Championship Betting: Sheffield to show some steel and Wolves to whistle past Norwich

Championship / Andrew French / 03 February 2009 / Leave a Comment

Andrew French talks us through the midweek Championship action where Wolves at odds-on and Sheffield United at odds-against look good things. Best bet: Sheff utd to beat Southampton @ [2.36] away from home.

Even with one or two minor niggling doubts, I still think Sheffield United look a really good thing at Southampton tonight - so to find you can back them at odds against on Betfair is pretty much one of those 'pile on' moments for me.

I'll come to those lingering doubts in a moment, but with a promotion chasing side that possesses one of the best away records in the division travelling to the team next to the bottom that has a miserable home record, a price of [2.36] to back the Blades really is beckoning me in.

My doubts? Losing a player of the calibre of James Beattie will always have an effect, and United have not scored in their last two games. However, I'm not asking them to run up a cricket score - a single-goal victory will do. And winning at St Mary's has become quite commonplace for away teams - Saints have lost seven at home, and their solitary success came way back in late September.

Relegation-threatened sides like Doncaster and Nottingham Forest have won there in recent weeks, and United are a good deal better than them. By all means, lay Southampton at [3.45] if that makes you feel more comfortable, but for me it's the Blades all the way.

There's nothing particularly original in backing Wolves this season (by the way, did I ever mention I tipped them as potential title winners in pre-season?!). A run of two wins in eight has made them a bit less of a shoo-in, but I can't do much else other than recommend you back them to beat lowly Norwich tonight.

New Canaries boss Bryan Gunn is unbeaten in three, but draws against the likes of Southampton and Doncaster aren't anything to write home about.

Wolves average more than two goals a game at home, and Norwich have kept just one clean sheet on their travels all season. It has to be a home win, at a price around [1.58].

Poor old Charlton - 1-0 up for a long time at Burnley on Saturday, they were hit by a goal deep into stoppage time that sent them home without even a point. Life's like that when you're down the bottom, and consequently Addicks boss Phil Parkinson will be grateful for anything he can get against Bristol City at Ashton Gate tonight.

The Addicks have lost their last seven away league games and with time running out for them to close the yawning gap between themselves and the safety point, Parkinson is likely to park the proverbial bus across the pitch tonight.

Against a City side that has drawn eight of their 15 home games this season, that sort of 'we shall not be passed' approach could well be good enough for Charlton to head back to the capital with a point.

Therefore, I suggest backing the draw at [3.75].