Championship / Andrew French / 29 November 2011 /

Three bets ahead of tonight's action in The Championship including another high-scoring affair for the league leaders and good reasons to side with Burnley.

Southampton v Hull

Despite the fact that seven of Southampton's nine home games have delivered more than 2.5 goals, we can still back the same outcome tonight at a price only just short of even money. That seems too good to be turned down from where I'm sitting. I was expecting a price a couple of ticks shorter, but the extra fat in the back column may be because layers feel Hull could prevent the Saints from having their usual St Mary's goal feast.

Admittedly the Tigers' away games so far have averaged just 1.89 goals apiece, but if you look more closely at Hull's most recent outings, they have been far more open. Their last six matches have produced 18 goals, compared with just 11 in their previous eight. So, the ultra-cautious Tigers of earlier in the season may be a thing of the past, especially with a change of manager. And regardless, Saints have shown that even the tightest of defences doesn't stop them as they scored three at home against Middlesbrough, who have the best defensive record in the division. Hull's only away trip to a team in the top 10 saw them stuffed 4-1 at Leeds, and with Saints having scored twice or more in 78% of their home league games so far, you have to fancy this one to deliver the three goals required.

Back Over 2.5 goals at [1.97]

Burnley v Ipswich

Five successive defeats is bad enough, but as Ipswich have been leading in the closing stages of the last two and ended up losing, you really must question the morale and mental strength in the squad at Portman Road. Paul Jewell's side were 2-1 up going into stoppage time on Saturday in their home game with Reading, and managed to end up losing 3-2. That came a week after two goals in the last six minutes saw them turn a 2-1 lead into a 3-2 defeat at Nottingham Forest. The Tractor Boys' defence is the worst in the Championship, as they have shipped 33 goals at a rate of virtually two a game. The East Anglian side have already lost at fellow strugglers Nottingham Forest and Millwall, so the fact that Burnley are not exactly setting the world alight does not put me off a home win. Eddie Howe's side had lost four on the trot before a fine 3-2 success at Hull on Saturday, and that shot in the arm gives them the confidence required.

Back Burnley at [2.02]

Millwall v Doncaster

Anyone who has played computer football management games will know the fun you can have when, as a manager of a smaller club, you suddenly have the wherewithal to go out and sign well-known players from bigger clubs. So, Dean Saunders - should he have ever tried his hand at Football Manager etc - is now turning computer game into reality at Doncaster as the likes of Diouf, Beye, Ilunga and Fortune are now on the books at the Keepmoat.

Results haven't come instantly, but they had their chances to win Saturday's goalless draw with Watford and won at Ipswich recently. With such a star line-up, Rovers will have to deliver soon or face the drop - and a trip to Millwall could be the ideal opportunity. Kenny Jackett's side looked to have turned the corner when they won three successive games at the end of last month but one point from their most recent trio of fixtures suggests they are still going to face a tough winter. The Lions have a real scoring problem too: ignore the 10 they hit in that three-game winning burst and they have netted a paltry 10 more in their other 15 league games this season. This could be the night that Donny's stars shine - but with a plump price on offer in the Draw No Bet market, we'll allow ourselves some insurance.

Back Doncaster in Draw No Bet at [3.95]

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