English Football League / Andrew French / 17 January 2008 / 1

The man in the know on all Championship issues - Andrew French - previews Waford v Charlton plus the best of the rest from the weekend matches

That oft-used phrase - 'the six pointer' - is likely to be rolled out this weekend as Watford host Charlton in one of two Championship matches live on Sky.

Favourites for promotion before the season, both clubs have endured something of a topsy-turvy season. Watford were, at one stage, 12 points clear but defeat at Preston on Saturday knocked them out of the automatic promotion places for the first time since August. Charlton have been in the promotion pack without ever being able to get into the top two, and their 4-1 beating of Blackpool at the weekend ended a run of five league games without a win.

Both clubs have, curiously, struggled at home, and perhaps Charlton will be happier to be playing at Vicarage Road than their hosts. Watford have not won a league match on their own soil since October 20th - since then, they have drawn two and lost five.

The recent 2-0 FA Cup win over Crystal Palace at home will have boosted their confidence, but incredibly for a team that has set the pace for so long, Watford have the second worst home defensive record in the entire division: 20 goals conceded in 13 games. Only bottom club Colchester have shipped more goals at home.

The Addicks, on the other hand, have one of the best defensive records away from home and have only lost one of their last seven league games on the road.

The key battle could be in the Watford penalty area, where the Hornets are without giant defender Danny Shittu, who is on African Nations Cup duty. Veteran centre-half Matt Jackson took his place at Preston on Saturday, but whether Aidy Boothroyd feels the former Wigan man can cope with the pace of the likes of Luke Varney remains to be seen.

Both last season's games, when the two clubs were in the Premiership, ended in draws and it would be no surprise to see the same outcome this weekend. But with Charlton having played two hours of cup replay football in midweek, allied to the fact that Watford cannot keep failing to win league games at home, I'm tempted to lay Charlton at [3.55] and also have the draw on my side. Watford are available to back at [2.22] while the draw is [3.55].

Saturday's other televised game is the Sheffield derby, a Premiership fixture not so long ago but now a mid-table scrap between two clubs for whom the bright lights of the top flight must seem some way off.

Wednesday are embroiled in a fight to stay up and although they have had a couple of outstanding results this season (5-0 at home to Southampton and 4-2 at Stoke), they have struggled for consistency and have only won one of their last eight in the league. They also had their midweek FA Cup replay to contend with.

Legal battles with West Ham and the Premier League at the end of last season must be a very distant memory for United and their fans. Bryan Robson's arrival at Bramall Lane has not seen them at the head of a fight for a quick return to the top flight, and instead they are stuck in mid-table. They did win at Bolton in the FA Cup, but their last three league away games have seen them take only one point and score only one goal.

United have the edge on recent derby games, winning each of the last three, and I think they are more upwardly mobile than their great rivals, so I'd back them at [2.72]. Wednesday are [2.86] and the draw is [3.35].

There are a couple of other stand-out fixtures. League leaders West Brom [1.76], who have hit 13 goals in their last three home games, look unopposable at home to Cardiff [5.4] who are on a run of six wins from eight league games.

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace [2.0] are unbeaten in 14 league games and are at home to second-placed Bristol City [4.0], who have lost only three away league games.

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1. Educated Bet | 18 January 2008

   Hey Andrew,
   I love your insight and picks , but it looks like I could learn a ton about journalism/ sports betting from you. Those are my passions.
   Peace...Iron Mike

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