The Championship Betting: Sweet Home Ala-Boro

Championship / Andrew French / 21 August 2009 / Leave a Comment

There hasn't been much to cheer at Middlesbrough's Riverside Stadium in 2009, but Boro's fine start to the season offers a lot of hope for a home victory on Saturday

"Middlesbrough arrive back at the Riverside having claimed two impressive away wins, and they'll be keen to get a win (and a goal) under their belts on their own turf."

After two impressive away wins Andrew French nominates Middlesbrough as the team to base his selections around this weekend, whilst he is also hoping that there are no truer words than home is where the heart is.

It's very early in the season to start drawing firm conclusions about which end of the table teams are definitely going to be spending the next nine months, but this weekend's set of Championship matches do point towards a few home bankers.

Middlesbrough arrive back at the Riverside having claimed two impressive away wins, and they'll be keen to get a win (and a goal) under their belts on their own turf. I can't see Doncaster offering too much resistance, and Boro at [1.6] would be the pivotal element of a fourfold I'd consider placing on Betfair Multiples.

I thought Leicester would more than hold their own after promotion, such was the gulf between them and the rest of League One last term, and they're unbeaten after three games. I think they'll take three points this weekend with the visit of Barnsley to the Walkers Stadium. The Tykes look set for another battle against the drop, and Leicester have developed a winning habit at home. Back them at [1.78].

Completing the four teams in the Yankee would be Derby and Preston. Nigel Clough has got Derby looking far more solid and effective than they were a year ago, and visitors Plymouth just don't score enough goals on the road to trouble them - so include the Rams at [1.93].

Preston cruised to victory at Barnsley in the week and are another side I expect to be involved in the promotion battle. Visitors Peterborough are finding the step up after promotion to be quite steep so far, and a trip to Deepdale - where Alan Irvine's side won more home games last season than anyone else in the division - is a tall order. Include Preston at [1.97].

As I say, I'd be clicking on Betfair Multiples and sticking that quartet in a fourfold - it's paying around the 9.7 mark.

As for singles, I'm suggesting a couple of lays. Reading are yet to score a goal this season and although they have home advantage, visitors Sheffield United have quickly got into their stride and ought to be able to take at least a point - so lay the Royals at [2.64].

Meanwhile, although you can't argue with back-to-back home wins and not conceding a goal, I still think Newcastle will find life in The Championship tough. This weekend's visit to Crystal Palace will be a decent yardstick as Neil Warnock sides are no respecters of stature - so I'd lay Newcastle at [2.56].