Championship / Andrew French / 12 February 2009 /

Andrew French tells us who's hot and who's not in the world of The Championship betting this weekend. Best bet: back Burnley to beat Wolves @ [2.74]

Having been top and clear, Wolves are now showing the first signs of a nosebleed in the Championship - and I'm suggesting Burnley will add to their current poor run this weekend.

Mick McCarthy's side have won just one league game in eight (and that was against relegation-threatened Watford). They were beaten at Coventry last weekend, and the fact they still have a four-point cushion is due to the fact Reading failed to beat Preston at home.

Burnley have come through a demanding period of combining league matters with assaults on both cup competitions, but taking a point at Birmingham last weekend shows they are still in good heart on the league front. They have slipped outside the play-off places though, and Owen Coyle will see this game as a great opportunity to take three points at home, and prove their promotion mettle by beating the leaders. I'll be backing Burnley at [2.74].

With postponements and cup competitions starting to eat into scheduled league fixtures, there is always the debate about whether it's better to have the points in the bag or the chance to make up ground with games in hand. Norwich better hope that it's the former as they have played at least a game more than all those teams around them in the relegation battle, and they are only a couple of points above the safety line.

New manager Bryan Gunn must surely know his honeymoon period is well and truly over: the Canaries are without a win in four and lost at home to Bristol City last weekend.

They visit Preston, who are also winless in four - but they earned a fine point at Reading last weekend and possess one of the best home records in the division.

Home advantage will count against Norwich, who have not won on the road since mid-November. So, back Preston at [1.86].

Five wins and a draw in their last six and joint leaders of the current form table - Doncaster Rovers look totally transformed from the side that struggled to score, never mind win, in the first half of the season.

They showed plenty of character in winning 3-2 at Blackpool last weekend, having earlier given Aston Villa a really good test in their FA Cup replay.

They host Sheffield Wednesday, who are probably still coming down from winning at neighbours and great rivals United last weekend. However, derby form can often be discounted and the Owls' previous five away games had seen them take just two points and score three goals. Donny are on a roll and backing them at [2.28] is my suggestion.

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