The Championship Betting: No certainties in this league at the moment though QPR aren't a bad bet

Championship / Andrew French / 02 March 2009 / Leave a Comment

Andrew French looks at the Championship's midweek fixtures but warns prospective punters that nothing can be taken for granted in this division at present. Best bet: Back QPR to beat Norwich at [1.89].

Having seen two short-priced good things turned over on Saturday, I'm only a small step away from advocating a blindfold and drawing pin approach to punting in the Championship. At the weekend, only two of the teams in the top 10 of the table won - while six of the bottom 10 won, and two more took a point.

It really is almost impossible to draw any confident conclusions, and more than ever strong current form seems to be key as opposed to league position, home advantage or stature.

Therefore, my first selection and best bet of the midweek games - backing QPR at [1.89] - is based largely on my belief that Norwich will lose the game. You could lay Norwich at [5.0], but I'm siding with backing Rangers simply because they should be able to see off the Canaries (with a good deal emphasis on the 'should').

Norwich's gamble on giving Bryan Gunn his first managerial job is starting to look decidedly sticky. The East Anglian club are without a win in six and now sit in the drop zone, four points from safety.

They have gone eight league away trips without success, and although Rangers are falling some way short of pre-season predictions that they'd be vying for automatic promotion, they have the team to win this one.

Defeat at Doncaster on Friday night ended a run of four straight league wins for Derby, but I think they can get back on track against Swansea. Nigel Clough will know he has to make Pride Park more of a fortress for the Rams, who have only won seven of 16 at home - and the Swans have also not been firing on all cylinders of late.

Put aside their battling FA Cup displays against Fulham, and the Welsh club have only won one of their last three in the league - and they've only won once in their last seven away league games.

Therefore, back Derby in this one at [2.46].

My team Watford gave me another winning tip on Saturday - four wins out of five, three consecutive clean sheets and breathing space between them and the relegation zone.

I believe they can come back from a long midweek trip to Plymouth with a point. I might have fancied a victory given the Pilgrims' recent form, but their totally unexpected victory at leaders Wolves on Saturday shows the penny might have dropped with Paul Sturrock's side as they hurtled towards the foot of the table. So, I'm going to back the draw at [3.5].

Right at the foot of the table Charlton are finally showing some signs of life as opposed to tamely dropping into League One. Saturday's draw at Swansea made it three games without defeat, and with back-to-back home victories in the bank, I'm going to take a chance and tip them to beat one of the form sides in the division: Doncaster.

Rovers have been flying of late and from looking to be in the thick of the relegation battle, they now appear safely mid-table. However, they lost at home to Charlton earlier in the season, and have not managed a win on three trips to the London area this season.

The Addicks are far from a safe conveyance for anyone's money, but with time running out, the very least they must do is win their home games. Back them to do so against Donny at [2.64].