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Championship Betting: Bristol City to seize the day

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Andrew French picks out three key matches from this weekend's Championship matches and tells us where his money is going on

With all three teams who could overtake them not involved in league action, leaders Bristol City have the opportunity to be four points clear at the top of the Championship on Saturday night - but they have to win at relegation-threatened Southampton to do so.

City's last-gasp victory over Norwich at the weekend brought to an end a run of five games without a win. Amazing to think a team that has taken just six points from the last 18 can be first in the queue to get into the Premiership.

That's a clear indication of quite how inconsistent most of the sides involved in the promotion race have been of late, yet City now have their fate in their own hands, and their seeming preparedness not to give up may just be the deciding factor against the Saints.

They have regularly scored late goals or come from behind to salvage wins or draws, a never-say-die approach which has been the hallmarks of all the teams Gary Johnson has managed.

They are doubtless also motivated by the continual insistence among the pundits that they will eventually fall by the promotion wayside. They certainly weren't fancied to go up, and their hosts this weekend Southampton would have been considered more likely promotion candidates by many.

However, that was before they had to sell off key members of their squad to survive - the departure of the likes of Kenwynne Jones and Chris Baird boosting the coffers but being sorely missed on the pitch.

Saints have only won once in their last 14 league outings, and have not scored in almost five hours of football.

City may well struggle in a big way if they do go up, but they've proved their worth in the Championship and an away win at a club that is seriously struggling is my prediction. Back the Robins at [2.98].

When you're an outspoken pundit like Chris Kamara, you are bound to make the odd statement that's akin to opening your mouth and sticking your foot right in it. Yet back in October, when Kamara said something to the effect that there was only one automatic promotion place up for grabs because Watford had secured the other one, it didn't appear without good reason.

The Hornets won 10 of their first 13 games and at one stage were as far as nine points. So, poor old Kammy must wonder what on Earth has happened since, as the Hornets are now down to fifth and looking over their shoulder at the teams outside the play-off places.

It's hard to see exactly where Watford have gone wrong, although goals have been the problem of late. Nathan Ellington, who cost a club record £3.25, has netted only three times all season and has currently gone seven games without a goal. That has contributed to just four goals in the last seven games for Aidy Boothroyd's side.

However, like Bristol City, the Hornets are offered the perfect chance to get things back on track as they host Coventry City, who are scrapping it out alongside Southampton at the foot of the table.

Last week's victory over Plymouth will have brought much relief to Chris Coleman and his troops, but they have performed pretty miserably on the road of late and were resoundingly beaten 3-0 when Watford visited the Ricoh Arena.

Although Watford have not won in eight outings, seven of those have been draws. However, backing them to win has been an expensive pastime, so I suggest laying Coventry at [4.8] in this one.

There's a huge game at the foot of the table as Scunthorpe host Sheffield Wednesday. Neither team can really afford to lose, yet a point will help no-one.

Wednesday have made themselves hard to beat in recent weeks - a statement that cannot be applied to the Iron, who have lost their last four.

Therefore, as current form counts for so much at this stage of the season, I'm backing the Owls at [2.94].