Saturday Championship Tips: Black Cats to ease past travelsick Bluebirds

• In-form Black Cats to clinch consecutive victories
• Entertaining clash at the New York Stadium
• Rovers to bounce back

Mowbray's men to win in Wearside

Sunderland 2.226/5 v Cardiff 3.929/10; The Draw 3.259/4

Sunderland may have been forced to withstand plenty of pressure on Wednesday night but Tony Mowbray's men still secured all three points at the John Smith's Stadium. The Black Cats have a mixed record on the road (4-2-4), although they've been much harder to beat at the Stadium of Light and have suffered just two defeats in front of their own fans.

The hosts are undefeated when hosting any side outside of the top six and were very efficient against Wigan in mid-October. Ellis Simms' gradual return to the XI is likely to improve their attacking output whereas Amad Diallo is finally gaining confidence having been given a run of games in red and white.

Cardiff slipped up at home to Watford in midweek, and although the Bluebirds have still only lost three times in the Welsh capital, their away performances have been significantly below par. They've failed to score in six of their last eight on the road and have produced an accumulative 0.3 xG across their last two away games.

Sunderland's propensity to draw 0-0 at home is a concern, but a single goal may be enough to clinch all three points.

High scoring tie in South Yorkshire

Rotherham 3.7511/4 v Norwich 2.0621/20; The Draw 3.6553/20

Rotherham were cruelly beaten 3-2 at Turf Moor on Wednesday night. Boss Matt Taylor was unhappy with Cohen Bramall's second-half dismissal and disagreed with the awarding of a throw-in which led directly to the Clarets' winning goal.

Nevertheless, it was an encouraging performance from Taylor's men, and the return of Chiedozie Ogbene should provide some hope for Millers' fans. The South Yorkshire club have improved their attacking performances lately and produced an accumulative xG of 2.3 across their last two matches. They are also prone to giving up chances and the impact of their midweek exertions may take its toll here.

Dean Smith temporarily relieved the pressure by masterminding a victory last weekend. But his side failed to find a way past QPR at Carrow Road on Wednesday night and supporters remain sceptical about the former Villa boss' ability to get the best out of this talented XI.

On the road, they've been giving up plenty of opportunities and have conceded six times across their last four away games. Sheffield United and Burnley produced a combined xG of 4.1 and although this should be slightly easier for the visitors, they could still struggle to keep a clean sheet.

Willock's return to inspire QPR success

QPR 2.6213/8 v West Brom 2.747/4; The Draw 3.4549/20

QPR's away form is patchy. However, the R's did manage to keep a clean sheet in midweek and supporters were delighted to see the return of the talismanic Chris Willock off the bench. Injuries have hampered his progress this season, and he's featured in just 10 matches so far this season. Nevertheless, QPR have collected 21 of their 31 points when Willock has featured and his return could potentially coincide with yet another three point haul on Saturday afternoon.

QPR's home form has been tremendous and they possess a 5-2-1 record at Loftus Road.

West Brom picked up their first victory under Carlos Corberan in midweek beating Blackpool at the Hawthorns. Nevertheless, it wasn't a completely convincing performance and they failed to create too many clearcut chances throughout the 90 minutes. WBA are improving, but this is a tough assignment for the struggling Baggies.

Swans to take advantage of home comforts

Swansea 1.9310/11 v Wigan 4.47/2; The Draw 3.613/5

Swansea's recent performances have looked a little tired and Russell Martin will be hoping that his side will be revitalised by a return to familiar surroundings. They've picked up just a single point from their last two matches but they've won each of their last four here and scored 2+ goals in each.

Despite handing manager Leam Richardson a new contract recently, Wigan have hit an extremely poor patch of form. The Latics have lost five consecutive matches and, although they've kept things tight at the DW, they've been far more open on the road. Nevertheless, they're capable of finding the net on their travels and have scored in each of the last three. They could struggle to keep the Swans at arm's length.

Rovers return to winning ways

Blackburn 1.824/5 v Huddersfield 4.84/1; The Draw 3.711/4

Blackburn have a bizarre record this season. Rovers are yet to win a match in which they've fallen behind and they're yet to lose a game in which they've taken the lead. Jon Dahl Tomasson's side have a superb ability to hold onto a lead and although their underlying numbers are far from impressive, their winning run is unlikely to come to an end anytime soon.

Although they were poor at the CBS in midweek, they are far stronger at Ewood Park and have won each of their last five here.

Huddersfield battled admirably against Sunderland but inevitably came up short. Mark Fotheringham's side have plenty of endeavour and they will give 100% throughout the 90 minutes, although their quality in the final third is lacking. They should be able to keep the score down in Lancashire.

Sky Blues and Hornets to entertain

Watford 1.9620/21 v Coventry 3.929/10; The Draw 3.814/5

Slaven Bilic continues to excel in Hertfordshire and he has put together a three-match winning streak. That sequence has helped to propel the Hornets into the top six and they will fancy their chances of continuing that run here. They're producing excellent numbers at Vicarage Road and have scored 2+ in five of their last six at this venue. With a combined xG of 3.6 across their last two home fixtures, they should create plenty of chances on Saturday afternoon.

Coventry were brilliantly well-organised in midweek as Mark Robins' side got back to winning ways. The Sky Blues were helped by Blackburn's passive approach to the game and having looked defensively suspect against both Blackpool and Rotherham, they may struggle to keep the attack-minded Hornets off the scoresheet.

Stokes' home woes to continue

Stoke 2.0811/10 v Birmingham 3.929/10; The Draw 3.55/2

Stoke picked up their sixth victory of the campaign in midweek. The Potters have struggled at home with four of those six successes arriving on the road. Alex Neil will be desperately trying to find a way to improve his team's output in Staffordshire, especially as they've failed to find the net in four of their last six matches here. Nevertheless, they've actually been creating chances in front of their own fans, with Tarique Fosu's performances catching the eye.

There wasn't much to say about Birmingham's drab goalless draw with Millwall in midweek. Nevertheless, the Blues are now unbeaten in nine of their last 11 and they've kept a clean sheet in four of their last six outings. The visitors are well-organised under John Eustace and they should be able to take at least a point back to the West Midlands.

BTTS at the Riverside

Middlesbrough 1.855/6 v Bristol City 4.77/2; The Draw 3.8514/5

Michael Carrick saw his side collect maximum points in midweek with a decent performance against Hull at the MKM. Given Hull's issues at home, Boro fans are unlikely to get too carried away by Tuesday's result. However, there were plenty of signs of encouragement to take into this weekend's clash. Notwithstanding the 0-0 draw with Huddersfield, the Teessiders' recent matches have been reasonably entertaining and they are expected to get on the scoresheet here.

Bristol City have been playing well without getting the results that they've deserved. The Robins produced an xG of 1.8 against Sheffield United in midweek, yet they somehow failed to find the back of the net. Although they haven't registered in two of their last three on the road, they should be able to find a way past Boro's shaky defence.

Hull's defence to leak in Bermondsey

Millwall 1.8810/11 v Hull 4.3100/30; The Draw 3.613/5

Having failed to find the net in each of their last two away matches, the Lions will be delighted to get back to home comforts on Saturday afternoon. Gary Rowett's side have won seven of their first nine matches at this venue and they've scored 2+ goals in each of those victories. The hosts have arguably benefitted from an easier home fixture list with six of their nine home games coming against bottom-half opposition.

Hull's erratic form continued in midweek with the Tigers losing at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. With Liam Rosenior having officially been appointed as the club's new manager, an improved performance is expected. Nevertheless, the former Derby boss will have little time to improve the visitor's leaky defence. They haven't kept a clean sheet since the beginning of August and are making errors at the back on a routine basis.

Luton to take at least a point

Blackpool 2.89/5 v Luton 2.727/4; The Draw 3.412/5

Michael Appleton admitted that his side rarely looked like scoring against West Brom in midweek, and the former Oxford boss will need to find a way to unleash his side's attacking potential. The Seasiders have been much better going forward recently and despite Tuesday's limp display, they should be able to test the Luton defence and potentially get on the scoresheet this weekend.

Luton have drawn back-to-back matches and with a 2-6-2 record at Kenilworth Road, finishing teams off is quickly becoming an issue for the Hatters. Nathan Jones' men are far stronger on the road, and they've conceded just eight times on their travels so far. They've kept four clean sheets in their last six away matches and having restricted Norwich at Carrow Road, they should be able to take something back from Bloomfield Road.