Championship / Andrew French / 10 February 2012 /

Home games at Barnsley and Ipswich have produced plenty of goals in recent months, and Andrew French believes that trend will continue when Birmingham and Middlesbrough visit this weekend.

Barnsley v Birmingham, KO: Saturday 15:00, Match Odds: Barnsley [3.85], Birmingham [2.14], The Draw [3.5]

You have to go back beyond Christmas to find the last time Birmingham lost a league game. They are the division's form side with six wins and three draws in their last nine games, a run that has elevated them to be a contender for automatic promotion. The Blues have smashed 10 goals in their last two away games, and they have the second best goalscoring record on the road in the division. Their away games average 3.21 goals each, marginally less than the average for Barnsley home games (3.33). You can see where we're going here. Over 2.5 Goals would have been a winning bet in each of The Tykes' last seven games in all competitions at Oakwell - up against a side that has been banging them in for fun, that has to be the way to go again.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ [1.94]

Ipswich v Middlesbrough, KO: Saturday 15:00, Match Odds: Ipswich [2.42], Middlesbrough [3.2], The Draw [3.5]

I'm not quite sure what has happened at Middlesbrough. They topped the table in mid-September (albeit briefly) and have been bobbing around the top three for most of the season. In fact, they ended 2011 in second. But a run of six games without a win has sent them skidding down to sixth, just at a time when one or two other contenders are hitting form. They have struggled defensively away from home lately, conceding 10 in their last four outings. Each of those four games paid out in the Over 2.5 Goals market, and bearing in mind Boro are facing the division's entertainment kings - Ipswich games have produced more goals than any other team - another dabble in this market must be wise.

The Tractor Boys' 29 fixtures have produced a whopping 103 goals at an average of 3.55 per game. At Portman Road, the average is 3.43 a match - and six of the last seven league games have delivered 2.5 goals or more.

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ [1.96]

Reading v Coventry, KO: Saturday 15:00, Match Odds: Reading [1.54], Coventry [8.0], The Draw [4.2]

Seven points from safety and four defeats in their last five league games: Coventry are in danger of being set adrift at the foot of the table. The Sky Blues are particularly dire on the road, having not won an away game all season and collecting a paltry three points from a possible 42 on their travels. However, at least lately they have been going down with a bit of fight. It needed two goals in the last three minutes for Blackpool to beat them, and prior to that they had only lost their previous five away games by a single goal. But what really catches my eye is the fact that they have been level at half-time in each of their last four away games, before going on to lose.

Add in that Reading have been all-square at the break in five of their last six at the Madejski, and you begin to fancy that Coventry could hang on for 45 minutes again. Given that the Royals have won five of their last six home league games suggests another home success is very likely - but when you consider the recent stats it's well worth backing the visitors to frustrate them until the interval.

Back Draw HT/Reading FT @ [4.6]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: