Championship Betting: Wolves can distance themselves from the chasing "pack"

Championship / Andrew French / 26 September 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew French takes a moment out to blow his own trumpet as Wolves sit pretty at the top of The Championship, as he rightly predicted before the start of the season. More importantly, they can win again this weekend, despite the absence of key player Chris Iwelumo.

Time for a bit of gratuitous self-promotion here.

On the eve of the new season, I previewed the Championship title contenders, and flagged up Wolves at [14.5], suggesting that in Chris Iwelumo they had found the goal threat and link-man they had been missing. Iwelumo has netted eight times already this season, Wolves are unbeaten and top and, with Mick McCarthy's side now available to back at [3.75] for the title, I might also mention that in my season's preview I said the Midlands club would offer "room for back-to-lay enthusiasts".

Of course, we're only a few weeks into the season and, as Watford showed last season, even the most flying of flying starts counts for very little in the Championship, where the only predictable element is the unpredictability. Hence why I'm taking this chance to pat myself on the back now, as it could look like very poor advice come May!

And this weekend will be a test for Wolves, as they must do without Iwelumo - suspended after a hat-trick followed a red card against Preston last weekend - and keeper Wayne Hennessy, also suspended.

However, with three wins and 11 goals so far at Molineux, they are quickly making their home a fortress. Visitors Bristol City have been better on the road than at Ashton Gate so far this term though. Gary Johnson's side are yet to lose or even concede a goal in three away trips, quickly proving that last season's brush with promotion was no fluke.

It's still hard to look beyond a home win though, and I'd back Wolves at [1.85]. For a team that has started so well, City's price to win of [5.3] does look quite plump, but that is more to do with just how well McCarthy's side have got out of the blocks.

Wolves' seven league games so far have produced 21 goals, but now the strike partnership of Iwelumo and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake has been broken up by the former's suspension, it tempts me to back Under 2.5 goals at [2.1]. City's three away games so far have borne only four goals, and Johnson will not be doing anything to make life easy for his free-scoring hosts to add to their tally.

I can see Wolves continuing their march in a tight game, and so backing a 1-0 win at [8.6] appeals.

The live game of the day at 5.20pm on Sky pairs together two sides who have, unlike Wolves and City, made much slower starts.

Ipswich, who host Crystal Palace, have seen the home from that was the mainstay of their promotion push last season desert them so far. Just one win and three goals in three games at Portman Road for the Horses, and manager Jim Magilton - who has taken some stick from the stands for his squad rotation - wasn't helped by a 4-1 pasting at home to Wigan in the Carling Cup during the week.

He will also have to do without experienced defender Ben Thatcher, out for several weeks with a thigh injury.

But if Ipswich have made a disappointing start, Palace's has been downright bad, particularly away from home. They've lost all three games on the road and conceded eight goals in the process.

It's difficult to feel confident about either of these two sides at the moment, and so I'm going to back the draw at [3.65], and throw in Under 2.5 goals at [1.92].

Elsewhere around the Championship, I'm going to play Betfair Multiples again and line up a treble. I'll be including Birmingham, who suffered a huge shock at home to Blackpool last week, convinced they will show they are a better side than that by overcoming Swansea at the Liberty Stadium.

Alongside them, another team looking to put a miserable result behind them is Sheffield United. Getting done 6-0 is bad enough, but when Arsenal put out a side almost young enough for an Academy fixture, it only adds salt to the wound. The Blades should make home advantage tell against a Watford side hit by injuries all over the pitch.

Lastly, I'm adding in Charlton, who have struggled for consistency so far but ought to be able to see off Sheffield Wednesday, who have struggled defensively on their travels so far.

Backing those three in a treble on Multiples pays around the [9.3] mark.