The Championship Betting: Revolution at Watford can result in three points at Swansea

Championship / Andrew French / 07 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Andrew French talks us through the main events in a turbulent week at Watford, gives us the best bets out there for this weeken's Championship fixtures and picks out a a couple of mouth-watering multiples.

I'm sure I'm not the only Watford fan who will be glad when this weekend's game at Swansea kicks off, if only to distract attention away from the circus that has been acted out off the pitch.

Aidy Boothroyd leaves by that old football classic 'mutual consent'. Then former chairman Elton John resigns as Life President. And yesterday former assistant manager Keith Burkinshaw returned to the club. Watford is normally a quiet, unassuming club - this week has been anything but.

However, I am going to put my neck on the block and predict some of the gloom will be lifted with a win at The Liberty Stadium on Sunday - the game moved because of rugby on Saturday.

Caretaker managers - in Watford's case Malky Mackay - don't always have the same 'first game factor' as new permanent bosses do, but a change of voice plus the wise old head of Burkinshaw coming back into the training ground may well have the desired effect.

As a former defender, Mackay can't have enjoyed seeing the Hornets conceding four at home to Blackpool last week, and I'd think he'll make one or two changes this weekend.

Playing away from home will lift some of the pressure from Watford, and they are certainly scoring goals: 11 in their last five games. Swansea have only won once in their last five games, and last weekend's 0-0 draw with basement boys Doncaster was disappointing.

I'm convinced it's not my heart ruling my head when I suggest backing Watford at [4.7].

I can't predict such a good weekend for another former employer of mine, Charlton. They have slipped into the relegation zone and manager Alan Pardew was subjected to angry fan protests after last weekend's 3-1 home defeat to Barnsley.

The Addicks are without a win in five and their confidence looks shot. They travel to Plymouth, who have been somewhat inconsistent of late. However, the Pilgrims can pounce on a tough time for Charlton, and can be backed at [2.04].

Nothing Wolves have done so far has wiped away my smugness at having tipped them to win the Championship pre-season. They were impressive in winning at Cardiff last week, and while Chris Iwelumo and Sylvain Ebanks-Blake are scoring, they will be a handful for anyone.

Visitors Burnley look like being among the contenders for the play-offs at least, but at Molineux Wolves are hard to stop and I'll back them at [1.84].

Although they recently lost their unbeaten home record and have slipped down the league table, I still think Sheffield Wednesday will be too good for Doncaster.

Rovers really are struggling, and have lost six consecutive away games since winning at Derby on the opening day of the season. Goals are a huge problem: just seven in 15 games, and they have not scored more than once in a match this season.

Wednesday are without a win in four themselves, but home games with Donny are something of an open goal - and I'll back the Owls at [1.86].

Taking Watford, Plymouth, Wolves and Wednesday in a fourfold on Betfair Muliples will pay around [28.8] - and there is one other Multiple I'd suggest for this weekend.

Try backing draws in the Nottingham Forest v Birmingham, QPR v Cardiff and Reading v Derby games. The treble pays around [43]!