Championship / Andrew French / 22 August 2008 /

Andrew French looks ahead to the weekend's championships fixtures, including a clash between two recent Premier League sides with canny managers.

This was a Premiership fixture only 18 months ago but when you see Charlton Athletic v Reading it really does scream 'Football League' at you.

That is not intended as a slight on either club who more than punched above their weight during their time in the top flight. Indeed, as more and more teams are discovering, doing anything other than suffering total humiliation (ring any bells Derby fans?) when you start mixing it with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United is fast becoming an achievement in itself.

Charlton and Reading have to be respected for enjoying more than a one-season visit to the Premiership - although as the Addicks have already discovered, bouncing back when you do finally fall through the trap door is anything but easy. They have had to make extensive squad cuts during the summer, just to keep the wolf from the door, having finished some way short of even the play-offs last term.

Reading looked like they might keep the nucleus of their squad together, but as the August transfer window has ticked by they've seen one or two players enticed away. However, they still look one of the strongest sides in the Championship, and manager Steve Coppell will doubtless be more than happy for the chances of Birmingham, QPR and Derby to be talked up ahead of the Royals.

Charlton began the season well with a home win over Swansea but an ignominious cup defeat at home to Yeovil followed by defeat at Watford last weekend has suggested there is still plenty for Alan Pardew to work on.

The Addicks were none too clever at home last season - only nine wins in 23. They've also had French midfielder Therry Racon ruled out this week for three months with a broken toe.

Reading have kept two clean sheets in the league, and their front line of Kevin Doyle and Leroy Lita - who spent the end of last term on loan at The Valley - ought to offer a potent threat at this level.

I think the Royals will just have too much for their hosts. But it will be tight. Charlton have scored in each of their last 15 home league games, but their frailities at the back (fourth worst home defensive record in the Championship last season) still remain, and so backing a 2-1 Reading victory at [11.0] appeals.

Allied to that, backing Over 2.5 goals at [2.26] makes sense, and because I can see the home side starting brightly before the often over-critical home crowd get on their backs, backing Draw/Reading at [7.4] is also suggested.

Elsewhere in the Championship, I really like the chances of perennial 'nearly boys' Wolves this season. They cashed in on Charlton's need to sell by picking up journeyman striker Chris Iwelumo, he has already netted four in three outings and I'll back them at [3.3] as they visit Ipswich who were virtually unbeatable at Portman Road last season but have already lost their undefeated home record this time around after going down 2-1 to Preston on the opening day. However, laying the Horses at [2.38] is a viable alternative.

I think a price of [3.4] to back a draw between Nottingham Forest (four draws in their last eight at home) and Watford (seven draws in nine away) looks a little too plump to ignore, while I'll be bundling home wins for Birmingham and QPR, and an away victory for Sheffield United, into a treble that pays around [6.37] on Betfair Multiples.

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