The Championship Preview: In-form Boro can see off struggling Lions

Mike Norman
18 April 2014

Aitor Karanka is making pleasing progress at Middlesbrough

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It's more like Impossible Friday than Good Friday regarding the Championship fixtures says Mike Norman, so our man is looking ahead to Saturday's games for this weekend's three recommended bets...

"So having won four league games on the spin, two of which were away to Brighton and Burnley and one was at home to Derby (just look at where those three clubs are in the table), then I was very pleasantly surprised to see Middlesbrough available to back at 2.0421/20 against struggling Millwall."

Back Middlesbrough to beat Millwall @ 2.0421/20

Middlesbrough 2.0421/20 v Millwall 4.216/5; The Draw 3.65

After enduring an awful spell from late January through to early March where they simply couldn't find the back of the net, Middlesbrough have responded terrificly and now have just one defeat to their name in their last nine outings. And that was to QPR, so no shame there.

Even when Aitor Karanka's men were struggling to score they still recorded plenty of clean sheets and were tough to beat. In fact Boro have recorded 14 clean sheets in their last 22 league outings, more than any other club in the Championship during the same number of games.

So having won four league games on the spin, two of which were away to Brighton and Burnley and one was at home to Derby (just look at where those three clubs are in the table), then I was very pleasantly surprised to see Middlesbrough available to back at 2.0421/20 against struggling Millwall.

The Lions have had some incredible results of late no doubt, winning away at Derby, Nottingham Forest, and Wigan, but those last two results are perhaps not as glorious as they look on paper. For starters, Forest are possibly the most out of form club in the whole division right now, whereas Wigan rested no fewer than eight of their regular starting XI with an FA Cup semi-final looming.

But it's because of those 'misleading' away wins for Ian Holloway's men that we're getting a good price about the home side here. Boro are in fine form and tamed the Lions with no problems at the Den in December and I fully expect a repeat on Saturday afternoon.

Recommended Bet: Back Middlesbrough to Win @ 2.0421/20 (best bet)

Barnsley 2.526/4 v Leeds 3.185/40; The Draw 3.55/2

As many as seven clubs, possibly Huddersfield too, are still in a relegation dogfight with four games of the season remaining, and Barnsley are amongst those in most danger despite a terrific away win at Charlton in midweek.

Danny Wilson's men have found a bit of form at the right time and are certainly capable of beating their out-of-form Yorkshire rivals on Saturday afternoon.

The Tykes' last six league fixtures read three wins, a 0-0 draw with play-off chasing Brighton, and two more-than-respectable single goal defeats to Bolton and Burnley. Leeds on the other hand have won just one of their last six, that coming against woefully out of form Blackpool, and it's quite clear that recent off the field attention has affected Brian McDermott's men.

But not only do we have a relativey in-form home side on our hands, and one who are fighting for their lives, but we are also siding with a team that has won its last four derbies at Oakwell against Leeds, scoring an impressive 14 goals in the process.

Recommended Bet: Back Barnsley to Win @ 2.526/4

Nottm Forest 1.9420/21 v Birmingham 4.47/2; The Draw 3.7511/4

With Friday's fixtures looking impossible to call I had to laugh when glancing at Saturday's games in the Championship.

Regular readers will know that the club I've mentioned more than most this season is Birmingham, simply because of their awful home form and very good away form. And they've done me some great favours too. But in the last six weeks I've been opposing Nottm Forest at will - and with some success - because of their dreadful form.

So if ever a game is set up for me then this is it, and to be honest, Birmingham look a huge price. But I've just got that horrible feeling that if something looks too good to be true then it probably is.

But if anyone can explain to me why Forest are odds-on to win this game then please go ahead. To put it simply, they are in free-fall. Twelve games without a win, eight goals conceded in their last two games (17 in their last six), home defeats to Charlton and Millwall, and they've effectively got nothing to play for now. Odds-on? No thank you.

There's nothing really much to say about Brum other than what I've said numerous times already in the last few months. You just oppose them blindly at St Andrews and back them away from home. They are sixth in the Championship 'away' table and have to be backed to beat a struggling Forest side.

Recommended Bet: Back Birmingham to Win @ 4.47/2