Championship / Andrew French / 20 February 2009 /

Andrew French admits to some bias but does think Watford are over-priced as they travel to Blackpool this Saturday, one of three good bets in The Championship this weekend. Best bet: Watford to beat Blackpool @ [3.2].

If you are a fellow Watford fan, you're either going to wholeheartedly support me in tipping the Hornets this weekend to move further away from trouble - or fear that my prediction of victory at Blackpool has just jinxed any chance the Hornets had.

However, putting loyalties to one side, I just can't resist the [3.2] available about the Hornets. They were very impressive in beating Swansea 2-0 on Tuesday night. A clean sheet, tremendous work rate and a threat in attack - a few months ago Watford fans were lucky to witness just one of those three in any given display.

And they weren't just beating any old team - it was Swansea, undefeated in their previous 16 and praised all round for their performance against Fulham in the FA Cup. That gave the Hornets two wins in three league games, and there was plenty to commend in their defeats to Wolves and Chelsea (FA Cup).

Their away form is pretty dire (one win all season), but they go to Blackpool at a time when the Seasiders are struggling: they've lost three of their last five including both their last two home games.

It may only be the very early shoots of a recovery, but Watford look to be heading the right way while Blackpool are being sucked down the table. So, forgive me any hint of personal indulgence and back Watford at [3.2].

There's a big relegation battle at Oakwell, and although I have strong personal links with Charlton, I can't feel anywhere near as confident about the Addicks as I do about Watford.
Phil Parkinson's side did beat Plymouth at the weekend, but so is everyone else at the moment. Look beyond that success and Charlton look like dead men walking. Bottom of the table, eight points from safety and heading to Yorkshire having lost all of their last eight away league games - they've not taken three points on the road since mid-September.

Barnsley aren't pulling up trees themselves, but the midweek 1-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday ended a sequence of four straight league defeats.

It pains me to say it, but back a Barnsley win at [2.22].

Staying with teams at the foot of the table, I can't see any respite for Southampton this weekend when they host Preston. The South Coast side have, incredibly, only won one league game at St Mary's all season, and that was way back at the end of September.

To be fair, Preston aren't that clever away from home, with only three wins all season, but their recent 3-1 triumph at Wolves shows what they are capable of. They have lost once in eight league games, and are fourth in the table with nearly double the points tally of their hosts.

Against a team which clearly has a real problem playing at home, backing Preston at [2.64] seems very appealing.

I mentioned Plymouth earlier, and their miserable run of form is heaping pressure on manager Paul Sturrock. They have lost six of their last eight games and have collapsed from being involved in the play-offs battle to being just three points clear of the relegation zone.
Visitors Sheffield United bounced back well from their derby defeat to hold Hull in the FA Cup, and they have won five and drawn five of their last 10 away league games.

United are a better team than Plymouth generally, and given the Pilgrims' dire current form, backing the Blades at [2.28] is the suggestion.

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