English Football League / Andrew French / 10 March 2008 /

Andrew French talks us through the betting for Tuesday night's Championship matches including a potential title-decider as Bristol City host Watford

They may have thrown away a huge lead already this season - but I am taking Watford to claim a vital victory on Tuesday which would be a massive step towards winning the Championship and returning to the Premiership.

The Hornets were running away with things until a disastrous end to 2007 saw a lead as large as nine points eradicated.

However, manager Aidy Boothroyd has steadied the ship, sorted out their home form and, most importantly, brought in new players in key areas with bundles of experience and know-how.

Watford are now unbeaten in 11 league games, and although their last four matches have ended drawn, I think their goalscoring ability away from home will be the difference as they visit current leaders Bristol City.

The Robins have not lost at home in nine league games but they made very heavy weather of earning a last-gasp point in the recent televised game with Crystal Palace at Ashton Gate. For a team riding so high, they don't score many goals: just seven in their last six games.

Watford have whacked in a whopping 33 away goals this season, and that ability to find the net makes backing them at [2.76] my suggestion for this key fixture.

Should Watford win at City, that would leave the door open for Stoke to return to the top of the table - and their disappointing home draw with Burnley on Saturday may have helped push their price for victory at Norwich to the tasty level of [2.84].

Glenn Roeder has turned Norwich's season around, but they have bottomed out lately and won just one of their last six games. They have also struggled to win at home: just two victories in their last eight at Carrow Road.

Tony Pulis will know his side must be winning games at this stage of the season, especially having dropped two points at home at the weekend. Their away form has been pretty mediocre, and they have lost their last two on the road without scoring.

However, Norwich's current blip makes them ripe for plucking, and with the price on offer, I'll be taking Stoke to win.

A home defeat to Preston at the weekend leaves Charlton's automatic promotion hopes on the brink of collapse. They must win at Burnley on Tuesday - and I think they will.

Burnley have a poor home record for a side in the battle for a play-off place, and have won only five league games at Turf Moor.

Charlton are unpredictable: a 5-3 defeat at Blackpool three weeks ago was followed by a 2-0 victory at Sheffield United. Alan Pardew has signed Reading striker Leroy Lita on a month's loan, adding to an attack that already has the likes of Andy Gray, Chris Iwelumo and Luke Varney.

The Addicks are in the last-chance saloon for automatic promotion so a win tomorrow night is crucial. I'll be backing them at [2.96].

There is also a crucial game at the foot of the table as Colchester (bottom) host Sheffield Wednesday (second to bottom).

The Essex side look doomed, nine points adrift of safety and without a win in five games. Wednesday are starting to show some fight though and have taken seven points from the last 12. Their come-from-behind win over QPR on Saturday underlined their spirit.

With games in hand on all around them, Wednesday have control of their own destiny and a point at Layer Road would not be a disappointment. Therefore, I'm backing the draw at [3.4].

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