Championship / Andrew French / 02 October 2009 / Leave a comment

Unpredictable results are about the only things we can predict in the Championship says Andrew French... especially if the last few weeks of results are anything to go by. Who will triumph this weekend?

"Bearing in mind the recent results, any team that has strung together back-to-back victories is worth following, especially if they are playing a team that has lost both its last two."

Oh dear. Just when the Championship appeared to have shaken off the total unpredictability which plagued it last season, we've had a couple of weeks that may mean the old 'betting health warning' needs to be slapped back on.

Newcastle held at home on Tuesday; West Brom beaten twice in four days; Middlesbrough take one point from six. Meanwhile, down the bottom, Barnsley, Plymouth and Reading all won on Tuesday night. Last season, when any side went top they immediately seemed to want to hold the door open for their nearest pursuers, while it was pretty much a regular throwaway comment that 'anyone can beat anyone in the Championship'. For a month of the new season it looked as if there was a form book to study this season - but it's starting to head for a journey out of the window already. However ...

Plymouth enjoyed a first win of the season at Peterborough in midweek, lifting themselves off the bottom and perhaps confirming manager Paul Sturrock's view that they were only a rub of the green away from turning results around. The loan signing of Manchester United duo David Gray and James Chester has been a significant factor, and now they have broken their duck, I can see them making it two out of two against inconsistent Scunthorpe.

Nigel Adkins' side started poorly, then soundly beat Crystal Palace and Preston, but haven't won since. They also concede a lot of goals: 19 in 10 games. At [2.56], I think Plymouth are worth a punt.

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Bearing in mind the recent results, any team that has strung together back-to-back victories is worth following, especially if they are playing a team that has lost both its last two. Therefore, Nottingham Forest could offer some tidy returns at Peterborough if you back them at [3.0].

Forest have taken a while to get going, and although their two recent wins have come against struggling sides, the capability to beat the division's lesser lights means they should be able to account for Posh. Darren Ferguson's sides have won only one league game and are conceding nearly two goals a game on average at London Road.

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Newcastle may have stuttered in the week, but they still look the best of the crop. Going to St James Park is going to be more of a day out for most sets of fans than a trip they make with a real belief of taking three points, and I think the Toon will bounce back to winning ways on Saturday. Visitors Bristol City are a decent side but they haven't won away this term and this doesn't look like an occasion to end that run. Back Newcastle at [1.62].

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I hate going against my own team, but I fear for Watford this weekend. Manager Malky Mackay has worked wonders with a small and young squad, but even he can't keep pulling rabbits out of hats when a combination of injuries and illness start depriving him of so many players. The Hornets very youthful defence had exceeded expectations until they had an off-night against Coventry on Tuesday, and they will have their hands full with Cardiff goal machine Michael Chopra this weekend. Therefore, I'd suggest (with heavy heart) laying Watford at [2.9].

Tags: Bristol City, Malky Mackay, Newcastle United, Nottingham Forest, Peterborough, St James Park, The Championship, The Championship Betting, Watford