Championship / Andrew French / 23 April 2009 / Leave a comment

Alex McLeish's men must make sure of promotion this weekend but could Preston spoil the Blues' party? Meanwhile, Andrew French is turning on the Saints. Best Bet: Back Birmingham to beat Preston at [1.84].

With two games to go, one more victory secures promotion to the Premier League for Birmingham - but with their last game of the season away to fellow promotion chasers Reading, the Blues will not want to have to win at the Madejski to be sure of going up.

So, their final home game of the season (unless they are sucked into the play-offs) against Preston this weekend must be the day when Alex McLeish's side make sure of their place in the top flight.

Preston will be anything but willing participants in the party though, and their 6-0 drubbing of Cardiff last week showed exactly what they are capable of. But wins during the week for Burnley and Reading have left North End with it all to do if they are to make the play-offs.

Birmingham do not score many at home - so don't expect them to canter to victory - but the way they ground out a win at Watford last week shows they are prepared to knuckle down when required, and so I'm making them my bet of the day at [1.84]

Having got behind Southampton last weekend and then have them let me down with a miserable defeat at mid-table Sheffield Wednesday, I'm turning on the Saints this weekend.

They could be relegated by Saturday night, and you have to say that any side which manages only four home wins all season gets what's coming to it. Mark Wotte's side have flattered to deceive in the latter stages of the season with a couple of half-hearted attempts to pull clear, but the South coast outfit have been in the mire for a while and it's difficult to see them getting out of it now.

Visitors Burnley have done exceptionally well to stay in the promotion hunt after their excellent but demanding efforts in both cups this season. They have made themselves hard to beat on the road - last weekend's defeat at Cardiff was their first in six away league games - and they will be hugely buoyed by their crucial win over Sheffield United on Monday.

If Matt Le Tissier is on Sky Soccer Saturday, watch his reaction to scoreflashes from this one, especially if it goes as I think it will - I suggest laying Southampton at [2.88].

Hats off to Wolves for securing promotion - their celebrations could soon be increased as they look almost certain to go up as champions. However, I've a feeling Barnsley may rain on their title parade this weekend.

Despite being worthy league winners, Wolves have still managed to lose nearly a quarter of their Championship fixtures this term. They've survived a couple of very poor runs of results and they've shipped 30 goals away from home - more than most of the other top-half sides.
That ought to give Barnsley a bit of hope - and as they have much more to play for at the foot of the table, it's my suggestion that they could take three points which they need far more right now than Wolves do.

You have to overlook the fact that the Tykes haven't won in more than a month, and hope Coventry's late penalty equaliser in midweek hasn't knocked their confidence too much. However, I anticipate a little bit of 'After the Lord Mayor's Show' from Wolves, and so I'll back Barnsley at [2.48].

It's not been a meteoric rise up the table to safety under Nigel Clough, and Derby still need another point or two to be mathematically secure. So they couldn't ask for a better opportunity to make themselves safe than a visit from relegated Charlton.

The Addicks started to show some resolve when it was all far too late, and although their relegation was only mathematically confirmed at the weekend, the writing had been on the wall for much, much longer.

They have the worst away record in the division, and twice in the last week they have thrown away two-goal leads in home games, showing just how fragile they are. Back Derby in this one at [1.79]