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Football betting tips
by Lee, last updated 2009-08-06 16:46:38Its just over a week until the premiership kicks off.
Fortunately the English Championship kicks off a week before. Here are our predictions for this weekend's games. Be careful, the Championship is a difficult league in normal times to predict so don't go crazy on the first day of the season.
English Championship Football Betting Tips
7 August 2009
20:00 Middlesbrough (2.2) Draw (3.4) Sheffield Utd (3.75)
Kevin Blackwell's Sheffield United travel to the Riverside for the opening game of this seasons Coca Cola Championship campaign. Failure to secure promotion at last seasons play off final has cost the Blades. Losing arguably 2 of the greatest talents to come out of the academy in Kyle Naughton & Kyle Walker, both to spurs for a fee believed to be around £10million for the pair. Relegation has also taken its toll on Middlesbrough after losing Stuart Downing to Aston Villa for a fee which is officially undisclosed but is believed to be around the £12million mark (£12million for a player who is not going to return from injury until October at the earliest, I think I'd want it to be undisclosed as well). Leroy Lita is an excellent signing for Gareth Southgate and nobody knows this more than Kevin Blackwell who first made a move for Lita back in January only for Lita to turn the move down. Again the same scenario occurred just days before Boro finally got there man. The Blades have also completed some shrewd business by capturing 20 year old Welsh international Ched Evans, Along with Lee Williamson from Watford (undisclosed) and Glenn little from Portsmouth (free transfer).
I feel a close game is on the cards as United tend to play 4-5-1 away from home (as much as Blackwell tries to disguise it as a 4-3-3).
Prediction 1-1 best odds available 7.0 (Boylesport or 3.4 Draw )
8 August 2009
15:00 Cardiff (1.73) Draw (3.6) Scunthorpe (6)
Cardiff will start the season with their first competitive game at The Cardiff City Stadium(It does exactly what it says on the tin springs to mind) . They will welcome a newly promoted Scunthorpe side who defeated Millwall in last years play off final thanks to an 85th minute goal from Martyn Woolford. Cardiff will be hoping for a victory in order to start the process of making their new home a fortress. Scunthorpe will want points on the board at the earliest opportunity as they know they have a long hard season ahead of them. I can see this game starting off close but the class will tell in the end with Cardiff going onto a comfortable victory.
Should be a home win. Price is 1.73 at Boylesport
15:00 Crystal Palace (1.91) Draw (3.4) Plymouth (4.4)
Neil Warnock's men will be wanting to put last years disappointing season behind them. With Warnock's track record of promotion the Eagles will have been hoping for a better finish than the 15th spot they achieved last season. However with the signings of Stern John (free transfer) and Freddie Sears (season long loan from West Ham) Warnock may have just found the key to the top 6, especially if he can keep hold of the highly rated Victor Moses. With Julian Speroni between the sticks and Nick Carle hoping to return to the form that persuaded Warnock to sign the Australian from Bristol City last summer, I see no reason why Palace should not be pushing for a play off spot come the end of the season.The Pilgrims have had a relatively busy period during the transfer window bringing in a decent mix of young and old, These include Bradley Wright-Phillips (free transfer from Southampton),Carl Fletcher and Kari Arnason (both free transfers). At the time of writing a fee has believed to have been agreed for Rangers Alan Gow.
Home win (1.91 general) for this writer with correct score of 1-0 at
15:00 Derby (2) Draw (3.4) Peterboro (4.2)
The two sons of two iconic names in football go head to head at Pride Park.Nigel Clough's Derby take on Championship new boys Peterborough managed by Darren Ferguson.Derby haven't really set the transfer market alight this year with 5 of the 6 players purchased coming from lower league teams, including Saul Deeny and Jake Buxton coming from Clough's former employers Burton Albion. Add to this the Achilles injury sustained by one of the Rams key players Giles Barnes this could be a difficult couple of months for the boys in white. Peterborough's main objective this season will obviously be consolidation but without a few additions to the squad I can really see them struggling come the end of the season. They definitely need to pick the odd point up away from home and I feel this maybe one of the occasions they do just that.
Prediction 1-1 best available price 7.0 at Boylesport. Straight draw is 3.4
15:00 Leicester (2.25) Draw (3.25) Swansea (3.3)
With the Foxes bouncing back up at the first time of asking confidence will be high but Nigel Pearson will recognise the task ahead. Which makes sense to bring in quality which can do the job required at this standard. This is exactly what Pearson has done with Richie Wellens arriving from Doncaster(£1.2million) and Danny N'Guessan, a speedy winger who likes to get forward and chip in with the odd goal. After losing Robert Martinez (manager) and Jordi Lopez (key midfielder) this summer I cannot see the Swans improving on last years incredible position of 8th. This was a fantastic achievement considering it was there first season in the Championships. Martinez had Swansea playing fantastic football last year and without his guidance I think they will lose this side of their game.
Prediction No First Goal scorer best available price 10.0 (Sky Bet)
15:00 Preston (2.1) Draw (3.4) Bristol C (4)
After losing in last years play off semi finals to Sheffield United its obvious the financial strain is taking its toll at Deepdale. With 4 players leaving and only 1 arriving it is clear plan A is to minimise the wage bill. After seeing Preston with my own eyes 3 times last season I was very impressed with Sean St Ledger and at 24 Preston will/should do whatever it takes to keep the versatile defender. Gary Johnson will be disappointed at losing Michael McIndoe to Coventry City (amount unconfirmed at time of writing). Although with Paul Hartley coming in from Celtic on a free transfer the Robins boss will be hoping Hartley's experienced head can help settle the ship.
Prediction home win. Odds are 2.1 at William Hill
15:00 Queens P R (1.73) Draw (3.5) Blackpool (5)
QPR flexed their wealthy muscles only once during the summer months. Their new prized asset at Loftus road is 22 Argentinian midfielder Alejandro Faurlin,who was bought for £3.5million from Manchester United. Blackpool however have spent a total of £500k on 3 signings in the summer including the free transfer of Jason Euell. Euell will score some very important goals for the Seasiders which could decide their fate come the end of the season.
Prediction Another home win. Odds are 1.73 at bet365
15:00 Reading (1.95) Draw (3.5) Nottingham F (4.5)
Reading are another club that are having to tighten the purse strings in order to maintain a healthy financial situation. Of the 7 outgoing players 4 are on a free transfer basis, these include Leroy Lita,Marcus Hahnemann and Michael Duberry. Forest on the other hand have had 9 players incoming since the transfer window opened. These include Dele Adebola,Dexter Blackstock,Lee Camp,Paul Mckenna and Chris Gunter the £1.75million buy from Tottenham. Taking these additions into consideration I don't see why Forest should have anything to worry about for the coming season.
Prediction I'll take a punt on the away win. 4.5 at bet365
15:00 Sheffield W (2) Draw (3.4) Barnsley (4.3)
The opening game of the campaign at Hillsborough kicks off with a South Yorkshire derby. With the Tykes beating Wednesday home and away last year the Owls will be out for revenge. The Owls have brought in 3 experienced players those being Darren Potter,Tommy Miller and Darren Purse with no first team players leaving Hillsborough. Barnsley on the other hand have lost possibly the best shot stopper in the league after Heinz Muller's £600k transfer to FSV Mainz 05. This should be a close contest but with the ever improving squad of Brian Laws' men I can only see one outcome.
Home win is even money at Sky Bet
15:00 Watford (2.1) Draw (3.4) Doncaster (4)
These two teams finished on the same points total last season, with Watford finishing 1 place above due to goal difference. This is a fantastic achievement for the South Yorkshire club considering this was there first season competing in the Coca Cola Championship. Although they have lost Richie Wellens, one of the key players from last season, they have replaced him with ex Manchester United star Quinton Fortune on a free transfer. For Watford however, it is a totally different story.After losing the battle against relegation from the premiership in the 06/07 season they have been slowly slipping down the league table.
Big price on the away win here at Sky Bet 4.0
17:30 West Brom (2.3) Draw (3.4) Newcastle (3.4)
West Brom will be challenging for a top 6 spot,there's no doubt about that. The squad they have is more than capable and has experience in this type of challenge. Newcastle on the other hand I really do fear for. This is a club in turmoil,it is not possible for a club in the Championship to have a wage bill the size of Newcastle's (Just ask Leeds United). With the football players the manager (rumoured to be Joe Kinnear) has at his disposal they really should be challenging for a top 6 spot. But you can not play your way out of this league, some games are going to be scrappy. Its games like Blackpool away on a cold Tuesday night for example that I cant see the Magpies getting anything from. They are going to be the team to beat next year and I don't think they are quite up to the challenge just yet.
I can see this being a high scoring draw. Draw odds are 3.4 at Boylesport. 2-2 correct score is 17.0 at Sky Bet
9 August 2009
12:45 Coventry (2.63) Draw (3.4) Ipswich (2.75)
Coventry may have lost Daniel Fox to Celtic(£1.5million) but they have one of, if not the best goalkeeper in the Coca Cola Championship. Kieran Westwood performs week in week out and I am very surprised he hasn't attracted more attention from the premiership vultures. Add to that the newly signed Michael McIndoe n Chris Coleman has the nucleus for a top 8 team. The Tractor boys have 3 new additions to their squad Lee Martin,Damien Delaney and Colin Healy but they also have the Keane factor. Nobody else showed the hunger for success when playing. Although he may have mellowed out while on the touch line, you can guarantee if things are not going his way he will get his message across one way or the other.
Bookies can't really seem to predict a winner here and neither can I. Draw is 3.4 at Betfred.
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