Championship Betting Preview: Back Clarets to climb back into play-offs

Championship / Andrew French / 17 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

Success on three fronts is beginning to take its toll on Burnley as their fixtures pile up. But Andrew French thinks the Clarets will have the measure of Coventry City at Turf Moor tonight. Best bet: Back Burnley to beat Coventry at [1.88].

This evening's game will be Burnley's 13th in a little over six weeks as they have had to combine a push for promotion with a run to the Carling Cup semi-finals and progression to the fifth round of the FA Cup - and that has been delayed even further as they awaited the winners of last night's replay between Arsenal and Cardiff.

Such a crowded fixture list caused their form to dip, but they are now unbeaten in three in the league and beat leaders Wolves on Saturday. Victory tonight would lift Owen Coyle's side back into the play-off places, and they ought to have enough to see off the Sky Blues, whose sole away league in their last six attempts came at basement boys Charlton.
Therefore, back a Burnley victory at [1.88].

The two sides sharing top spot in the current form table meet this evening as Doncaster host Bristol City. Rovers have moved themselves seven points clear of the relegation zone, while City's run of seven wins and a draw in eight league games has shot them back into promotion contention.

Donny have lost just one of their last eight league games at home, but City have not lost on the road in five, including a fine draw at Portsmouth in the FA Cup.

Therefore, I think these two will share the spoils this evening and would advise backing the draw at [3.45]. I'd also strongly suggest backing Under 2.5 Goals at [1.67]. Rovers' 15 home games have borne just 18 goals - and only one of them has produced more than 2.5.

Having hosted Chelsea (and the media circus that their new 'short-term' manager attracted) on Saturday, it's back to mundane but far more important matters for Watford tonight. The Hornets are languishing in the relegation zone and need a victory over Swansea to clamber out.

However, the Swans are not really the team Watford would want to be running into. The Welsh club's FA Cup draw with Fulham on Saturday extended their unbeaten run to 16 games, dating back to late November.

But Watford had won five of their last seven home games before Saturday's tie with Chelsea, and with Brendan Rodgers able to select defenders Jack Cork and Mike Williamson after they had to sit out the cup game, the Hornets should be able to grind a point out of this one.

I suggest backing the draw at [3.55].

It may have taken a while, but Nigel Clough appears to be getting Derby into some sort of shape. Putting aside the not entirely unexpected defeat to Manchester United in the FA Cup, the Rams had won their previous three and scored eight times in the process.

A win tomorrow night over Blackpool would see Clough's boys leapfrog the Tangerines in the league table - and the visitors to Pride Park look ripe for plucking with just two victories in their last 12 outings.

So, back Derby to win this one at [1.91].