Championship / Andrew French / 30 September 2008 / Leave a comment

Andrew French is expecting goals when two clubs with Premier League ambitions meet at Molineux on a night which boasts a full programme of Championship football.

There's always that nagging worry that if you put your faith in one team for too long, your luck (and their's) will run out. But I'm prepared to side with Wolves once more in the stand-out fixture on an evening that sees a full programme of Championship games.

The Old Gold are three points clear at the top of the table and host one of their closest pursuers, third-placed Reading - although even at this early stage, the Royals are already eight points behind Mick McCarthy's men.

With maximum points from four home games and 13 goals to boot, it's not hard to feel confident about another victory. Add in Reading's poor away form (two points in four games, and one of those courtesy of the 'ghost' goal at Watford), and you see why I think Wolves can overcome another game without suspended top scorer Chris Iwelumo.

What's worrying me most is that all the pre-match talk is about Wolves equalling their club record of eight straight league wins if they are successful. Once those sorts of stats start being trotted out, the team on the brink of greatness often find a banana skin.

However, with Wolves available at odds against, I've got to suggest backing them at [2.22]. If there is a nagging doubt in your mind, then you could consider laying Reading at [3.7]. Aside from Match Odds, I'd have a look at Over 2.5 goals at [1.81] - Wolves' four home games have averaged four goals while Reading's four away trips have produced an average of three. Even with Iwelumo suspended, the likes of Sylvain Ebanks-Blake (five goals) for the home side and eight-goal Royals' striker Kevin Doyle suggest this shouldn't be dull.

It's a shame tonight's fixtures will be massively overshadowed by the Champions League, because as well as the Wolves/Reading encounter, there's the meeting of two clubs relegated from the Premiership but suffering hugely differing fortunes in their bid to get back: Derby v Birmingham.

If this game had been played a couple of weeks ago, then it would have been very hard to look beyond an away win. Derby, though, have bounced back from a nightmare start to the campaign and are now enjoying a four-game unbeaten run. Indeed, Saturday's 2-0 win at a QPR side heavily tipped to be among the front runners suggests that the Rams may well yet have what is takes to be involved in the promotion shake-up.

Certainly Derby's squad, albeit on paper, looks to have quality in all areas and now they have rediscovered the winning touch, I'm taking them to overturn the league table to beat Birmingham at Pride Park tonight.

You can't knock the start Alex McLeish's side have made, and they rallied well to win at Swansea on Saturday after the shock of losing at home to Blackpool. But with Derby available to back at [3.0], I can't ignore such a tasty price about a side that has found some form and has home advantage.

I also fancy Southampton to end their unwanted status as the only Championship side without a home victory by seeing off Norwich at St Mary's.

Saints claimed their second away win of the season at the weekend when beating Doncaster 2-0, and that should give them confidence to deal with the Canaries, who have been inconsistent so far and could only manage a goalless draw at next-to-bottom Barnsley on Saturday.

Backing Southampton at [2.58] is the suggestion, and add in Under 2.5 goals at [1.8]. Saints have only scored three in four home league games while Norwich have netted just once in three outings.

There's a fierce local derby in South East London with Crystal Palace hosting Charlton, and I'm advising backing the draw: Palace have made a very slow start and the Addicks are painfully inconsistent.

Charlton have held sway in recent seasons (three wins in the last four meetings) but after surrendering a lead and three points at home to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, manager Alan Pardew is suggesting he'll ring the changes, and a point - in a game where not losing means more than anything to the fans - will be very welcome.

The draw can be backed at [3.45], and as the last 11 meetings between the have not ended goalless, I'd add in 1-1 ([7]) and 2-2 ([19.5]) as Correct Score options.