The Championship Betting: Swansea set to be Rams to the slaughter

Championship / Andrew French / 19 February 2010 / 1 Comments

Derby County have had some tough fixtures of late but have equipped themselves really well, collecting 10 points from a possible 12.

Our Championship expert Andrew French has been in cracking form of late, so it will take a brave person to oppose Coventry, Doncaster, Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday this weekend.

Fans of Crystal Palace have every right to feel proud of the way Neil Warnock and his team responded to the club going into administration. However, the signs are that they are now starting to tread water, and that combined with their upcoming FA Cup replay with Aston Villa makes me ready to bet against them this weekend.

Palace claimed a couple of league wins and knocked Wolves out of the cup in the aftermath of being plunged into the relegation battle by their points deduction, but more recently they have lost back-to-back home league games. True, they gave Villa one hell of a fright in the first tie at Selhurst Park, but the fixture pile-up that draw has created isn't helping - and it would only be understandable if the club's focus was on the money-spinning and morale boosting possibilities attached to winning the replay on Wednesday. Therefore, the visit of Coventry tomorrow may well see them struggle for league form again.

The Sky Blues may have been soundly beaten at Newcastle in midweek, but there's no shame in that - and it was the first defeat Chris Coleman's troops have suffered in five games. With Coventry available to back at [3.85], I think it's a price worth chancing.

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Back in the summer before the season unfolded, QPR v Doncaster would have been many people's idea of a home banker. But now? I think not. Rangers really do have problems - everywhere. On and off the field, they are a club which has more difficulties than most. Five consecutive defeats spell out their woeful current form, and they have managed just one goal in that period.

Doncaster are probably punching above their weight, but a push for the play-offs is not beyond them. They have won their last two - including beating Nottingham Forest - and have not conceded a goal in three outings. I'm not quite confident enough to back Donny as their away form generally isn't the best, but with Rangers at a ludicrously short price given what I have outlined above, I'll lay them at [2.34].

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If there is one team flying at the moment it's Derby County. When they were looking at their league fixtures a month ago, they couldn't have anticipated taking 10 points from games with Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United, Newcastle and Preston. However, three wins and a draw, and 10 goals into the bargain, have lifted them to 12th. Indeed, only a last-gasp equaliser from Sheffield United at Bramall Lane denied the Rams four wins out of four. This weekend they host Swansea, who are undoubtedly a tough nut to crack.

The Welsh side are unbeaten in 10, but six of those have been draws and they don't score too many goals: only 10 in that same period. With Derby on the crest of a wave, I think we can back them at a nice price of [2.62] - a team playing so well would surely be shorter if they weren't up against a top-four side.

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It can only be described as steady progress, but Sheffield Wednesday are heading in the right direction under new manager Alan Irvine, who has overseen five wins in his eight games. The Owls were beaten at home in midweek by Doncaster, but prior to that they had won three on the spin at Hillsborough. This weekend's visitors Ipswich have hinted at pulling themselves out of the mire, but are still lacking the consistency required to do so - that's why they are still in the drop zone.

Roy Keane's side were beaten 3-1 at bottom club Peterborough during the week, and their only win in the last five outings was at QPR, who could manage to lose to anyone at the moment. At [2.48], Wednesday make plenty of appeal.

*Andrew is showing a profit of approximately £221 (£10 level stake/liability) on all his selections so far this season

Comments (1)

1. Sukh Sadhra | 19 February 2010

   I agree with your points about Donny but maybe even back them? They look tasty at 3.35 given that QPR have scored only 1 in 5 against some pretty defensivley weak opposition.

   Not only that but I saw Donny against the mighty Foxes a couple of weeks ago and they defended soundly away from home!

   Up the foxes!!!!