James Buttler looks ahead to Saturday's Championship action and picks out the best bets with a treble.
QPR v Sunderland
Struggling QPR have won only one league game this season and are in relegation trouble in 23rd place. They have picked up draws in the last two games, against Coventry City and a credible 0-0 at high-flying Burnley, which may have instilled some belief. Winless at home, QPR have at least scored in all six home matches, despite taking just three points from the 18 available.
Sunderland will be seeking to consolidate their five-point lead at the top of the Championship table. Regis Le Bris has more than hit the ground running in the northeast with his team collecting 28 points from their first 12 games. The wins this season haven’t been slam dunk demolitions, in fact the Black Cats haven’t scored over two goals in a game since the end of August. But solidity at the back and confident efficiency is their trademark. They’ve beaten Hull City, Luton Town and Oxford United since the international break.
Sunderland to win and Both Teams To Score is a tasty 15/4.
Cardiff City v Norwich City
It’s taken time, but Omer Riza is starting to get a tune out of Cardiff. After taking only one point from the first seven matches, the Bluebirds have added 11 points from the next five with three wins, over Millwall, Plymouth Argyle and Portsmouth, and two draws. That unbeaten five match run has seen the Welsh team creep out of the bottom three and into 20th place. Norwich sit in eighth and unbeaten in seven, but four draws in the last five matches hasn’t seen them flying up the table.
Cardiff can’t afford to rest on their laurels as they are only one point above the drop zone. They have scored in their last three home matches and Norwich have notched in their last three away. So, rather than try and predict a match outcome that isn’t easy to fathom, Both Teams To Score at 4/6 is the obvious way to play the fixture.
Preston v Bristol City
Paul Heckingbottom is a good manager, and he’s already made a difference at Deepdale. But, after being 3-0 up and then being held to a 3-3 draw at Plymouth last weekend, and then losing 3-0 in the Carabao Cup to Arsenal, he will be hoping for a morale boosting win over Bristol City to steady the ship. Preston are 16th and City 11th, and Preston’s home form has been strong with 11 of their 14 points coming at Deepdale.
It was good to see Robins boss Liam Manning back in the dugout last weekend after the death of his unborn son and of course we wish him and his family well. Bristol City are on a seven-match unbeaten league streak. It’s three unbeaten on the road with a win at Boro and two draws. I’m really tempted to put up a draw on Saturday at 12/5, but something pushes me towards a much safer BTTS at 17/20.
James’ Championship Tips
Sunderland to win and BTTS at 15/4%
BTTS Yes in Cardiff v Norwich at 4/6
BTTS Yes in Preston v Bristol City at 17/20
The treble amounts to 13/1 with Bet365.
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