Championship Betting Preview: Irvine brings good times back to Deepdale

Championship / Andrew French / 16 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew French is tipping Preston to continue their impressive start to the season.

It wasn't one of the most heralded managerial appointments of last season, and keeping your club up in your first season doesn't necessarily attract much attention either - but Alan Irvine is showing signs of being one of the bosses to watch in the Championship.

The Preston gaffer arrived at Deepdale only 10 months ago, finding a club which had previously been a play-offs regular languishing painfully close to the trap-door. The turnaround wasn't immediate or eye-catching, but he comfortably steered them away from the drop.

Now, with almost a year of his guidance instilled in the team, Irvine and Preston have made an impressive start - unbeaten so far in the league and heading into tonight's home game with Nottingham Forest sitting third in the table.

Crystal Palace and Charlton have already been vanquished at Deepdale, and I think Forest will go the same way. They have shipped eight goals so far in two away league games, and were beaten at home by Burnley on Saturday.

So, it's Preston for me at [1.82] - and I'd add in Under 2.5 goals at [1.95] as the visitors are bound to want to tighten things up having been so porous on the road thus far.

It's not that often I get excited about backing a draw, but I really fancy that outcome at Ashton Gate tonight where Bristol City host Birmingham. The Robins were one of the toughest teams to beat on their own patch last season, and came so close to promotion. There appears no hangover for Gary Johnson's side as they are back among the pacesetters, although the likeable City boss will be somewhat concerned at drawing both home games so far.

However, I think a point tonight would be no mean feat against a Birmingham side which is showing every sign of a quick return to the top flight, only dropping two points so far. Both sides have conceded just two goals in their opening five games, and I see this as being another tight encounter. Backing the draw at [3.45] really appeals, and again I'm tempted by Under 2.5 goals at [1.83].

There was a lot to like about the way Derby saw off Sheffield United on Saturday, and I'm prepared to take the chance that finally ending nearly a year without a win will provide the springboard the Rams needed.

Manager Paul Jewell will have seen words of support this week from chief executive Tom Glick as a mixed blessing - how often do managers receive a ringing endorsement shortly before the axe is applied?!

However, Jewell will move further into the comfort zone with a win tonight at Swansea. The Rams have a squad at least as good as any in the Championship, and now the winless monkey is off their back, perhaps we will start to see them in their best light.

The Liberty Stadium is no easy place to leave with three points, but the newly-promoted Swans were given their first taste of how your mistakes are more readily punished with every step up the ladder when they went down 2-0 at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

It's still a bit of a leap of faith to be backing Derby, but at [3.8] it's a decent punt - although backing Derby/Draw in the half-time/full-time market at [18.5] is my idea of cover.

I'm also lumping three good-looking hosts together on Betfair Multiples tonight - Reading (v Sheffield Wednesday), Sheffield United (v Coventry) and Wolves (v Crystal Palace) is paying around the [5.0] mark.