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Stoke more than happy to settle for a point at Vicarage Road

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Andrew French talks us through the betting from the most important matches of the weekend in the Championship, including the battle of the heavyweights as Stoke vist Watford

It's been a huge week at the top of the Premiership - and the battle for the title takes another twist on Saturday as Watford host Stoke City.

It's a particularly significant week for the Hornets, who drew at leaders Bristol City on Tuesday and follow that test up with another game against a top-three side a few days later.

Watford are clearly hard to beat as they haven't lost in 10 league games: their problem is they are starting to draw too many matches for their own good. All of their last five have ended in stalemate - and in two of the last three, they have led only to be pegged back.

Stoke are very up and down at the moment. Back-to-back away defeats, a scrambled draw at home to Burnley but then a hard-fought away win at Norwich in midweek.

The sceptics will suggest this is a battle of the boot as both teams are known to employ a very direct style. However, while it may not always be pretty to watch, Aidy Boothroyd and Tony Pulis have their teams in a position to secure Premiership football next season. Who can argue with that?

As for this weekend's game, I think Watford's run of draws may be extended. The reverse fixture at the Britannia Stadium was goalless - and pretty grim viewing to boot - and Stoke would certainly be quite content with grinding out a point this weekend. Watford's home form has improved of late, but they have still only won two of their last five at Vicarage Road.

It's the draw for me at [3.5] - although as Watford are the likelier winners, I'd consider laying Stoke at [4.1].

Leaders Bristol City are also suffering from a bout of 'draw-itis', with each of their last three games finishing level. However, their home form is sound and they have been beaten just once in 11 games at Ashton Gate - and that was by Middlesbrough in the FA Cup.

This weekend's visitors Plymouth are stuttering at just the wrong time in their bid to secure a play-off berth. Three defeats in four have left them outside the top six, and Tuesday night's defeat at lowly Scunthorpe was blamed on "mental approach" by manager Paul Sturrock.

That sounds warning bells for me, and therefore I'll be backing the Robins to win this one at [2.12] - and as both sides are among the lowest scoring of the promotion chasers, I'll be adding Under 2.5 goals at [1.75].

It's the battle of the bruised at Portman Road where two sides in danger of missing out on the promotion party meet.

Ipswich are without a win in four games and were trounced 4-1 at Barnsley in midweek, while Charlton have won just once in seven and have lost two on the trot.

It was only six years ago that these two clubs met in the Premiership, but unless they turn current form around, they will struggle to even make the play-offs.

Alan Pardew has a raft of strikers at his disposal: Lita, Gray, Varney and Iwelumo. Yet they have netted only twice in three games, one from a midfielder and the other from a central defender.

Charlton's away form makes especially grim reading - they have won just eight times in 52 league trips on the road.

I can't see that getting any better this weekend, as although Ipswich have stumbled of late, Portman Road is still a very hard place to win at. They have only lost once there in the league this season, conceding a miserly 12 goals in 18 games.

Backing Ipswich at [2.32] appeals, although for a slightly larger price I'll look to back Draw/Ipswich at [6] - the Horses have not led at half-time in their last four home games.