Tuesday Championship Tipsheet: Elland Road to witness goals

Mike Norman
14 September 2015

Uwe Rosler's Leeds often score, but they also concede regularly too

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Games involving Leeds and Ipswich so far this season have a very high record of ending with both sides getting on the scoresheet says Mike Norman, and our man believes backing goals is the way to play again in his look at Tuesday night's Championship action...

"Mick McCarthy's men had a two-goal per game record until they suffered a 5-1 defeat on Friday night, and that result means that seven of Ipswich's eight league and cup games this season have witnessed at least three goals scored (the other game had two goals)."

Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.0621/20 in Leeds v Ipswich

Cardiff 2.8815/8 v Hull 2.747/4; The Draw 3.412/5

Cardiff have won three on the spin, they're up to second in the table, and they remain unbeaten in the league. I'm surprised then that on Tuesday night they're not favourites to beat a Hull side that has lost both of their last two away games.

Russell Slade isn't getting carried away with the way his side have started the season, and rightly so, but the Bluebirds looks very strong this term with plenty of fighting spirit, which I really like.

Slade's men totally dominated Saturday's game at home to Huddersfield, recording six shots on target to the Terriers' none but they had to wait until the 70th minute before getting on the scoresheet. They rarely looked troubled and are playing with plenty of confidence right now, especially on home soil.

Hull narrowly lost to Brighton at the weekend meaning it's now three away games for Steve Bruce's men and just one point collected - that sort of form won't get you an immediate return to the Premier League and until The Tigers show their bite on the road they can be opposed.

They'll get it correct sooner rather than later but Bruce himself admitted on Saturday, "At home we've been impressive but away from home we need to improve. We have been too up and down." He's also far from impressed that his side have to travel to Wales in midweek, not exactly exerting the right vibes ahead of a crucial fixture.

Recommended Bet
Back Cardiff to Win @ 2.8815/8

Leeds 2.568/5 v Ipswich 3.02/1; The Draw 3.55/2

Elland Road looks the place to be if you want to witness goals in midweek, and the current 2.0621/20 about witnessing Over 2.5 Goals looks very generous indeed.

True, Leeds and Brentford fought out a 1-1 draw on Saturday, putting pay to our 'overs' bet on that day, but given that Ipswich are the visitors on Tuesday night I'm very confident of collecting in this fixture.

Six of Leeds' last seven league and cup games have resulted in both teams getting on the scoresheet which suggests that Uwe Rosler's men are capable of scoring every time they play, but at the back they're far from being watertight.

United play some very fast and expansive football on home soil which usually leads to plenty of chances created at both ends - 32 on Saturday for example, and 29 in Leeds' previous home game against Sheffield Wednesday.

With the Tractor Boys coming to town in midweek shots at goal are on the cards again. Mick McCarthy's men had a two-goal per game record until they suffered a 5-1 defeat on Friday night, and that result means that seven of Ipswich's eight league and cup games this season have witnessed at least three goals scored (the other game had two goals).

I'm amazed we can back Over 2.5 Goals at odds against here.

Recommended Bet
Back Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.0621/20 (best bet)

Middlesbrough 1.635/8 v Brentford 6.25/1; The Draw 4.216/5

Middlesbrough haven't quite been at their best yet but already they have the best defensive record in the division with just three goals conceded in six games, continuing the theme from last season when Aitor Karanka's men were very hard to break down, especially at the Riverside Stadium.

And if another theme from last term continues on Tuesday night then Boro should have few problems brushing aside Brentford.

Karanka's men faced the Bees four times last season and each time they emerged victorious, winning 4-0 and 3-0 in front of their own fans while away from home they won 1-0 and 2-1.

Very little has changed in terms of personnel in Boro's backline, and as we've already alluded to they look just as well organised this campaign, conceding just one goal on home soil so far. At the other end of the pitch they look even stronger with the additions of Stuart Downing, Christian Stuani, and David Nugent to mention just three.

So it's very easy to see Middlesbrough winning against a Brentford side who arguably aren't as good as they were last time, and a win without conceding is a real possibility.

Predicting a game largely on stats and recent history is always dangerous but amongst a tough set of midweek fixtures this looks about the best one to employ those tactics.

Recommended Bet
Back Middlesbrough Win to Nil @ 2.68/5

*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.