Championship / Andrew French / 12 December 2009 /

Such is the unpredictable nature of the The Championship that almost every team goes through a rough patch. The key for bettors is spotting when that run of poor results may be about to end. In the case of Leicester, Andrew French believes we can catch them this weekend at what looks a plump price.

Leicester have lost three of their last five and their most recent pair of back-to-back defeats has seen them concede eight goals. However, ignore the last month and City have shown the form of worthy promotion contenders. I believe they have merely endured what all other sides will suffer at some stage - a bad run - and to be able to back them at [1.88] at home against the most out-of-form team in the division is an invitation too good to turn down.

Sheffield Wednesday have not won in eight games and have lost six during that period - indeed, they have not scored in more than seven hours. Back the Foxes to emerge from their recent slump.


Being a Watford fan, I never like seeing anyone tip them as I always fear it is a jinx - however, I will risk the wrath of my fellow Hornets by urging you to back them this weekend. Malky Mackay's young side is truly flying at home: they have won their last four at Vicarage Road, scoring 12 and conceding just two. They beat QPR impressively in front of the Sky cameras on Monday night, and will have on-loan and in-form striker Heidar Helguson (five goals in six games) back in contention after he was forced to sit out the game with his parent club.

Derby have not won away from home in the league this season, and with five goals in 10 games they are also the lowest scorers on the road. Therefore, the [1.95] available to back Watford looks too good to turn down (and sorry all fellow Watford fans if I have just cursed us!).

While not losing games is far better than the wretched results Ipswich were encountering earlier in the season, Roy Keane knows his side cannot survive in the Championship simply by drawing matches. The Tractor Boys are unbeaten in nine, but seven of those were draws and Keane will want to start collecting a few three-points, particularly at Portman Road where they have won just once all season. However, the steel and doggedness that Ipswich are displaying now is making them very hard to beat, and I feel they could just edge out visitors Blackpool this week.

It's hard to know what to make of Ian Holloway's side: beaten at home by lowely Barnsley last weekend but then comprehensive winners at Middlesbrough in midweek. That tinge of inconsistency may just open the door for Ipswich, so at [2.32], I think they are worth supporting.

We talked earlier about teams having to ride out bad patches and then bouncing back - Sheffield United are a prime example. They endured an eight-game winless run before finding their form again and now they are unbeaten in five with three of those being wins.

Visitors Crystal Palace really are the masters of inconsistency: they followed up a 3-0 home defeat to Doncaster by winning 4-2 at Reading in midweek. Quite how their off-the-field money problems are affecting the players is anyone's guess, but to my mind United are a stronger side than Palace and given they seem to have hit their stride once again, I'm prepared to back them at [2.04].

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