Midweek Championship Tips: Owls to bounce back against Luton

Jack Critchley
19 August 2019

Sheffield Wednesday caretaker manager Lee Bullen

Lee Bullen will be hoping his side can get back to winning ways

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It's the first midweek fixture list of the Championship season and Jack Critchley is expecting Sheffield Wednesday to pick up three points against newly promoted Luton...

"The Owls, coached by Lee Bullen, collected six points from their opening two matches and look a real threat going forward"

Wednesday expected to make it two from two at Hillsborough

Sheffield Wednesday 1.9420/21 v Luton 4.67/2; The Draw 3.613/5

Sheffield Wednesday have made an impressive start to the season. The Owls, coached by Lee Bullen, collected six points from their opening two matches, and look a real threat going forward. The additions of Kadeem Harris and Jacob Murphy enables them to play with genuine width, and they are likely to be a match for most sides at this level.

However, Bullen was left frustrated at the weekend as he watched his side struggle to break down 10 man Millwall. The Lions are unbeaten, and are incredibly difficult to play against, but despite chances falling to both Barry Bannan and the aforementioned Harris, they just could not find a way past Bartosz Bialkowski. They ended the game with an XG rating of 1.7, and had 21 shots during the 90 minutes, nine of which were on target.

Bullen was unbeaten during his four-game spell at the end of last year and this was his first set-back since losing to Burton Albion on New Years Day 2018. He commands the respect of the Wednesday players and they should be able to bounce back on Tuesday night.

Luton are finding the step up to the Championship tough. They were punished by two second half goals against West Brom, with the Hatters now having conceded seven times in their opening three matches. There's plenty to like about them going forward, but Graeme Jones needs to address the problems at the back. They had just eight shots compared to West Brom's 23 at the weekend and they could find a lively Wednesday forward line a real handful.

The Hatters' XG numbers are pretty decent at Kenilworth Road, but they registered just 0.8 in their solitary away trip, and they are likely to pick up the majority of their points in Bedfordshire this campaign.

I'm backing Bullen to bounce back on Tuesday night, and Sheffield Wednesday are currently available at 1.9420/21 on the Exchange, which looks like a decent place to start on this midweek fixture list.

Charlton to continue providing plenty of entertainment

Charlton 2.608/5 v Nottingham Forest 2.829/5; The Draw 3.3512/5

Charlton have defied expectations by making a fantastic start to the campaign. The Addicks have taken seven points from a possible nine under Lee Bowyer. They'll be confident of taking something from this midweek clash at the Valley.

They have been helped by the return of Josh Cullen, the arrival of Connor Gallagher from Chelsea, and the fact they've been able to retain the services of Lyle Taylor. The latter averages less than three shots per game, but he is ruthlessly efficient, and has notched in each of Charlton's three Championship matches so far. He also helps create chances for teammates, and isn't afraid to take up wide positions in order to stretch the opposition defence.

The only slight negative about Charlton's fast start to the campaign is that they are yet to keep a clean sheet. Bowyer's men have conceded four times and it could have been far worse had Stoke converted their clear-cut chances 11 days ago.

Nottingham Forest picked up their first victory of the campaign under Sabri Lamouche at the weekend and registered a very impressive XG figure of 2.1. The Tricky Trees were all over their opponents from start to finish, and the new boss has cottoned onto the fact that Lewis Grabban will get goals at this level, as long as you don't leave him on the bench. There were impressive performances from both Joe Lolley and Matty Cash, and the hosts were rarely troubled at the other end of the field.

However, this will be tougher, and Michael Dawson and Joe Worrall are likely to have a much busier evening on Wednesday night. Both sides prioritise attack and leave gaps at the back. Forest's only shutout came against a side who create next to nothing on the road. Both Teams to Score? Yes is available at 1.784/5 on the Exchange, and that looks like a terrific way to approach this potentially entertaining contest.

West Brom to continue their fast start to the campaign

West Brom 1.664/6 v Reading 5.24/1; The Draw 3.8514/5

West Brom remain unbeaten after three matches and the Baggies have been very entertaining to watch under Slaven Bilic. Although he is yet to get summer signings Kenneth Zohore and Charlie Austin firing on a regular basis, WBA have scored five goals in three matches and looked very dangerous from midfield. The arrival of Filip Krovinovic appears to be a masterstroke, whilst Grady Diangana didn't waste any time in the second half against Luton.

Bilic still has a couple of issues to solve at the back and his side look susceptible to aerial threats. That explains the reason for their only dropped points so far coming against Millwall.

West Brom's numbers haven't been the best so far, although they did finish with a much-improved XG of 2.2 at Kennilworth Road. It suggests the new arrivals are settling in nicely and buying into Bilic's way of thinking.

Reading were one of the biggest surprises of the weekend, with the Royals comprehensively crushing Cardiff at the Madejski. George Puscas was the star of the show although credit must also go to John Swift for an excellent performance in midfield. The Royals now have that little bit of X-factor which they were perhaps missing last season.

However, they tend to struggle on the road, winning just twice last season on their travels. Jose Gomes' only success away from Berkshire came at relegated Ipswich and that is surely a concern here.

West Brom are fancied to take three points and are 8/13 to triumph at the Hawthorns. However, backing West Brom to Win and Over 1.5 Match Goals is 5/6 on the Sportsbook, which is far more palatable.

You can follow Jack Critchley on Twitter @jcritch7

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Recommended bets

Sheffield Wednesday Win - @ 1.9420/21 Exchange
Charlton vs Nottingham Forest - Both Teams to Score? Yes @ 1.78 Exchange
West Brom vs Reading - West Brom Win and Over 1.5 Match Goals @ 5/6 Sportsbook