Saturday Championship Tipsheet: Cardiff and Charlton look solid home wagers

Mike Norman
10 September 2015

Russell Slade's Cardiff have started well and ought to beat Huddersfield

Join

Twitter

Facebook

View the Betslip

Early season form isn't certain to stand up after the first international break of the campaign, but if it does then Mike Norman fancies a couple of in-form home sides to prevail when the Championship resumes this weekend...

"Steve Evans' men have lost both away games this term, conceding six goals in the process, and I can't for the life of me understand why Charlton aren't odds-on to inflict Rotherham's third consecutive away defeat."

Back Charlton @ 2.0621/20 to beat Rotherham

Cardiff 2.111/10 v Huddersfield 4.216/5; The Draw 3.55/2

Cardiff remain unbeaten in the Championship this season and it's not unreasonable to suggest that they should be odds-on at the Cardiff City Stadium to beat winless Huddersfield.

What has been particularly impressive about the start Russell Slade's men have made is the spirit they have shown in games against some tough opposition - the likes of Blackburn, Fulham, Nottm Forest, QPR, and Wolves certainly didn't look an easy set of fixtures on paper, yet they've came through undefeated, coming from behind in two of those games.

The Bluebirds look a happy camp right now and everyone at the club seems to be pulling in the right direction with Slade declaring last week, "We go into the international break unbeaten and we are in a pretty good place."

It's a different story for Huddersfield however with Chris Powell's men yet to win a single league or cup game this season. A home defeat to League Two outfit Notts County was particularly disappointing, and as Transfer Deadline Day approached they lost key midfielder Jacob Butterfield, who was sold to Derby for £4m.

Powell's men haven't been disgraced in the Championship yet, but failing to win can become a habit in no time at all and I don't see them taking anything away from Wales against an in-form Cardiff side.

Recommended Bet
Back Cardiff to Win @ 2.111/10

Charlton 2.0621/20 v Rotherham 4.216/5; The Draw 3.613/5

I've put Charlton up twice already this season as my best bet of the day, both times they were away from home and looked a huge price before kick-off. They led into the second half in both of those encounters - away to Derby and Wolves respectively - and traded odds-on each time, but ultimately they were pegged back and failed to win.

Although this column lives and dies by the result at full-time the above is a good example of being able to lock in a profit in-play - something I'd always advise you do if you back at big odds and see those odds trade much shorter.

I'm putting up Guy Luzon's men as my best bet of the day once more because I really do believe they should be much shorter to beat hapless Rotherham, a side that I feel are certainties for relegation.

The Addicks lost for the first time this season last time out at Wolves, no disgrace there, so there is that slight question mark as to how they'll respond. But prior to that defeat they'd scored four at Peterborough in the cup, and on home soil they've won two from two in the league against QPR and Hull, form that reads very well indeed.

The Millers sit bottom of the table with just a solitary point to show for their efforts, that coming at home against newly-promoted Preston. Steve Evans' men have lost both away games this term, conceding six goals in the process, and I can't for the life of me understand why Charlton aren't odds-on to inflict Rotherham's third consecutive away defeat.

Recommended Bet
Back Charlton to Win @ 2.0621/20 (best bet)

Leeds 2.56/4 v Brentford 3.185/40; The Draw 3.55/2

At around even money I'm happy to wager we'll see at least three goals at Elland Road on Saturday afternoon.

The safer part of the bet comes in the form of Brentford who seem to be scoring and shipping goals for fun so far this term - seven scored and an alarming 12 conceded in just five league and cup games, with four of their five matches not only going over the 2.5 goals mark but also going over the 3.5 goals mark too.

It appears that under their new regime (I wonder if anyone is regretting the decision to let Mark Warburton go yet) The Bees are taking time to settle and entertaining games seem the order of the day.

Leeds on the other hand have started the season in promising fashion. They remain unbeaten in six league and cup games (after 90 minutes), though five of those matches have resulted in draws. Uwe Rosler's men got their first win of the campaign just before the international break with a late winner - and what a goal it was from Chris Wood - away at Derby, and I'm expecting them to be full of confidence back on home soil.

Brentford's defence isn't great it seems, but they're capable of scoring a goal or two themselves, so with Leeds in a good place right now I'm confident we'll see the net bulge a few times in this encounter.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.01/1

*You can follow me on Twitter - @MikkyMo73

**For a preview of every single live game in England's second tier, provided by Andy Tongue, simply visit our dedicated Championship section here on Betting.Betfair.