Championship / Andrew French / 11 November 2010 /

Although it might not be good for his bank balance, Andrew French loves the unpredictable nature of the Championship. This week he fancies Cardiff to get back to winning ways and lowly Bristol City to deny Leeds.

If ever you wanted evidence of just how many times the Championship can kick you in the teeth, this week supplied it. Portsmouth looked to have paid out and ended QPR's unbeaten run until a last-ditch penalty was converted against them; Middlesbrough double their away goals tally to beat Scunthorpe; and then Leicester and Swansea manage only a point between them at home to two struggling sides.

One thing about this division is it's consistent: it's consistently inconsistent!

Portsmouth v Doncaster

Having bemoaned the Championship as being bad for your health, it's probably tempting fate to start trumpeting about a price that looks wrong - but I'll take the risk, as I cannot see how Portsmouth are not shorter than [2.14] to back to beat Doncaster. Okay, so Pompey lost to Derby last week - but the Rams are the form side right now. In their seven games before that, Steve Cotterill's men had won six and drawn the other. They oh so nearly became the first team to beat QPR in midweek, and even before that Rangers' manager Neil Warnock was lauding the south-coast side as having the strongest starting 11 in the division.

Doncaster have struggled when they've travelled to the stronger teams in this division: they lost 4-0 at Cardiff, 3-0 at QPR and managed to let a 3-1 lead at Reading turn into a 4-3 defeat. Having seen them at first hand, Sean O'Driscoll's side do play some attractive football - but I think they'll find Pompey too strong for them, especially with the home side still seething about QPR's late penalty equaliser.

Back Portsmouth at [2.14] to beat Doncaster

Scunthorpe v Cardiff

If I were a Scunny fan, I'd be getting a bit worried. Their away form is outstanding - five wins from eight is the joint best in the division. But at home, it's painfully different. Just a solitary victory at Glanford Park and that was way back at the end of August. Since then they have taken just two points from a possible 18 in front of their own fans, including last week's reverse to struggling Middlesbrough. And they may have picked the wrong time be welcoming Cardiff. The Bluebirds drew in midweek to make it back to back games without a win for the second time this season - and the last time that happened Dave Jones' side responded by winning six of their next seven games. The Welsh side are unbeaten in their last four away games and I can see them winning this one to help erase the memory of last weekend's derby-day defeat.

Back Cardiff at [2.06] to beat Scunthorpe

Leeds v Bristol City

Elland Road has been the place for entertainment this season - 32 goals in eight games so far. Trouble is the locals will quickly point to the fact they have only scored 14 of them, and they have not won at home since September 25. Since then, they have taken just a point from four outings and conceded 14 goals in the process.

A month ago they would probably have been very confident about picking off struggling City - but Keith Millen has steadied a rocking boat with an unbeaten run of five games that has included back-to-back away wins. The midweek success at Swansea was particularly noteworthy as the Welsh side went into that game on the back of seven consecutive games without even conceding a goal. The Robins still have some way to go to put daylight between themselves and the drop zone, but in their current mood I can see them heading home with some reward.

Lay Leeds at [1.83] v Bristol City

*Andrew is showing a profit of approximately £64 (£10 level stake/liability) on all his selections so far this season

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>

:

:

:

?

: