortably and their xG supremacy determine is +1.4 per sport which is a mighty return. One you’d affiliate with a workforce profitable a title.
With a little little bit of variance due of their path they need to get again on the promotion prepare right here.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
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The Sky Sports Essential EFL podcast appears on the promotion race within the Championship
Birmingham vs Blackburn, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
If you are searching for a punchy angle into this one, the first-half markets may very well be the place to play, particularly with Birmingham’s tendency to come flying out of the traps at St Andrew’s.
There’s a actually robust information angle right here that makes the 6/4 with Sky Bet on Birmingham to be profitable at half-time stand out as a guess price your consideration.
No workforce within the Championship can higher their anticipated targets determine earlier than the break, which sits at a chunky 18.58. And it is not simply underlying information doing the speaking. Only Hull City and Ipswich have scored extra dwelling targets earlier than half-time, placing Birmingham proper on the prime desk when it comes to turning that intent into precise stress.
This is not about backing Birmingham outright over 90 minutes, the place inconsistency can creep in. It’s about isolating a clear energy of quick begins and attacking a particular market that performs proper into it.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Charlton vs Bristol City, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
There are some appointments in soccer that make you sit up and take discover. Then there are some that make you scratch your head and surprise what on earth is occurring.
Enter Roy Hodgson.
His arrival at Bristol City – 44 years after he first left the membership – has all of the hallmarks of a transfer designed to generate headlines slightly than rapid outcomes.
Hodgson himself has admitted he would not know a nice deal concerning the present squad, which is hardly excellent preparation heading into a aggressive Championship fixture. Add the very fact he inherits a group stretched by accidents and you’ve got bought a supervisor bounce that appears susceptible slightly than revitalised. Home win it’s at 23/20 with Sky Bet.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-0
Leicester vs Preston, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
Motivation is all the things at this stage of the Championship season and you will not discover a greater distinction than what we have right here.
On one facet, you’ve got bought Leicester City scrapping for his or her lives. On the opposite, Preston North End drifting in direction of the ending line with little or no left to play for.
Leicester’s scenario is straightforward: outcomes are all the things.
Performances can take a again seat if wanted: it is about digging in, discovering moments and getting factors on the board. That’s the place the affect of Gary Rowett might show pivotal. Throughout his profession, he is constructed a repute for setting groups up to grind out outcomes, notably in high-pressure conditions similar to this one. It’s not at all times fairly, nevertheless it’s typically efficient.
A low scoring dwelling win please.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-0
Norwich vs Portsmouth, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
No workforce has earned extra Championship factors since Christmas than Norwich City, posting 12 wins from 17 matches as Philippe Clement has overseen a outstanding turnaround.
The Canaries have stored seven clear sheets in 12 league video games, conceding simply 5 targets in that run. The outcomes have been backed up by the info.
Yet the market is dangling Evens with Sky Bet towards struggling Portsmouth, who’ve misplaced three on the spin, 5 of their previous six and have simply been pumped 6-1 by QPR. Ebou Adams, Pompey’s key man, can also be out with harm for the journey to Carrow Road. The dwelling win is a very beneficiant value.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-0 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Norwich to win (Evens with Sky Bet)
Oxford vs Hull, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
This is a good match-up for Oxford by way of set-pieces. They’ve created 3.6 price of anticipated targets from set-pieces of their final 5 video games – accounting for over 65 per cent of their total xG output. So that is a workforce that provides you a nice run on your cash once you’re backing the standard set-piece based mostly markets.
Hull have conceded the second most xG from set-pieces this season at 18.05 and have conceded 15 targets through that route. Michal Helik is the person to again then at 10/1 to rating with Sky Bet.
He’s had six photographs in his final 5 begins, together with opening the scoring in Oxford’s 3-1 win at Preston. Helik has additionally scored thrice in seven begins towards Hull.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Michal Helik to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
QPR vs Watford, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
Both groups to rating and over 2.5 targets charges as a cracking wager right here at Evens with Sky Bet.
Loftus Road is the highest-scoring Championship venue this time period, averaging 3.47 targets per sport with 79 per cent of these contests producing over 2.5 targets.
Both groups to rating has clicked in all 4 of Edward Still’s matches in control of Watford on the highway with the per-game common coming in at a wholesome 3.25 targets. Both groups are anticipated to carry the noise and attacking intent in what may very well be a enjoyable and goal-heavy encounter.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-2 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Over 2.5 targets & BTTS (Evens with Sky Bet)
Sheffield United vs Swansea, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
There’s a robust case for opposing clear sheets at Bramall Lane proper now and that leads us properly into a juicy goalscorer angle.
The hosts have gone 9 video games at dwelling with out a clear sheet.
Whether it is structural points or lapses in focus, groups are discovering methods by them with alarming regularity. So, in the event you’re buying within the anytime goalscorer market, it is smart to latch onto the highest goalscorer within the division at 11/4 with Sky Bet to hearth once more in Zan Vipotnik.
The Swansea striker has 17 targets this season and there’s nothing fluky concerning the return. His motion within the field is sharp, he will get repeat probabilities and he is proven he could be scientific when these alternatives fall his approach.
SCORE PREDICTION: 1-2
Stoke vs Sheffield Wednesday, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports+
Stoke City have quietly changed into one of many extra watchable – and backable – groups within the division over the previous few weeks, and a lot of that may be traced again to the return of the fashionable Million Manhoef.
Since he got here again into the fold seven video games in the past, Stoke’s attacking output has discovered a new gear. The numbers inform the story: these seven matches have averaged a hefty 3.7 targets per sport, with six of the seven clearing the over 2.5 targets line. That’s not coincidence, that is a workforce taking part in with extra intent and threat. It’s main to cumbersome targets outputs.
The key right here isn’t just backing targets blindly, however aligning that pattern with a Stoke facet who’ve the sting in high quality and momentum over a rudderless Sheffield Wednesday.
That’s why the ten/11 with Sky Bet for a Stoke win and over 2.5 targets makes loads of attraction.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1
West Brom vs Wrexham, Friday 3pm, stay on Sky Sports – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
Backing centre-backs to get on the scoresheet stays a actual favorite punting pastime of mine.
George Campbell is taking part in with confidence and arriving within the field with intent to rating on the minute – as seen by his return of three targets in his final six video games. It’s a sample pushed by elevated attacking accountability from set-pieces and a workforce taking part in with renewed vitality below new boss James Morrison. He has breathed life into a facet that seemed destined for bother not too way back. Suddenly, West Brom are taking part in with function, perception and have given themselves a real shot at survival.
Campbell is 10/1 with Sky Bet to rating.
SCORE PREDICTION: 2-1
Coventry vs Derby, Friday 8pm, stay on Sky Sports Football – PLAY SUPER 6 HERE!
There’s a time in each promotion push the place the equation turns into crystal clear: simply win video games and the remaining takes care of itself.
That’s precisely the place Coventry City discover themselves. Charging in direction of the Championship title, they know 11 factors from their remaining seven matches might be sufficient to seal a return to the Premier League for the primary time in 25 years. It’s a goal that sharpens the thoughts and, most of the time, brings out decisive performances.
Friday third April 7:30pm
Kick off 8:00pm
Derby will level to a strong away document of 9 wins on the highway within the Championship. But dig a little deeper and there’s a clear crimson flag.
None of these victories have come towards groups beginning this spherical within the prime half. They have a tendency to lose their approach up towards the best groups on this division. At 11/8 with Sky Bet, backing Coventry to win and over 2.5 targets appears just like the candy spot. If they do get on prime, historical past suggests they will not simply edge it, they’re going to look to put the sport to mattress in model.
SCORE PREDICTION: 3-1 | JONES KNOWS’ BEST BET: Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (11/8 with Sky Bet)
Jones Knows’ best bets…
1pt treble on: Norwich to win, over 2.5 targets & BTTS in QPR vs Watford & Coventry to win & over 2.5 targets (8/1 with Sky Bet)
1pt on Michal Helik to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
1pt on George Campbell to rating (10/1 with Sky Bet)
0.5pt double on Helik & Campbell to rating (100/1 with Sky Bet)
